FOUNDER DIARIES - John Shipley: From Sales Floors to Wrestling Rings
In this incredible Founder Diaries episode of RecTalk, Nitin sits down with John Shipley — former General Manager of Leicester Championship Wrestling (LCW). John shares the fascinating journey of how he turned his lifelong passion for professional wrestling into one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent wrestling promotions. From battling mental health struggles to building a legacy brand from scratch, John’s story is one of grit, creativity, and relentless drive. He opens up about: * How a childhood dream reignited during a tough mental health period. * The birth of LCW and how he scaled it from a 50-person village show to arena-level sellouts. * The uncanny parallels between wrestling promotion and recruitment — from hiring, team motivation, and storytelling to branding and business growth. * Working with global stars like X-Pac (WWE’s D-Generation X) and building a wrestling product that rivalled national promotions. * The importance of knowing when to step back as a founder — transitioning from performer to promoter, and eventually to mentor. * Leadership lessons drawn straight from the ring: how to manage talent, balance egos, and build lasting culture. This episode isn’t just about wrestling — it’s about founder mindset, vision, and self-awareness. John’s reflections on legacy, personal growth, and learning when to move on will resonate deeply with any entrepreneur. 💡 Who this episode is for: * Founders and startup leaders navigating passion projects and scaling challenges. * Recruitment professionals seeking lessons in leadership and culture-building. * Wrestling fans and creatives curious about the business side of the industry. * Anyone looking for motivation to turn a hobby into a thriving enterprise. 🔗 Connect with the guest John Shipley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-shipley-9b058b58/ 🔗 Connect with the host Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ Discover recruitment tools and services at Rectools.io: https://www.rectools.io/ Find out about the Recruitment Curry Club: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ New episodes of RecTalk, Founder Diaries and Talking Talent drop every Wednesday and Friday. Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ 🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers Carl Jones — Konquest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-jones-66093722/ Ben Fielding — Quinset: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfielding/ Ross Thompson — Infinity Staff Global: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/ Matt Fox — Exitus Advisory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-fox-50b10311/
