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We want our executive placement partners to have easy access to information on the latest industry trends and challenges. That’s why we share up-to-date, relevant content. Here, you can find posts that deep-dive into important topics in our world.

Nina Baker Nina Baker

Executive Interview Questions & How to Decode the Answers

Executive interviews aren’t about asking the perfect question, they’re about decoding the answer. This guide shares how to evaluate executive interview responses to uncover leadership potential and make better hiring decisions that drive business impact.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

10 Red Flags in Executive Hiring (And How to Identify Them)

Even the most seasoned hiring leaders can be swayed by a polished resume or a confident, charismatic executive. But true executive assessment goes beyond first impressions.

In this article, we outline 10 common warning signs in executive search — from vague resumes and high turnover to ego-driven leadership and poor cultural alignment — and offer practical strategies to help you uncover what’s beneath the surface.

By recognizing these patterns early, you can protect your organization from costly mis-hires and ensure your next executive hire drives meaningful, lasting impact.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

What Makes a High-Impact CTO in Today’s Business Landscape?

Modern CTOs sit at the crossroads of innovation and enterprise strategy, shaping product lifecycles, leading cross-functional teams, and driving measurable business impact. From accelerating time-to-market to attracting world-class talent, their influence extends across the entire organization. This article explores how the CTO role has evolved and why the most effective leaders now operate as architects of growth, strategy, and competitive advantage.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

PE Recruiting Guide: Private Equity Recruiting for Portfolio Company Success

Private equity recruiting is mission critical for portfolio value creation. From CEO transitions to finance, operations, and growth leaders, the right executives can accelerate transformation and deliver measurable ROI. Explore proven strategies, evolving hiring trends, and best practices in executive search for private equity portfolio companies.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

PE and VC Recruiting Strategies: Tailoring Executive Search for Portfolio Success

Private equity recruiting and venture capital executive search share the goal of building leadership teams that deliver results, but the strategies involved vary greatly. From time horizons and governance structures to talent profiles and scaling priorities, PE-backed companies and VC-backed startups demand unique executive capabilities. This article breaks down the key differences in leadership needs, the role of specialized executive search partners, and how investors can align hiring strategies to drive portfolio company success.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

What to Look for in a Search Partner: 7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Choosing the right executive search partner will shape the future of your leadership team. Whether you're preparing for commercial launch in a MedTech startup, hiring for a cybersecurity-sensitive role in cutting-edge SaaS, or scaling a PE-backed portfolio company, not all search firms deliver with the same level of rigor, transparency, and follow-through. This guide outlines 7 essential questions to ask before you sign so you can find a partner who aligns with your goals and won’t walk away when the search gets tough.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

Executive Search Kickoff Checklist: Aligning Your Team for Hiring Success

A successful executive hire starts well before interviews begin. This article breaks down how to align your stakeholders ahead of a search—and includes a free downloadable checklist to guide your team through the process. Whether you're replacing a key leader or scaling your team, use this tool to set your search up for speed, clarity, and success.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

Fueling Operational Success: The Critical Role of Transformational COOs

As part of our “Role Call: C-Suite Leadership Series,” we dig into the critical role of COOs, and the COO-CEO dynamic. Ever wondered how to identify a transformational operations leader? Read on to learn what our experienced executive search team has on their mind when leading critical operations searches.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

How Strategic Regulatory Executives Drive Global Market Success

In this edition of our “Role Call: C-Suite Leadership Series,” we explore how strategic regulatory executives have evolved from compliance gatekeepers to growth catalysts. See how these leaders help companies navigate complex international frameworks, mitigate enterprise risks, enable innovation, and protect long-term valuation.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

Private Equity’s Playbook: Executive Leaders That Drive Portfolio Value

In today’s environment, strong leadership is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a core lever in a firm’s ability to create value. Yet many PE investors still face uncertainty around how to assess leadership readiness, align hires with the investment thesis, or support executives post-hire. Clarifying what great looks like—and where the gaps are—can help firms make more confident, effective leadership decisions.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

Why Executive Search Should Be a Strategic Investment, Not a Last Resort

Too often, executive search is treated as a last resort — initiated only when there’s a crisis or vacancy. But forward-looking companies are reframing it as a strategic investment. When approached proactively, executive search helps build leadership pipelines, reduce hiring risks, and align talent with long-term growth.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

From Good to Great: What Sets Elite CROs Apart

A top-tier CRO doesn’t just drive revenue—they transform it. In this edition of our “Role Call: C-Suite Leadership Series,” the Summit Search Consultants team explores what sets high-impact revenue leaders apart and how the right CRO can accelerate growth, unify go-to-market functions, and deliver results that align with your strategic vision.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

The CHRO Advantage: HR Leaders Who Drive Enterprise Value

In today's business landscape, the role of the CHRO has evolved into a strategic driver of enterprise value. As part of our “Roll Call: C-Suite Leadership Series,” we explore the critical traits that define successful HR leaders, including business acumen, change leadership, and strategic foresight. Learn how HR executives are aligning talent strategy with organizational goals to achieve measurable results. Dive into a real-world case study where two VP, HR roles were filled to transform a global MedTech company, demonstrating the power of HR leadership in driving growth, culture, and performance.

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Nina Baker Nina Baker

Building a Competitive Advantage: The Strategic Value of Sales Operations

Whether scaling a high-growth portfolio company or optimizing a mature commercial engine, Sales Operations is a strategic lever for driving efficiency, visibility, and execution. In this article, we explore why PE-backed firms increasingly prioritize this function—and how even a $5B+ medical device manufacturer unlocked new value by investing in a senior Sales Ops leader to support forecasting, decision-making, and scalable growth infrastructure.

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Tracy Nickell Tracy Nickell

The Leadership Wake-Up Call: Recognizing When It’s Time for a Change at the Top

Leadership transitions aren’t just inevitable—they’re essential for growth. This article explores five pivotal moments when yesterday’s leaders may no longer be the right fit for tomorrow’s company. From post-investment inflection points to innovation lags and cultural misalignment, we examine the signs it’s time for change at the top—and why making that change strategically can unlock the next stage of success.

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