The Real CFO Podcast with Kip Knippel

In this episode of The Real CFO Project, host Chad Brown sits down with executive recruiter and leadership advisor Kip Knippel to discuss what it really takes to build elite leadership teams and attract top-tier talent. As the founder of Kip Search, Kip works with companies across industries—from private businesses to venture-backed startups and private equity portfolio companies—helping them recruit high-level executives including CEOs, CFOs, and other C-suite leaders. Through thousands of conversations with leaders and organizations, he's developed a clear view of what separates average companies from those that consistently attract "A-players." In this conversation, Chad and Kip break down the realities of executive hiring and what business owners often get wrong when trying to level up their teams.