The Go-to-Market Executive Hunt: Tips for Navigating the Tight Market for Top Talent
I recently had the chance to sit down with our CEO, Eric Walczykowski, during a recent Tailored Talent episode where I dove into why traditional recruiting approaches are failing in today’s hyper-competitive executive landscape. Simply put, what worked in 2023 just isn’t going to cut it in 2025’s fast-moving market.
Introducing Calibrator: AI-Driven Dynamic Scorecard Accelerating Executive Search
At Bespoke Partners, we know that a single executive hire can unlock billions in value creation for private equity firms. That’s why we are relentless in advancing the science and precision of executive search—and today, we’re proud to introduce the next evolution of that mission: Calibrator.
A Pretty Resume Won’t Cut It: Using SMART Criteria to Showcase True Value Creation
After years of assessing executive talent in private equity-backed companies, I’ve found that candidates that apply the SMART framework to major achievements on their resume cut through the noise and reveal true performance potential.
The Strategic Superpower You’re Underutilizing
In today’s volatile and talent-constrained market, the most underestimated lever for value creation isn’t a better sales strategy, more funding, or a slicker product.
Why You Don’t Need a Chief AI Officer … or Any Other Kind of ‘AI Officer’
This isn’t about being anti-AI. At Bespoke Partners, we’re bullish on AI’s transformative potential. But the idea of handing off AI to one executive misses the point entirely. AI is not a standalone function. It’s a capability that should be embedded everywhere.
CEO Search in 2025: Three Game-Changing Trends Every PE Firm Should Know
It is a competitive but exciting time in the CEO market. I wanted to sit down with our newest CEO, P&L & Board Practice Partner, Brandon Lord, to dive into these trends and see how Bespoke is leveraging them to help our clients succeed.
Food for Thought: The Crossroads of Innovative Software Leaders and Private Equity Capital in Chicago
Last week, Bespoke Partners hosted an exclusive marketing, product, and tech happy hour at Chicago’s acclaimed Momotaro restaurant, bringing together influential marketing, product and tech leaders, as well as private equity partners in the city’s tight-knit software community.
Tariffs, Tech, and Talent: What Software PE Needs Now
Trade policy volatility certainly isn’t new—but in 2025, its impact is hitting sectors the private equity world once considered insulated.
“The Talent Perfect Storm”: Top Trends from our 1H 2025 Market Report
“The Talent Perfect Storm”: Explore key findings from our 2025 Software & SaaS Talent Market Update #1, providing time-pressed portfolio talent professionals with actionable intelligence to create value and drive results.
How to find a Unicorn: An Inside Look at Bespoke’s Executive Index
I recently sat down with Bruno Kern, Research Operations Manager, whose sole role revolves around the Executive Index. And rightfully so. The Executive Index has become a critical tool for our search team to deliver outstanding results for our Software and SaaS clients. From optimizing the system’s accuracy, to improving executive categorization, Bruno ensures the Executive Index evolves in a way that aligns with real-world software executive search needs.
People, AI, and the Workplace: Wisdom for the Next Era of Talent
From where I sit as a Chief People Officer, artificial intelligence (AI) is not a replacement for people—it’s a powerful collaborator. It’s making us better, faster, and more efficient. AI is helping us do more with less. But it still depends on us: people are needed to train it, fine-tune it, and bring the nuance, empathy, and judgment that no algorithm can replicate.
Growth Equity: Supporting Founders Through Key Leadership Hires
Bespoke understands that in growth equity, strategic leadership isn’t just important—it’s the ultimate multiplier. Even the most promising companies can falter without executives who can thrive under the intense demands of this unique stage.