🧐 TL;DR
Starting with zero industry knowledge, Francis Koh built Capita into a successful recruitment and talent management company. From having no fixed processes or systems, he developed the distinctive "Capita Way," maintaining an 80% retention rate of his pioneer team and expanding from Singapore into regional markets.
🦉 Words of Wisdom: "We basically plunged into the business without fixed processes, systems, or a wealth of experience. This was quite challenging as we had to develop our own systems and processes from scratch.” - Francis Koh
📖 Learn: Building from Zero
When Francis Koh entered the recruitment business, he described himself as "a blank piece of paper" with little knowledge of the industry. This lack of experience, while challenging, became an advantage—it meant the company wasn't overly influenced by how others conducted their business. Instead, they created their own processes based on their core values, establishing what would become known as the "Capita Way.”
Key Learning Points
- Start with a learning mindset
- Develop your own systems and processes
- Build on fundamental values
💡 Ideate: The People-First Approach
Koh recognized early that people were his most valuable assets. He developed a business model based on three core principles: mutual respect, responsibility, and partnership. "They are not just my employees; they are my partners," he emphasized, creating a foundation for long-term relationships with his team.
Validation Markers:
- High retention of pioneer team members
- Strong employee loyalty
- Successful partner relationships
🛠️ Build: Creating Strong Foundations
Staff retention became a key focus for Capita. Koh was deliberate in his actions while managing his people, treating them as valuable assets and partners rather than just employees. This approach proved successful, with most of his pioneer team members remaining with the company years later.
Building Blocks:
- Established clear principles of mutual respect
- Developed strong partnerships
- Created specialized business divisions
🌱 Grow: Thriving Through Crisis
Staff retention became a key focus for Capita. Koh was deliberate in his actions while managing his people, treating them as valuable assets and partners rather than just employees. This approach proved successful, with most of his pioneer team members remaining with the company years later.
Growth Milestones:
- Survived and grew through the 2008 financial crisis
- Successfully expanded into Malaysia in 2012
- Established business specializations across various sectors
- Built a comprehensive talent management platform
🔑 Key Takeaways for Aspiring Founders
Francis Koh's journey demonstrates how starting from scratch, with strong principles and a focus on people, can build a sustainable and successful business in Singapore's competitive recruitment industry.
- Build systems based on strong values
- Focus on people development
- Turn challenges into growth opportunities
- Maintain business ethics while scaling
- Create a culture of mutual respect and responsibility
👍 FounderStory Recommends:
References: 1. Enterprise 50 Association 2016, Leading Entrepreneurs and How They Succeed, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, ISBN: 9789814759939.
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