EP 47 - The Challenges of a Young And Underestimated 7-figure Founder w/Sam Hunter
In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Sam Hunter — recruitment entrepreneur, founder of two businesses before 30, and living proof that being underestimated can be your biggest advantage. We unpack how Sam scaled her first business to over £2M in billings by year two, how she pivoted into new markets during COVID, and what it really takes to build a high-margin, high-trust temp desk while being asked “how old are you?” at every meeting. If you’re looking to scale, pivot, or just prove people wrong — this one’s for you. 💥 We cover: ✅ What it’s like launching a recruitment business in your 20s ✅ Breaking £2M in billings without a personal brand or hype ✅ The mindset that drives long-term growth (and gets investment) ✅ Scaling a temp desk to 100+ workers per day ✅ Why being underestimated as a young female founder was her edge ✅ How to pivot sectors, survive tough markets, and stay profitable ✅ Building a team that actually supports you (and your gaps) ✅ Why relationship-first recruitment still wins in 2025 ✅ Cold calling, voice notes, and how to stand out when no one picks up ✅ The real story behind agency growth — no fluff, no filters Whether you're a solo founder, recruiter in your 20s, or scaling your second desk — this one’s packed with honesty, grit, and the blueprint for building something real. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro to Sam Hunter and her £2M journey 04:00 – Launching a recruitment business before 30 08:00 – Getting questioned for being young (and female) 12:00 – Mindset, upbringing, and why self-belief is everything 16:00 – Habits, structure & the reality of “just doing the work” 20:00 – Pivoting into PPE during COVID 25:00 – Building a temp desk from scratch 30:00 – Relationship-led recruitment vs. spray-and-pray 35:00 – Leading from the front: 4:30am site visits 40:00 – AI won’t replace relationships 45:00 – Building teams that complement your weaknesses 50:00 – Cold calling in 2025 — what actually works 55:00 – Final thoughts: legacy, lessons & what drives success 🔗 Connect with Sam LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-hunter-recruitment/ 🔗 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!
