Blueprint for Building Great Teams

John Veal
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Welcome to Blueprint to Building Great Teams. The podcast that takes the guesswork out of hiring and team building. If you’re tired of outdated recruitment advice and buzzwords like “synergy” and “disruption,” you’re in the right place. This isn’t just another recruiter’s podcast, it’s your go-to guide for actionable insights, real-life stories, and expert advice from the people who’ve mastered the art of building high-performing teams. Each week, we sit down with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and Talent pros who’ve been in the trenches, scaling startups, transforming cultures, and hiring smarter. From avoiding the cost of a bad hire to striking the perfect balance between culture fit and skillset, we tackle the challenges that keep leaders up at night. Whether you’re a business owner, HR professional, or just someone passionate about creating great workplaces, this podcast is packed with practical tips and fresh perspectives to help you hire better, lead stronger, and build teams that thrive. Subscribe now and join us on this journey to uncover the blueprint for building great teams. Your next great hire, and your best team yet, starts here.

  1. 2D AGO

    Building a SaaS Company: Insights from Firefish's CEO

    In this podcast episode, Wendy McDougall, CEO and founder of Firefish Software, shares insights into building high-performance teams and fostering a vibrant company culture. Drawing on her background in recruitment and sports, she emphasises the importance of values over rigid cultural structures and highlights the need for adaptability and passion in early hires. McDougall discusses her hiring approach, focusing on attitude and cultural fit, which enabled her initial hires to help shape the company's evolving culture. Practical examples of her value-driven approach illustrate how Firefish maintains its commitment to customer-centric service.

    37 min

  2. FEB 11

    Ian Parslow on the Future of Sales Team Dynamics

    In this episode of the Building Great Teams podcast, Ian Parslow discusses his extensive experience in leading sales teams and transforming sales strategies over the years. Ian shares how the approach to recruitment and management has evolved, where empathy and understanding individual motivations have become key. He emphasises the importance of building teams that work well together rather than focusing on individual tenacity. Ian also highlights the shift from traditional to more sophisticated methods of engaging with prospects, reflecting on how these changes influence recruitment processes in today's evolving market.

    34 min

  3. FEB 4

    Revamping Recruitment: Jo Major

    In this podcast episode, Jo Major, a specialist in recruitment talent and inclusion, discusses her two-decade journey in the industry and her transition from traditional recruitment to focusing on diversity and inclusion. Jo highlights the flawed nature of contemporary recruitment practices, often characterised by transactional processes and a lack of genuine candidate-employer connection. She emphasises the importance of building inclusive recruitment frameworks, noting that diversity should be the outcome of solid inclusion and accessibility foundations. By leveraging her extensive experience, Jo aims to transform recruitment strategies, ensuring they prioritise human interaction, fair assessment, and an environment where all candidates can thrive.

    55 min

  4. 12/17/2025

    Building High-Performing Teams: Insights from a Global HR Leader Rob McLoughlin

    In this enlightening podcast episode, Rob, a seasoned HR expert, shares his expansive knowledge on crafting high-performing teams across global enterprises. Delving into competency-based frameworks, Rob emphasises the pivotal role of aligning behaviours with organisational values while challenging managers to welcome team diversity. From navigating cultural nuances to promoting effective workforce planning, he sheds light on varied HR practices essential for sustaining team efficiency. This episode serves as a valuable resource for industry professionals aiming to synchronise people strategies with business objectives across diverse geographical and cultural landscapes.

    39 min

  5. 12/09/2025

    Mastering Early-Stage Hiring with Rebecca McShane

    Rebecca McShane, an HR expert, shares insights on building high-performing teams without stress on this podcast episode. As the founder of SureHR, she's been pivotal in guiding startups through the intricacies of hiring and culture creation. Rebecca emphasizes the significance of planning recruitment ahead of scaling and understanding long-term team needs, not just immediate fixes. She warns against rushing hiring decisions in urgent growth scenarios and highlights the importance of defining success in job roles. Her First 10 Hires Toolkit serves as a comprehensive guide, providing tools to help founders avoid costly hiring mistakes.

    34 min

  6. 12/03/2025

    The Blueprint for Crafting Dynamic Teams: Insights from Jonathan Edwards

    In this podcast episode, Jonathan Edwards shares his extensive experience in building effective teams across local government. He emphasises the importance of diversity not just for compliance, but as a strategic asset that enriches team culture. Edwards advocates for creative recruitment techniques, casting a wide net to find the right people. By focusing on shared values and purpose, he has successfully led teams to quickly achieve cohesion. In an uncertain landscape, especially in the public sector, adaptability and forward-thinking recruitment are essential. Edwards' insights offer valuable lessons on assembling teams that thrive amid change.

    35 min

  7. 11/26/2025

    Building High-Performing Teams: Insights from Marketing Leader Felix Zoot Billson

    Felix, a marketing manager at Pure Storage, shares his extensive experience in building successful marketing teams in this podcast episode. He discusses the importance of having a clear mission statement and how culture plays a vital role in recruitment and team dynamics. Felix emphasizes the balance between technical expertise and soft skills, highlighting the significance of curiosity and emotional intelligence in marketing roles. He also draws parallels between endurance sports and team building, underscoring the value of shared missions and collective values in driving team success.

    32 min

  8. 11/19/2025

    Crafting High-Performing Teams with Richard Wilson

    In this episode, John sits down with Richard Wilson, an experienced business leader, to discuss effective strategies for building high-performing teams. Richard shares his vast experience in recruitment and outlines the importance of having a clear job specification and getting senior leaders involved in the process. He emphasises the role of a well-defined target operating model (TOM) as the cornerstone for successful team building, ensuring all components, like people, processes, and technology, are aligned with the organisation's goals.

    40 min
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About

Welcome to Blueprint to Building Great Teams. The podcast that takes the guesswork out of hiring and team building. If you’re tired of outdated recruitment advice and buzzwords like “synergy” and “disruption,” you’re in the right place. This isn’t just another recruiter’s podcast, it’s your go-to guide for actionable insights, real-life stories, and expert advice from the people who’ve mastered the art of building high-performing teams. Each week, we sit down with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and Talent pros who’ve been in the trenches, scaling startups, transforming cultures, and hiring smarter. From avoiding the cost of a bad hire to striking the perfect balance between culture fit and skillset, we tackle the challenges that keep leaders up at night. Whether you’re a business owner, HR professional, or just someone passionate about creating great workplaces, this podcast is packed with practical tips and fresh perspectives to help you hire better, lead stronger, and build teams that thrive. Subscribe now and join us on this journey to uncover the blueprint for building great teams. Your next great hire, and your best team yet, starts here.

Information

  • Creator
    John Veal
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean