How to Start a Best-in-Class Executive Search (Part 1)

Every strong hire starts long before outreach, interviews, or offers. In this episode of Mission One: The Executive Edge, hosts Dan Hampton and Gerard Miles open a new mini-series on world-class hiring by showing how to get clear on the specific problem the role must solve, the outcomes you expect in the next 12–24 months, and the kind of leader who can deliver them inside your stage of growth. They unpack how to align stakeholders, how to prevent the “fantasy candidate” list from taking over, and how to build a scorecard that keeps decisions grounded rather than subjective. They also debate the true value of job descriptions, when they support clarity and when they quietly derail strong searches. For any leader looking to start searches with clarity, confidence, and fewer missteps, this conversation offers a grounded guide to getting the first step right.