In the year 2000, with a baby on the way and a leap of faith ahead, Warwick and his business partner Ian took a bold step that would define their careers. Leaving behind the security of employment, they bought Enterprise. Warwick wasn’t deterred by the uncertainty, he was fuelled by it. “We were already doing it well for someone else,” he recalls. “So why wouldn’t we be good at doing it for ourselves?”
With Leo, the original founder, offering support and the space to lead, Warwick and Ian hit the ground running. It was a different time. Fewer systems, more gut instinct, and the kind of hustle that built foundations.
Fast forward 25 years, and the world of recruitment and the world itself has transformed. Warwick has witnessed a steady shift toward increased process and compliance across every part of business. While some of that has added value, he admits it’s also created bloat and unnecessary cost. “That’s why we need to be smart,” he says. “Adopting tools that keep us ahead, rather than just adding layers.”
Throughout his career, Warwick has worked with candidates, clients, consultants, and leaders. If there’s one thing recruitment has taught him about people, it’s that they’ll always surprise you. “Give someone the right opportunity, and you’ll be amazed at what they can do.” It’s this belief that’s helped shape Enterprise’s purpose: to improve people’s lives through opportunity.
Scaling a business nationally brought a new challenge: learning to let go. “When you’re in a branch, your fingerprint is on everything. But with multiple sites, you have to trust the people you’ve brought in and support them to lead.” His leadership philosophy? Employ great people, provide the vision, give them the tools and then get out of their way.
Even now, a quarter-century on, what excites Warwick most is the success stories. “Seeing someone land a role that changes their life, watching a client grow because of the people we’ve helped them find—You can never get tired of seeing people grow and achieve their goals."
To anyone stepping into leadership, Warwick’s advice is simple: Be authentic. “There’s so much written about what makes a great leader, but people respond to real. Don’t try to fit the mould, show up as yourself.”
That authenticity matters even more in the moments no one sees. “People assume being a CEO is all big wins and big decisions, but often, you’re dealing with the things no one else wants to touch." Because leadership is not always glamorous, but that’s part of the job. You can’t lead well if you’re only there for the spotlight, you’ve got to be there for the hard bits too.
Outside the business world, his inspiration is grounded in family and sport. “My wife and kids keep me focused on being my best. And I admire anyone who gives up everything to chase their dream. Especially in sport, where there’s no hiding. You either make it or you don’t eat. That kind of commitment is something else.”
So what’s the biggest myth about being a CEO?
“That we’re all the same. There’s no manual. You don’t become a CEO and suddenly fit a mould. You decide what kind of leader you want to be, stay true to yourself, and go after it.”
After 25 years in the driver’s seat, Warwick still finds joy in the simple, powerful parts of recruitment: helping clients succeed, placing great people, and being surprised by what humans are capable of. It hasn’t always been smooth, leadership rarely is. Behind the wins are the hard conversations, the losses, the pressure. But through it all, Warwick has stayed anchored by a few core beliefs: be authentic, back your people, and trust in the formula that works.
He’s not here to fit a mould, he’s here to lead with purpose, and that’s exactly what he’s done.
