Season 8 | Ep15 From doubt to £1M in 2yrs: How Hemish Ilangaratne built RX Group

On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I am joined by Hemish Ilangaratne, founder of RX Group, a specialist life sciences recruitment agency.In this candid episode, Hemish sheds light on his inspiring journey: From 11 years at S3 Group (where he didn’t close a single deal in the last seven years) to launching RX Group in 2023.Exceeding his modest first-year goal of £150k and reaching nearly £1M in revenue within two years.How self-doubt and perseverance shaped his decision to become an entrepreneur.Building a successful life sciences recruitment business serving clients across the US.The role of personal branding, LinkedIn, and a supportive partner in his rapid growth.Insights on leadership, team-building, and creating a positive impact in a niche market.Hemish’s story is a testament to resilience, strategy, and the power of believing in yourself – even when doubt creeps in. If you’re considering launching your own business or want to learn how to thrive in 2025, this episode is for you!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters00:00 Introduction to Hemish Ilangaratne and RX Group06:49 Career development at S312:26 Transitioning to management roles17:58 Challenges in leadership and team management21:01 The decision to start RX Group25:19 Navigating family expectations and career choices29:49 Transitioning to entrepreneurship32:38 Starting the journey34:04 Building a personal brand35:58 Leveraging LinkedIn for success37:30 Quantifying revenue growth39:54 The importance of leadership41:21 Balancing work and personal life43:17 Enjoying independence in business45:29 Future growth plans47:53 Hiring strategies and team dynamics49:19 Creating a meaningful impact51:54 The bigger picture of business goals53:27 Attracting talent in a niche market55:31 Building confidence before quitting---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Episode Sponsor: Beyond the Founder.What is the essential senior hire you need to make to increase revenue and protect your recruitment business as it grows? Let’s be honest, building and scaling an agency isn’t just about billing more. It’s about putting together a leadership team that you trust to help you take your business to the next level. That’s where Beyond the Founder comes in. They specialise in placing leaders who make an impact – whether it’s a Managing Director to shape your vision, a Sales leader to boost revenue, or an Ops expert to streamline your processes. Their no-nonsense, tailored approach is designed to save ambitious recruitment founders time and to deliver results.Paul, the man behind Beyond the Founder, has over 20 years of experience scaling recruitment businesses himself, so he understands what’s at stake for his clients. What Paul and his team do so well is relieve that pressure. They help you remove your biggest obstacle to growth: finding and securing your key hires. And they do it in a way that supports your long-term business goals.  So, if you’re serious about growing your recruitment agency or if you want to build a business that...