EP 45 – The Harsh Truth About Scaling and Selling a Recruitment Business w/ Rob Saltrese
In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Rob Saltrese — serial founder, fractional C-suite advisor, and brutally honest voice in the world of recruitment entrepreneurship. Rob lifts the lid on what really happens when you start, scale, and try to sell a recruitment business. From unglamorous exits and ego checks to financial wipeouts and personal reinvention — this one is full of hard-earned lessons you won’t hear on your average “success story” podcast. 💥 We cover: ✅ Why most recruitment exits aren’t sexy (or even profitable) ✅ What founders don’t plan for when building a business ✅ Dealing with loneliness, ADHD, and the pressure to perform ✅ How to bounce back from broken partnerships and burned-out dreams ✅ The importance of mindset, humility, and knowing when to pivot ✅ Building female-first executive networks and giving back through connection Whether you’re launching your first agency or running a 50-person firm, this episode is a must-listen for anyone chasing long-term success in recruitment. ⏱ Timestamps: 00:00 – Rob’s intro and early career in recruitment 04:15 – The reality of starting your own business 08:30 – Ego, finances, and the mental toll of entrepreneurship 14:05 – Rob’s personal rock bottom and bounce-back strategy 19:45 – ADHD, focus, and founder mindset hacks 25:10 – Why most people aren’t ready to start a business 30:00 – What a real (and painful) exit looks like 38:40 – The myth of the £100M recruitment sale 43:15 – Why buyers care about EBIT, not your branding 48:00 – Helping female execs through Artemis and Gen.E.I. 52:00 – Advice for solo founders & recruiters thinking of launching 🔗 Connect with Rob Saltrese LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-saltrese-17263a2/ 🔗 Connect with Charles Kyriakou LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleskyriakou1/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charles.kyriakou?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-better-recruitment-podcast/id1775201502 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46LjJfw0Y4IVJwnigCdxJX LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7244346543967731712/?displayConfirmation=true 👇 Enjoyed this? Don’t forget to like, comment & subscribe!
