William Barribal, describes his path to the top of the recruitment industry and explains why his initial training was akin to a ‘baptism of fire’.

1. What is your job title? Briefly describe your current role.

I run a small but rapidly growing managed service business, In2Vista as the CEO. We provide a unique solution which benefits all parties involved in the recruitment process. The system provides an online portfolio of candidate information, including a video clip, CV details, psychometric test results and interactive feedback. The ease of access to this system means that there is significant time saving for clients, candidates and consultants involved in the process.

In2Vista was founded in March 2003. A team of eight deliver the solution to our clients. We launched our first product, In2View, in June 2003 to address fundamental problems that we saw in the recruitment industry, namely the amount of time wasted in all stages of the process by consultants, clients and candidates. Feedback from customers has been fantastic, and is already leading to new product enhancements which address other areas of the process.

2. What challenges do you come across?

On top of the challenges that every new businessman faces including securing funding, winning clients and building a great team of people, my greatest challenge is balancing my family life with an obsession for the business.

3. Describe your initial training within the profession

In a small growing company my initial training was a baptism of fire, where I survived on instinct and learned everything I needed from the colleagues around me.

4. What positions have you held?
I started in sales in 1987 and moved into management within one of the world’s leading recruitment companies, before taking a step into the executive search industry.

I spent six years working with leadership teams in some of the most interesting and diverse international organisations, before deciding that the time was right to take the ultimate challenge.

5. Is there a significant event you can tell us about which had an impact on your career?

It was the moment I realised that without the brains to be brilliant I needed to work hard to be good.

6. What has been your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement is creating a business which has a unique product in the market, challenges the status quo and makes people question the way they do things. After that it is probably being Danny Zuko in the school play – Grease!

7. What is your biggest career mistake?
Leaving a job far too long after I had decided to go.

8. Which of your colleagues played the biggest role in you getting where you are today?

The person who played the biggest role in getting me where I am is my previous boss, Mark Shields. He was brilliant, totally single minded and achieved his potential but managed to enjoy himself along the way and maintain a sense of perspective on it all.

9. What advice would you give to someone thinking of entering the profession?

Speak to the Samaritans first!

10. What are your plans for the future?

To work hard, for as long as it takes to achieve my goals.

Previous career profiles can be seen on the How Did I Get Here? page.