What does it really take to build a business from nothing: no experience, no funding, and no plan, and still make it work?

In this episode of The Founder Files, Cameron Coutts sits down with Shaun Raaff, the co-founder and CEO of Humanity SA, a people-first talent and consulting group that’s reshaping the way recruitment and employer branding is done in South Africa.

Shaun shares the real story behind Humanity SA’s journey:

• How he went from PE teacher to entrepreneur with no business background.

• The eight years of no profit before their hockey-stick growth.

• The power of ADHD, sport, and resilience in business.

• Why Humanity wins by playing the long game, putting people and relationships before quick wins.

• The founder breakup lessons that shaped the company’s future

If you’re a founder, business owner, or builder who’s stuck in the trenches, this episode will give you perspective, patience, and practical lessons to keep going.

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This episode is brought to you by Metavolve.

Metavolve is a team of focused experts committed to helping entrepreneurs like you scale their businesses successfully. Reach out to our team to learn more: https://metavolve.co/

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🔗 Connect with Shaun:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-raaff-98257230/

🔗 Connect with Cameron:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefounderfilespodcast/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-metavolve/

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

04:28 How Humanity SA Started

07:21 Hockey Stick Growth: 8 Years, No Profit

14:18 How Sports and ADHD Shaped My Mindset as a Founder

26:14 The Real Reason Humanity SA Finally Scaled

49:54 From Four Founders to One: The Shareholding Journey

1:10:47 Crucial Conversations: Lessons in Conflict, Clarity, and Leadership

1:27:32 The Future of Humanity SA: Betting Big on People