Companies big and small, early-stage and mature, all have their eyes on the prize: Transformation in the new year.
And with good reason. While there's still a bit of uncertainty in the market, companies are finally coming up for air and betting big again. Some are hoping to capitalize on AI, while others are doubling down on global expansion. Whatever the big bet companies are making, there remains one little (massive) problem: they lack the right leaders to drive these high-stakes initiatives.
A recent Hunt Club market survey revealed that only 39% of companies feel they have the right executive leader to drive their strategic goals and plans in the new year.
A big problem, but not unsolvable.
Do You Have the Right Exec Leaders To Drive Big Goals? 4 Archetypes To Know
So where do you start? Sometimes, it's as simple as knowing the players on the board. Understanding what you have, and what you don't have, so you can better determine what you need.
Knowing key executive archetypes can help you assess your top talent with sharper insight, pinpointing leaders who can execute—and spotting gaps before they derail your plans. By understanding which archetypes align best with your vision, you can build a better leadership team to take on any big goal or challenge.
Over 1000s of Searches, Hunt Club CEO Shares How Archetypes Help Define a Better Candidate
We talked to Hunt Club CEO, Nick Cromydas, on the leadership archetypes he's seen over thousands of searches in the last few years. "Most people start a search with something like, 'I need a CEO with:
- Scale experience between $20-300M
- Has taken a company public
- Understands SaaS with an expertise in Martech
- Lives in San Francisco, and also grew up in sales/revenue orgs
- Has IPO experience
- Has raised outside capital north of $50M...
The list goes on. That's pretty narrow!"
Is it any wonder why it's become so hard to find a bullseye candidate these days? Cromydas also shares, "Nearly every single executive or VP+ search you run should have multiple archetypes that could work."
His last piece of advice? "Put pen to paper and define your archetypes before you kick off your next exec search."
Now, let's get to know a few of the key archetypes.
1. The 0-1 Serial Entrepreneur 🏆
A strong entrepreneur who has built from zero multiple times and scaled to winning outcomes. They know how to navigate and build in uncertainty, leveraging creativity and resilience to turn ideas into successful ventures.
2. The Technical Savant 💡
An incredibly strong and “hands-on” technical specialist who has the technical vision to bring a product to life. They possess deep expertise and an intuitive understanding of technology, allowing them to translate complex ideas into actionable plans. Their collaborative approach and attention to detail ensure that every aspect of development aligns with the overall vision, driving innovation and quality.
3. The Early-Stage Rising Star 💫
An early-stage employee who has scaled to a few levels beyond inception. They’ve succeeded at every level of the organization and advanced as the company has grown. This leader has a wide range of functional backgrounds, but has a fundamental desire/need to start something one day and sit in the founder seat.
4. The Passionate Domain Expert 💼
A business leader from a wide variety of backgrounds whose passion for solving the problem at hand “propels” them to get their hands dirty, do more, and bring a business to life. They have a deep understanding of the space (has lived its pains) and bring a strong set of relevant connections and networking influence.
Success In the New Year Hinges on the Right Hiring Strategy & Talent
Success in the new year won’t just come from ambitious plans—it will hinge on the people you trust to execute them. Understanding executive archetypes gives you the insight to choose leaders whose strengths align with your goals, ensuring you have the visionaries, strategists, and operators to turn plans into progress
Are you ready to build a team that can truly deliver on the future you’re betting on?
