Recruiting AI Talent: 3 Helpful Strategies To Maximize Your Success

Michelle Han-Taylor 2 min read 23 Apr 2025

1. Apply the Bar-to-Brand Barometer

Think about your perfect AI leader. What is your “hiring bar” for their skills, education, prior company experience, qualities, etc.?

Now, think about your company brand in relation to the market.

Do you have the brand and story to attract who your business needs?

The Bar-to-Brand barometer has a direct correlation with whether or not you will be successful in recruiting, with parity = higher likelihood of success.

a tall bar on the left that reads "talent" with a shorter bar on the right reading "company brand" with a highlighted gap in between the two

Filling the gap

You will have a gap, as top AI leaders are in high demand. But how do you fill the gap so you can achieve parity between your hiring bar and brand?

The art lies in nailing every layer to your value proposition (more below) and understanding the total addressable candidate market.

2. Nail Your Value Proposition With a Layered Framework

Top AI leaders are not hired. They’re found and recruited.

Structure your value proposition into three strategic layers starting from top–down: 1) Company impact, 2) Team impact, and 3) Role impact.

Develop precise and consistent talking points that are unique to your company across each layer, including why and how AI is critical to your company story to resonate with top talent.

Layers To Your Value Proposition

COMPANY

What does your company build, and how will it benefit the greater good/society?
What is your total addressable market, and where are you on that journey?
Who are your competitors, and why are you different or better?
How will AI help you move faster and better toward the company vision?

TEAM

What experiences do your investors and advisors bring to the table?
What are the team’s strengths and growth areas? Where do they need to go?
What is the culture and appetite for risk and innovation versus quicker pragmatic solutions from the team?

ROLE

What level of autonomy will there be in defining the AI strategy and roadmap?
How will the company support the role in key areas (e.g., decision-making, moving fast, prototyping, resources, blocking & tackling, etc.)?

KEEP IN MIND: Your value proposition might not be one-size-fits-all, as each AI leader may value one layer more than the other. By listening to and understanding the deeper motivations of each leader, you’ll be better equipped to frame your value proposition in a compelling way.

4 Important Insights To Round Out Your Value Proposition: Lessons Learned From Recruiting Top AI Leaders

Access to large data sets, infrastructure & resources: AI leaders are looking for a destination where they can tackle novel, sophisticated, complex problems with a world-class team and the resources to back.
Ownership & authority: They want a hand in shaping the company strategy and product. They need a seat at the table, and to be a business partner/
Company culture: They want to move fast in a culture of experimentation, innovation, autonomy, and empowerment.
Compensation: It s pay to play. AI leaders average ~15% to 30%+ in annual cash compensation as compared to peers who have no AI experience.

3. Identify AI Leaders With Early Adopter Traits To Future-Proof Your Business

In past major technology eras, the companies and leaders who embraced an early-adopter mindset came out ahead and succeeded. Today is no different.

We’re stepping into something new — something new that changes fast. AI leaders who embody early adopter traits will help your company stay ahead of the curve.

product adoption curve

a table showing a recruiting scorecard for early adopter traits in AI leaders

The Right AI Leader Can Drive the Innovation Your Business Needs

The talent market for AI leaders is moving fast — and in today’s rapidly shifting tech and product landscape, finding the right people has never been more complex or more critical.

Now’s the time to get ahead. Building a hiring strategy that attracts, resonates with, and converts the right AI leaders can set the foundation for long-term success and give you a real edge in a competitive market.