Ravi Rao, an EO Melbourne member, serves as the Senior Recruitment Specialist and Registered Australian Director of Hunter Professional, a boutique Australian agency providing trusted recruitment referrals. He excels in recruitment technology and is renowned for his skill in recruiting high-calibre talent and establishing prosperous businesses.
We get to learn more about Ravi through this Member Focus feature:
Q: Can you provide a brief background about yourself, your family, and your business?
I’m Ravi Rao, a Melbourne-based recruiting expert and thought leader with 22 years of industry experience. I specialise in recruitment technology and am known for my ability to hire top-tier talent and build successful businesses. My proudest achievement so far has been turning a personal startup investment of $50,000 into a multimillion-dollar global enterprise; my company, Hunter Professional. I love Sci-Fi movies with popcorn, of course, hanging out with my wife and watching my son play the beautiful game that is soccer.
Q: What inspired you to embark on the entrepreneurial journey?
It was Dad who suggested I start my own business. At the time of his suggestion, I had already worked in two successful recruitment startups, but for investors. Through these journeys, I've gained a wealth of insights about what ignites success, what doesn’t, and how to tap into the best talent worldwide. I wanted to bring a higher level of service and success to my clients and I felt I could do it better.
Q: What aspects of being an entrepreneur do you enjoy the most?
I can be my authentic self and deliver a high-touch service that I can be proud of. It’s also about being creative which has paved the way for what we offer at Hunter – solutions that are as agile as they are transformative. Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster, and I've gained stripes in resilience and humility.
Q: What are the significant challenges you have encountered as an entrepreneur?
In the early days, it was convincing clients that I could provide a better service than what was already being provided. Being self-funded is a long slow journey. I had to budget, sacrifice and work long hours with no pay. The biggest mental challenge, in my opinion, is self-belief in all its forms. I’m a different person mentally now from the one that started the business 13 years ago and I’m thankful for the journey.
Q: What motivated you to join EO?
I wanted to learn from others who are on the same personal, mental and business journey, and EO’s structure hit the mark. A few trusted recommendations also helped. Being surrounded by a tribe of EOers is motivating and, to top it all off, I have an amazing forum group of “supersonic superstars!”
Q: Can you share a valuable lesson you've learned from your own experience or another entrepreneur or mentor?
Learn, learn, learn and learn! Learning and adapting to hurdles that come my way personally, physically and mentally is the key in my opinion. Take responsibility for every outcome and reflect. I like to think of it as technology and inputting new technology into my brain. Sounds a bit like Robo-Cop, I know, but that also includes a massive injection of compassion. This one habit has helped me build a successful business career and more importantly, a wonderfully fulfilling family life.