In this episode of The Art of Succession podcast, host Barrett Young interviews Alanna Thomas, founder of Aligned Recruitment and Thomas Media Agency. The discussion dives into Alanna’s impressive journey, from founding a recruitment company to scaling it for rapid profitability, bringing in a business partner, and successfully exiting—all within 13 months. Listeners will gain valuable insights on growth strategies, partnership dynamics, and building systems for seamless transitions.
Starting from Scratch to Rapid Growth
Alanna shares her early career experiences in recruitment and project management, which laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey. Inspired to create a scalable, team-driven business model, she founded Aligned Recruitment in April 2023. The company quickly gained traction by leveraging existing networks and a strategic focus on tech recruitment. Within just four months, she brought in a partner, Julia, to complement her operational expertise with sales acumen.
Strategic Partnerships and Complementary Roles
The partnership allowed the company to grow rapidly, reaching six employees and aiming for seven-figure revenue in its first year. Alanna and Julia’s complementary strengths—Alanna’s operational efficiency and Julia’s sales leadership—were key to the company’s success. However, their equally strong leadership ambitions led to challenges in decision-making, eventually prompting Julia to propose buying out Alanna’s shares.
A Smooth Exit and New Beginning
Despite initial plans to co-lead for the long term, Alanna recognized the benefits of an amicable split. Her systems-oriented approach had already set the company up for sustainable operations, making the transition seamless. Shortly after exiting, Alanna launched Thomas Media Agency, fulfilling her passion for social media management and content creation. With a team of seven, she’s thriving in her new venture.
Listeners can learn more about Alanna Thomas by connecting with her on LinkedIn or visiting Thomas Media Agency's website.
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