Never Mind The Job Spec

About Never Mind The Job Spec

Hey, I’m Glenn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennnevermindthejobspec/) and when I first launched this podcast, it was called Never Mind The Job Spec - a deliberate rejection of overly polished, linear career interviews. The aim? Honest, informal, human-first conversations about the messy, non-linear paths people actually take on their personal and professional journeys. Over time, the stories revealed something deeper - the combination of individual purpose and the journey of becoming a Founder and Leader. So now it’s Real Founder Journeys —a space for raw stories, lessons learned, and personal insight. If you’re a Founder, builder, or just startup-curious, this one’s for you. Thanks for listening. Let’s get into it.

Publisher

Glenn Martin

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jul 2023

Latest episode

13 Aug 2024

Latest episodes

54 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Aug 2024

   ALEXANDRA CHIRICA - PERSONAL BRAND BUILDING & FOUNDER'S MINDSET

   Alexandra Chirica, Founder of Recfindr, joins me to discuss her career journey that started when she was contemplating a career in law, then her segway into the recruitment industry, establishing her own recruitment agency during lockdown, and now launching the Rectech platform, Recfindr. My conversation with Alex starts with some light-hearted banter about the Founder’s journey and the importance of wifi, she offers her insights and reflections on the recruitment industry, and she opens up about her personal and professional experiences that have shaped her entrepreneurial path. Alex recounts her initial desire to pursue law, which stemmed from a longstanding ambition but ultimately shifted when she realised it wasn't a true calling. After completing her degree in English Literature, she felt lost in terms of career direction. Her entry into recruitment began incidentally during assessment days, where she unexpectedly found a fit in the role. Despite having no prior knowledge of recruitment, she flourished in the competitive environment. She candidly emphasises the ethical challenges in the recruitment industry, reflecting on experiences that required a careful balance of trust between recruiters and candidates. She noted unprofessional practices in recruitment that exploit candidates' trust, stirring her moral compass. The discussion also touches on the difficulties faced by women in a male-dominated industry. Transitioning to her entrepreneur phase, Alex shares how she co-founded Tale motivated by a desire to create a more ethical and candidate-centred recruitment experience. This venture exemplifies her commitment to upholding strong values in recruitment. At this point, we start to understand the origins of Recfindr, as the combination of her expertise in Fintech combined with recognising the value of specialised recruiters based on a niche model, really enhances efficiency and understanding in the hiring process. Recfindr was conceptualised to address a gap in the recruitment market, where hiring managers often struggle to find suitable recruiters. Alex details her efforts to build an online community and how feedback has played a critical role in shaping the platform, also emphasising the importance of authenticity in personal branding and community building. We explore her success with content creation and we deep-dive into her thoughts on the significance of creativity, resilience, and a solution-oriented mindset, as essential traits for Founders facing the uncertainties of entrepreneurship. YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST FOLKS… Alex wraps the conversation with BIG NEWS - she announces her ambitions for Recfindr over the next year, and her plans for angel investment to further enhance the platform's features and expand its user base. GET IN LINE INVESTORS! MIC DROP! - We’re outta here….

2. 

   31 Jul 2024

   Michael Ekpe - Co-Founder of LEAP

   I'm super-excited to share this conversation with Michael Ekpe, Co-Founder of LEAP, as Michael's journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, the power of continuous learning, and his sense of adventure and desire to meet and exceed a challenge. Arriving in the UK at just 16 years old, Michael had to work tirelessly to put himself through college while living with his brother. His determination saw him earn a degree in Business Information Systems and Computer Networks, but his path was far from straightforward. After facing rejections from numerous graduate programs, Michael found himself working in a call centre. However, his story took a significant turn when he received a call from a company where he had interned, kick-starting his formal journey into technology transformation. From there, Michael's career trajectory soared. He became known for his technical expertise in handling large-scale tech transformation projects with leading companies like Fujitsu, Tesco Bank, and Worldpay. His reputation for exceeding technical challenges in fast-paced environments paved the way for his entry into UK Central Government. Michael’s government career included key roles at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, HM Treasury, and Public Health England. His journey into the C-Suite as Chief Digital & Technology Officer at Public Health England highlights his ability to navigate complex bureaucratic landscapes while driving digital innovation. During our conversation, Michael shares his early experiences in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, where he learned the intricacies of government operations and met mission-driven team members. He discusses his transition into the C-Suite, emphasising leadership through strategy and people over technical expertise. Michael openly talks about the successes and challenges he faced, and he pays tribute to a previous leader who significantly influenced his leadership style within the UK Central Government. We also explore Michael's latest venture, LEAP – Learning through Engagement, Application, and Practice. He shares the inspiration behind LEAP, its mission, and the vision for the next 12 months. LEAP aims to close the digital skills gap in the public sector by combining the structure of formal training with the flexibility of informal learning, providing a practical, engaging, and collaborative learning experience. For some additional context, Michael and I met 12-years ago, when I was working in a recruitment agency and my client was Worldpay, and Michael was a contractor open to discussing a new career challenge; this again, is a testament to how Michael values and invests in building long-term relationships. Michael Ekpe is a human you're going to get to know very well during this conversation - even as a self-confessed introvert - he has a magnetic personality that draws you in as you want to learn more about his incredibly entrepreneurial journey.

3. 

   31 Jul 2024

   Michael Ekpe - LEAP into BIG TECH TRANSFORMATION

   I'm super-excited to share this conversation with Michael Ekpe, Co-Founder of LEAP, as Michael's journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, the power of continuous learning, and his sense of adventure and desire to meet and exceed a challenge. Arriving in the UK at just 16 years old, Michael had to work tirelessly to put himself through college while living with his brother. His determination saw him earn a degree in Business Information Systems and Computer Networks, but his path was far from straightforward. After facing rejections from numerous graduate programs, Michael found himself working in a call centre. However, his story took a significant turn when he received a call from a company where he had interned, kick-starting his formal journey into technology transformation. From there, Michael's career trajectory soared. He became known for his technical expertise in handling large-scale tech transformation projects with leading companies like Fujitsu, Tesco Bank, and Worldpay. His reputation for exceeding technical challenges in fast-paced environments paved the way for his entry into UK Central Government. Michael’s government career included key roles at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, HM Treasury, and Public Health England. His journey into the C-Suite as Chief Digital & Technology Officer at Public Health England highlights his ability to navigate complex bureaucratic landscapes while driving digital innovation. During our conversation, Michael shares his early experiences in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, where he learned the intricacies of government operations and met mission-driven team members. He discusses his transition into the C-Suite, emphasising leadership through strategy and people over technical expertise. Michael openly talks about the successes and challenges he faced, and he pays tribute to a previous leader who significantly influenced his leadership style within the UK Central Government. We also explore Michael's latest venture, LEAP – Learning through Engagement, Application, and Practice. He shares the inspiration behind LEAP, its mission, and the vision for the next 12 months. LEAP aims to close the digital skills gap in the public sector by combining the structure of formal training with the flexibility of informal learning, providing a practical, engaging, and collaborative learning experience. For some additional context, Michael and I met 12-years ago, when I was working in a recruitment agency and my client was Worldpay, and Michael was a contractor open to discussing a new career challenge; this again, is a testament to how Michael values and invests in building long-term relationships. Michael Ekpe is a human you're going to get to know very well during this conversation - even as a self-confessed introvert - he has a magnetic personality that draws you in as you want to learn more about his incredibly entrepreneurial journey. Visit our website: https://nevermindthejobspec.com/

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings