Recruitment After LinkedIn + AI: What Founders Must Change - with Russell Thompson

In this episode of the Recruiter Startup Podcast, Dualta Doherty is joined by Russell Thompson – a 30-year recruitment veteran in the London market, former founder/leader behind LMA, and now advisor through Ascentia Advisory.Russell shares the real story of scaling LMA inside a backed entrepreneur model to 85+ staff across London and Singapore, and what it takes to build an agency that attracts and retains top performers.They unpack why 15–20 headcount is the toughest stage for founders, how LMA built a culture recognised by the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For, and what’s changed now that LinkedIn became the database. Russell also doesn’t hold back on what agency leaders must do differently as AI and efficiency reshape the industry.If you’re building or scaling a recruitment business, this one’s a must-watch.

Building a company almost never goes the way you expect.In this conversation, Lander and Manu, CEO and COO of Spott (YC W25) sit down with Dualta Doherty, co-founder of RecWired, to share the real story behind how Spott was built, including the wrong turns, the pivots, and the hard decisions that forced them to rethink everything.They talk about Why they realized early they were building the wrong product What three intense months in Y Combinator changed about their mindset How talking to real recruiters reshaped the entire product direction Why most ATS systems slow recruiters down instead of helping them What an AI-native ATS needs to do differently to actually create impactWhether you’re running a recruitment agency, building a start-up or thinking about how AI will actually change day-to-day work, this conversation goes deep into what matters and what does not.

In this episode, industry leaders discuss how AI, technology, and human skills are reshaping recruitment. From signal-based selling to training modern recruiters, we explore how to build smarter pipelines, improve calls, and stay competitive in a changing market. 🎙️

Part 2 from the Manchester event explores how recruitment is evolving with AI, community building, and smarter marketing. Industry leaders share practical insights on tech, referrals, personal branding, and how to future-proof recruitment businesses.

In this live episode, industry leaders Alex Elliott and Chris Evans share real-world insights on building, scaling, and exiting recruitment businesses during challenging economic times. From productivity and profitability to leadership, tech-first models, MBOs, and the future impact of AI—this conversation is packed with honest advice, lessons learned, and practical strategies for recruiters and founders.If you’re navigating growth, considering an exit, or rebuilding stronger after tough years, this episode is for you.

In Part 2, Dualta brings Bullhorn’s Gary Cordery into the conversation alongside ReferRec’s Dave Cahill to talk about what scaling really looks like when you get your tech right.They get into founder-led agencies thinking like tech companies, the post COVID push to do more with less, and what it means when one Bullhorn client is running 185 live automations and winning back hundreds of consultant hours. Gary breaks down Bullhorn’s Amplify AI, enriching old databases so you are not held hostage by LinkedIn spend, while Dave shares what he is seeing on the ground as agencies try to build lean, CRM first businesses.Part 1 was mindset. Part 2 is systems.Tune in to rethink your tech stack, your LinkedIn bill, and how you use the data you already own.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Dualta sits down with ReferRec co-founder Dave Cahill to unpack his journey from joining Liquid as a rookie to helping scale it into a high-performance machine that eventually sold for life-changing money. Dave shares what shaped him early on: intense standards, work-hard-play-hard culture, leadership that pushed people to operate above their limits, and the mindset that turned him into one of the most relentless operators in the industry.A real look at drive, culture, and what it takes to scale - the unfiltered version.Part 1 sets the stage. Part 2 brings the tech. Tune in now!

In this episode of The Recruiter Startup Podcast, Dualta Doherty reconnects with Stuart Mitchell, Founder of Hampton North, for a candid look at how recruitment has evolved through the chaos of recent years. From LA to Connecticut, he dives into the realities of building a lean, scalable business in a shifting market - where AI, automation, and personal brand are redefining what it means to be a recruiter. Expect sharp takes on the US opportunity, the rise of “super recruiters,” the next wave of RecTech innovation, and why human connection still matters more than ever.

The US staffing market is a $180B opportunity, and more UK recruiters are making the leap than ever.In this episode, our host, Dualta Doherty, chats with Charles Causey, Founder of Agile Partnering, about what it really takes to scale in the States. From choosing the right niche and city to tackling compliance and payroll, Charles shares the hard-won lessons behind helping UK firms grow across the Atlantic, and they also dive into how AI and automation are reshaping the industry.🎧 Listen now and learn how to build smarter, scale faster, and stay ahead in the new era of recruitment.

Chris Allaire built his recruitment firm in the heart of New York, surviving market crashes, dodging hype, and growing through pure focus on niche expertise and real relationships. Now leading a fully remote team from South Carolina, he joins our host Dualta Doherty to unpack how he scaled his business without chasing trends, what it actually takes to break into the US market, and why great recruiters won’t be replaced by AI anytime soon.If you're a founder looking to expand into the US or make sense of the current tech hiring landscape, this one’s got real insights. Tune in!