#24 Hiring Executives in 2026: What Startups Keep Getting Wrong — with John Pezoulas, Co-Founder of Ready Set Exec

In this episode of the Built by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with John Pezoulas, co-founder and managing partner of Ready Set Exec, about the realities of executive hiring in startups and scaling companies. With from more than 20 years in recruitment and executive search, John shares why recruiting is ultimately about helping people find opportunities where they can succeed — not just filling roles. The conversation explores how startups often overhire for titles they don’t actually need yet, why great recruiters rely more on curiosity and research than industry background alone, and how executive turnover can quietly damage business momentum and team trust. John also explains why founders need to balance ambition with realistic compensation, how employer branding became essential for attracting senior talent, and why companies should treat recruitment as a long-term culture-building exercise rather than a transactional process. Takeaways Strong recruiters succeed because they learn fast, not because they already know every industry. Curiosity, research, and the ability to deeply understand a business matter more than starting as a subject-matter expert. Startups often hire for aspirational titles instead of current business needs. A company may not need a C-level executive yet — sometimes a strong director plus fractional leadership creates better results at an earlier stage. Executive turnover creates hidden operational costs beyond replacement fees. Every leadership change disrupts trust, team dynamics, decision-making speed, and institutional knowledge across the company. Employer branding is no longer optional for startups hiring senior talent. Candidates increasingly evaluate founders’ visibility, company reputation, and online presence before considering high-risk opportunities. Recruitment is fundamentally a culture-building function. Every leadership hire reshapes how teams collaborate, communicate, and perform together over time. https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/ readysetexec.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Recruitment and Career Paths 02:22 The Satisfaction of Recruitment 05:38 Understanding the Role of Recruiters 06:27 The Importance of Industry Knowledge 10:09 Consultation and Strategy in Executive Search 14:29 Navigating Startup Hiring Challenges 20:01 Retention of Executive Leaders 23:50 The Cost of Turnover in Leadership 26:52 Onboarding and Team Dynamics 27:50 Job Market Predictions for 2026