Widgit: Chief Growth Officer

20 Sept

Company Background

Widgit worked closely with an external HR firm to structure their organisation for more consistent growth. More Than HR contacted Oakstone International to discuss helping Widgit hire a key growth leader.
More Than HR evaluated seven search firms and presented Widgit with three firms to speak to.
Widgit chose Oakstone International to work with due to our experience working with small SaaS businesses and our cultural synergy around being a culture-first organisation.
Widgit is a mission-led, culture-first organisation and needed someone who would align with what they were building.
Widgit valued the honest approach Oakstone took when sharing knowledge about the possible challenges they may face when hiring a growth leader in their narrow space.

Widgit had many ideas for growing but needed the right person to execute their vision.
Widgit wanted to hire someone with international sales, partnerships and marketing experience, who could generate more consistent revenue streams.
They needed a commercially rounded character who could lead company growth.
The right hire would be based near to Warwick to work alongside the CEO and CTO.
Widgit wanted someone with EdTech or B Corp experience and a history of working with value-driven organisations.

The EdTech space in Warwick is minimal, and therefore finding people was challenging.
The emphasis on hiring someone who was mission-driven was more challenging to evaluate than skills and experience.

Widgit hired Jonathan Sullivan, who had previously worked in the EdTech space for WCBS, Impero, Britannica Digital Learning and Community Brands.
Jonathan had worked for international and UK headquartered businesses establishing sales, partnerships and marketing teams.
Jonathan was based close to Warwick, so could lead the transition alongside the team, and was highly driven by Widgit’s mission and values.