Edmond Hagenes

Why this persona fits the audience

Co-owns a 2-person recruitment agency in London and manages candidate notes, client follow-ups, and shortlist tracking in Airtable, email, and spreadsheets; the business has only a few paid software subscriptions and uses free tools wherever possible.

• Age: 29
• Location: London, UK
• Occupation: Recruitment agency co-owner
• Income: £46k
• Education: Bachelor's degree in business
• Company size: 2
• Years in role: 5

“Every minute spent not generating revenue or placing a candidate is a minute lost.”

Edmond Hagenes, 29, is a driven co-owner of a two-person recruitment agency based in London. Armed with a Bachelor's degree in Business and five years in the industry, he co-founded his agency with a clear vision for commercial growth and efficiency. His days are a testament to his pragmatism and resilience, managing everything from candidate outreach and client relationship management to the meticulous tracking of every lead and placement through Airtable, email, and a series of carefully managed spreadsheets. His agency operates on a lean model, deliberately minimizing paid software subscriptions and favouring free tools to conserve capital, a reflection of his inherent resourcefulness and cautious approach to expenditure. Edmond is highly energetic and sociable, traits that serve him well in the client-facing and candidate-heavy nature of his work. He sees himself as an entrepreneur first, constantly looking for ways to optimize processes and maximize output. He recently decided against investing in a more sophisticated CRM system, opting instead to refine his current Airtable setup and invest his limited budget in targeted LinkedIn advertising to find new clients, a decision driven by his immediate need for lead generation over a perceived long-term, but costly, solution. Edmond's ambition is palpable; he views every challenge as an opportunity to learn and adapt, believing that resilience and a sharp focus on results are the cornerstones of his business's future success. He's always on the lookout for innovative, cost-effective ways to streamline his operations, aiming for speed and effectiveness in a competitive market. His income, while respectable, is constantly being weighed against the potential for reinvestment, shaping his spending habits towards practical tools and experiences that directly contribute to business expansion.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Edmond's day starts around 7:00 AM with a quick scan of industry news and emails before heading to the gym or grabbing a coffee. By 9:00 AM, he's at his small London office, reviewing candidate applications and client briefs. The morning is a blur of calls with potential candidates, scheduling interviews, and responding to client queries. Lunch is usually a quick sandwich at his desk while planning afternoon prospecting activities. Afternoons involve more client calls, follow-ups, and updating Airtable. He often stays until 7:00 PM, trying to get ahead on tasks or research new lead generation strategies, before commuting home for a simple dinner and maybe an hour of watching football highlights.

Lifestyle

Edmond shares a modest two-bedroom flat in Earl's Court with a friend he met at university, saving money to invest back into the business. His income is comfortable but not extravagant, so he's mindful of expenses, favouring pub lunches over expensive restaurants and enjoying free weekend activities like park runs or exploring London's free museums. He's dedicated to his fitness, aiming for three gym sessions a week, and follows his local football club religiously. Money is a tool for growth, and he sees every saving as a potential reinvestment.

Work life

As co-owner of a lean recruitment agency, Edmond’s days are a constant juggle. He’s the primary point of contact for candidate communication and client follow-ups, meticulously updating their Airtable base and shared spreadsheets. He’s constantly on the lookout for new clients, dedicating significant time to sales prospecting via LinkedIn and cold emails. His colleague handles the more technical sourcing, but Edmond oversees the entire candidate pipeline. The pressure is on to deliver results quickly for clients while keeping overheads critically low, which means he’s always evaluating if a new tool is truly necessary.

Relationships

Edmond maintains a close circle of university friends, a few of whom are also in entrepreneurial roles, making them a sounding board for business ideas. His business partner, Liam, is his main professional confidant. He has a good but somewhat distant relationship with his parents, who live outside London and are proud of his entrepreneurial spirit but don't fully grasp the daily grind.

How they decide

Edmond tends to be pragmatic and data-informed when possible, but also values speed. He’ll research options thoroughly if there’s a significant investment of time or money, but for smaller, tactical tools, he’s more inclined to trial and error, favouring solutions that offer clear, immediate benefits and integration with his existing workflow. Peer recommendations from trusted contacts also carry weight.

How they sound

Speaks with a clear, brisk London accent, often using business jargon mixed with casual slang like 'mate', 'brilliant', or 'nailed it'. He tends to speak quickly when excited about a new idea or a potential deal. Avoids overly technical jargon with clients but uses it with his partner. Keeps his tone generally optimistic and driven, rarely dwelling on negativity unless framing a problem to be solved.