#27 - Empowering Employees to Fulfil Their Potential | Business, Leadership and Growth with Simon Ellis, CEO & Co-Founder of Jem

Show Notes

Did you know that 80% of the world’s workforce does not sit behind a desk, and these people are often overlooked by traditional HR platforms that provide necessary functions such as your payslip, holiday schedule, or employee information.

Simon Ellis is the CEO and Co-Founder of Jem, an innovative technology company that has developed a game-changing solution that makes essential HR functions accessible via WhatsApp. Already trusted by over 115,000 users every month, Jem is revolutionising the way non-desk workers interact with HR.

In this episode, we dive deep into Simon’s entrepreneurial journey, the inspiration behind Jem, and his ambitious vision for integrating even more daily tasks into WhatsApp. We explore how Simon plans to scale Jem to $100 million in revenue by 2030 and his people-first leadership approach, which helps employees discover their ‘genius zones.’

This conversation goes beyond business strategy—we discuss personal fulfilment, professional growth, work-life balance, authenticity, and the value of true partnerships. Simon also shares valuable advice for entrepreneurs, including his favourite podcasts and the book he’s gifted to over 100 people.

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04:00 Priority Shifts in Your 30s

07:50 Starting the Business

09:35 Empowering Employees

12:17 Challenges and Growth

23:40 WhatsApp as a Business Tool

31:00 Partnership Dynamics

43:57 The Role of Advisors and Mentors

44:22 The Importance of Vulnerability

45:27 Learning from Successful People

48:01 Balancing Work and Personal Life

54:51 Building Authentic Personal Brands

01:06:33 Living an Extraordinary Life