Building a Niche, Breaking the Mold & Doing Recruitment the Right Way – with Zoe Chatley

In this raw, honest and wide-ranging episode of Get Rich or Die Hiring, Will Grashoff sits down with Zoe Chatley, founder of The Channel Recruiter, to unpack what it really takes to build a specialist recruitment business, survive burnout, and win in a highly male-dominated market.Zoe shares her full journey through recruitment – from falling into the industry, mastering a deep niche in the IT Channel, becoming a top biller, and ultimately taking the leap to launch her own business while on maternity leave. This conversation goes far beyond surface-level success and dives into the realities of leadership, resilience, values, and doing recruitment properly.Topics covered include:What “The Channel” actually is in tech and why specialism mattersBuilding a personal brand that attracts clients and candidatesThe transition from top biller to business ownerWinning and delivering large RPOs as a small specialist firmOld-school recruitment skills vs modern automationWhy picking up the phone still wins business360 recruitment, delivery models, and structuring high-performing teamsNavigating misogyny and bias in recruitment and techSupporting working parents and flexible workingLeadership mistakes, hiring lessons, and tough people decisionsBurnout, health, boundaries, and the value of having a coachWhy values, ethics, and reputation still matter in recruitmentZoe is refreshingly candid about her “battle scars”, sharing lessons learned from hiring the wrong people, overworking herself, and trying to do too much. She also explains how coaching helped her regain control, refocus on her strengths, and build a business that works for her life – not the other way around.This is a must-listen episode for recruiters who want longevity, not just short-term wins.Who this episode is for:Recruiters thinking about launching their own agencyFounders struggling with burnout or leadership challengesRecruiters working in niche or specialist marketsAnyone trying to balance billing, management, and life outside workRecruiters who believe ethics and relationships still matterThose frustrated with “spray and pray” modern recruitment tactics🔗 Connect with the guestZoe Chatley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoechatley/🔗 Connect with the hostWill Grashoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willgrashoff/Check out Will’s Talent: https://www.willstalent.com/#getrichordiehiring #recruitmentpodcast #recruitmentlife #recruitmentagency #founderstories #womeninrecruitment #nicherecruitment #techrecruitment #leadership #burnout #personalbrand #recruitmentbusiness #hiringtruths