Lightning was founded to make the travel industry better. Now we're back to make a great recruitment experience the norm.
Founded in 2019 by Thea Bardot (they/she) Lightning's DNA was knowing good relationships lead to great business – and that, ultimately, personal connections are the most valuable asset in any industry.
Thea built Lightning's foundations on long-term, personal relationships with both clients and candidates, helping to build an industry that genuinely reflects the wonderful human beings on our planet via headhunting and exclusivity.
Having spent some time away to focus on transitioning, Thea sold the business to HR icons Cape Consulting, who help grow businesses by growing the people behind them. Mac Schimm & Franzi Schimm have joined Lightning as Directors and Thea is now our lead talent consultant.
This new era of Lightning sees the company keep its core DNA, but being powered Cape Consulting, we are now able to work with even more of the travel industry - not just focused on the luxury side and are also able to offer HR services, alongside consultative recruitment and our award winning support for candidates.
Our values guide us everyday.
They are a framework for the way we operate - the 'how' to our 'why'. Feel free to borrow them. What's ours is yours. In fact, please do. We'd love everybody in our industry to live by them.
Be empowering Everyone being the same is boring – and it makes for really bad business. So, seek new perspectives. Encourage authenticity. Celebrate differences. Because everyone should be able to bring their whole self to work.
Be human Like it or not, work is emotional because it impacts people’s lives. So, be compassionate. Show generosity. Foster long-term relationships that help everyone thrive. And, for goodness sake, don’t ghost people.
Be better Just because it’s always been done that way, doesn’t mean it’s right. So, call out bullsh*t. Lead the crowd, don’t follow it. Make choices you’re proud of. Because it’s on all of us to try harder and make our industry an example to follow.
Our team gives a sh*t
We’re not one of those faceless organisations where you never speak to the same person twice. The lightning team is small but mighty – think of us as an extension of your own, on hand every step of the way.
Thea Bardot
(They/Them/She/Her)
Trans Non-binary finery & AUDHD babe, Thea is a strong believer in the power of personal relationships & Rufus the Dachshunds human. Thea is a quiz host, career coach & avid tennis player 🎾
Mac Schimm
(He/Him)
Has always believed that organisations grow when their people do & thrives on his work to enable just that. Lover of dogs, but does not yet have a dog. Mac is a magpie at heart and loves shiny things ⚡️
Franzi Schimm
(She/Her)
An avid traveller and super passionate about the intersection of cultures, ideas and perspectives. Franzi prides herself on her complex problem solving abilities ✨
Our name is a tribute
Believe it or not, we didn’t choose Lightning as our name because of the cute emoji. Truth is, we were brainstorming in a pub – where all our best work happens – thinking about changemakers and queer icons who champion individuality and send jolts through their industries. Bowie. Gaga. Potter. (Okay, maybe not the last one.) Their lightning bolts represent power and decisiveness – flashes of clarity, inspiration, and creativity.
That settled it. We registered the name Lightning Travel Recruitment that very night. (The cute emoji is a definite bonus, we have to admit ⚡)
We create headlines.
