Trail to Triumph: Richard Campbell's Story of Turning Passion into Profit

Richard Campbell, the founder of 10 Adventures, shares his entrepreneurial journey of turning his passion for hiking into a successful travel tech platform and podcast. After a career in startups, he created 10 Hikes, showcasing his favorite hiking trails, which organically grew into a business offering custom and private travel experiences with vetted local guides.  We also discuss the importance of hiring and retaining top talent, particularly in knowledge-based organizations, and the value of job simulations as a more effective hiring tool than relying solely on resumes and credentials. Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta. The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta. Host: Al Del Degan is a software developer and tech leader in Alberta's innovation ecosystem. He is also a Web3 enthusiast and podcaster, sharing his knowledge and passion for emerging technologies with his audience. Al is the founder and CTO of New Idea Machine, a software company dedicated to helping new developers gain hands-on experience building real-world applications. With his commitment to giving back to the community, Al is always available to offer advice on technology and business. His passion for innovation and entrepreneurship is evident in everything he does, making him a respected leader in the tech industry. Guest: Richard Campbell is the founder and CEO of 10Adventures, a platform to book customizable and private active vacations. With trips in 85+ countries and travellers from 35+ countries, 10Adventures is a global platform that enables people to create meaningful travel experiences with the people that matter most in their lives. These shared experiences end up as the photos on their walls, the stories that are told at family reunions, and the memories that last a lifetime.  Richard has spent his 25-year career in high-growth start-ups and scale-ups, having worked across three continents, and worked in English, French, and Spanish.  In addition, Richard is an adventure traveler himself, and now spends his weekends exploring the Rocky Mountains with his wife and 3 children.   Show Links: 10 Adventures Sloan Fellowship London Business School  Show Quotes: "And so it's like we discovered this little pot of gold that none of our competitors were looking for." "You test everybody. And then you interview the people who can do the job, which means you become way more diverse and remove almost all the bias out of the hiring process."   Credits... This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine Episode Music: Tony Del Degan Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan