How CEOs Are Thinking About Their Next Act: Timing, Risk, and Conviction in 2026
In a recent Tailored Talent conversation, I sat down with Katherine Baker, CEO, Board and P&L Practice Lead at Bespoke Partners, to unpack what is actually shaping CEO decision-making right now. What stood out was not just the constraint in the market, but the degree of nuance executives are applying as they think about what comes next. This is increasingly a market defined by conviction, not volume.
Leadership Economics: Decisions That Define the Next Cycle
As 2026 begins, the conversation around leadership in private equity has shifted. The question is no longer whether talent matters. The data from 2025 made that unmistakable. The real question now is how leadership decisions shape outcomes as the market enters its next phase.
2025 in Review: What the Leadership Market Revealed Before It Was Obvious
As 2025 came to a close, one word surfaced naturally before any data review or performance analysis: gratitude. Gratitude for the teams, partners, and sponsors who trusted us with complex leadership decisions during a year that demanded precision and speed.
CFO Talent Outlook: What Sponsors Need to Prepare For in 2026
In my recent conversation with Marie Deller, our newest Partner in the Finance Executive Recruiting Practice, we spent time unpacking what is real, what is changing, and what private equity sponsors should expect in 2026.
CFO Talent Market Grows Tighter: What Sponsors Need To Know
In a recent Tailored Talent conversation I sat down with Katelyn Quaresma, Partner and Head of Bespoke’s Finance Practice, to understand what is actually happening in the CFO and VP Finance market and what sponsors should expect in the year ahead.
The GTM Shift: Leveling Up Leadership in a Tight Market
In our latest episode of Tailored Talent, I spoke with Tess Fischer, Partner and Head of our Go-To-Market Leadership Practice, about what may be one of the most complex and competitive talent markets we have seen in years.
VP & SVPs Emerge as Powerhouse in Value Creation for Private Equity
The private equity landscape for software and SaaS companies in 2025 is evolving rapidly. With deal flow accelerating and portfolios preparing for exit, Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents have emerged as the pivotal layer of leadership driving execution and value creation.
Private Equity Partnerships: Aligning Strategy, Data, and Talent
In this episode of Tailored Talent, I sat down with Matt Sommi, our Senior Vice President of Private Equity Partnerships at Bespoke Partners, to explore how his team is redefining what it means to serve private equity sponsors strategically.
Product & Tech Leadership in PE: AI, Offshoring Maturity, and the New CPO Playbook
In the latest Tailored Talent, I sat down with Ryan Bonner, Partner and Head of our Product & Tech executive search practice, to discuss what’s fueling this growth and how AI, offshoring maturity, and commercial acumen are redefining what great leadership looks like in today’s market.
The Future of Executive Search: Inside Bespoke Partners’ Executive Index
In our latest Tailored Talent vodcast, I sat down with Bruno Kern, our Research Operations Manager, to discuss how the Bespoke Partners Executive Index has evolved from an ambitious idea into a foundational innovation that is transforming the search process.
The CFO’s Moment: Raising the Bar for Financial Leadership in Industrial Portfolio Companies
When private equity investors acquire middle-market industrial businesses, the Chief Financial Officer often becomes a pivotal force in value creation.
The Second CEO: Balancing Legacy, Leadership, and Growth
In our latest episode of Tailored Talent, I sat down with Ryan Tognazzini, Partner at ETJ Life, to discuss one of the most complex inflection points in private equity leadership: following a founder as CEO. It’s a transition that requires humility, balance, and clarity.