Entrepreneur in the spotlight : Joel Barnett of Fortune Hill

About your business:

  • What does your business do?

We help ambitious consumer brands to find Marketing and HR leaders to drive their business forward.

  • How is your approach different from your competitors?

I could write a book in answer to this question! I spent 7 years as the Talent Acquisition leader for two companies and that gave me the opportunity to experience what it is like to be the client of an executive search firm. I worked with the top global firms and several boutiques and believe me when I say that I saw a whole lot of things that could be improved. I have reimagined and reengineered every aspect of the search process to improve the outcomes and service a client receives, and even created a whole new category for Fortune Hill – Leadership Search – to distinguish ourselves from the traditional Executive Search firms.

  • How has your business changed over the last 5 years?

5 years ago, we had 30 people and operated as a generalist firm. Now we have 6 people, specialise in two distinct areas, and we generate 95% of the revenue we did 5 years ago. My focus was always building the business. My focus now is delivering great results, having fun doing so, and generating profit to be shared by the team. I wouldn’t go back to the old set up for any amount of money!

About you:

  • What was your childhood ambition?

Once I realised I had neither the talent nor attitude to play for Arsenal, I decided I wanted to be an actor (again, lack of talent was a limiting factor!)

  • Tell us about your personal career before you started your business (university course, first job(s) etc)

I didn’t go to university. My original plan was to earn enough money before university to have a ‘more comfortable than normal’ student experience. I fell in love with recruitment and decided there was nothing I could learn in a classroom that would get me where I wanted to go faster.

  • What motivated you to start your business?

The same thing that motivates the majority of founders I know – the combination of a large ego and the romantic idea that I could become rich 😉

  • How did you secure the financing to start the business?

I was very lucky: when I left my last role at HomeServe plc, they gave me a rolling retainer which more than covered the costs of starting the business. It was very lucky because Fortune Hill started in July 2008, just as the credit crunch spiralled into a deep recession. Without that break, I shudder to think what might have happened.

  • Who was or still is your mentor?

Other than the wonderful Chris Robson at RG?! I like to read for mentorship. I try to read a book a month, listen to podcasts, use an app called blinkist and seek to learn something from everyone I talk to.

  • What advice would you give your younger self with the benefit of hindsight?

The size of the top line and the number of people in your business are nothing more than vanity factors.

  • What do you find most rewarding about your role?
Author Joel Barnett

 Being told by clients that we’ve done great work gives me a buzz but there is no greater buzz than seeing the impact of our work translate to results.

  • And what do find most challenging?

Anything involving administration!

  • What interests do you have outside of your business?

My two daughters who delight and exasperate me in equal measure and playing and watching football.

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