Why Visionary Leaders Are a Harder Sell Right Now

 

Visionary leaders often come with higher compensation expectations, bigger organizational changes, longer timelines to see ROI, more tolerance for risk. Many companies simply don’t have the runway — financially or culturally — to absorb disruption. Even great ideas can feel threatening when teams are stretched thin and leaders are managing daily volatility. So, vision isn’t gone. It’s just being deferred.

Here’s the quiet truth - Some organizations are hiring operators now because they hope to hire visionaries later. The operator gets the business steady. The visionary comes in once the foundation is secure. That’s a smart strategy — but only if companies are honest about it. Problems happen when businesses say they want innovation, growth, and transformation… but hire for control, predictability, and risk reduction. That mismatch leads to frustration on both sides. If you’re a visionary leader struggling to land roles right now, it may not be you. The market is simply rewarding a different skill set in this moment.

On the flip side, operational leaders who once felt “less exciting” are suddenly highly sought after — especially those who can balance discipline with empathy and communicate stability without stagnation. The most future-proof leaders right now?
Operators who can think strategically, not just tactically. If you’re hiring leadership today, ask yourself:

• Do we truly want change — or do we want control?
• Are we hiring for the next 12 months or the next 5 years?
• Are we clear about the mandate we’re offering?

There’s nothing wrong with prioritizing operational strength. But clarity matters. Hiring the wrong leader for the wrong moment is expensive — and avoidable. This isn’t the end of visionary leadership. It’s a pause. Economic cycles shape leadership demand, and right now the pendulum has swung toward execution over experimentation. The companies that win will be the ones that understand why they’re hiring the leader they choose — and prepare for when the pendulum swings back. Because it always does.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year!!

 

As the year ends, I’d like to thank you for your continued partnership and trust. Dave, our retired founder, is doing very well and asked that I pass along his warmest wishes to you and your team for a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a joyful holiday season.

Looking ahead to 2026, AI will continue to be a powerful advantage for organizations that use it thoughtfully. A few simple ideas as you plan -

• Use AI to save time on routine work so your people can focus on what matters most
• Invest in data quality—good inputs drive good outcomes
• Encourage teams to learn how to work with AI, not around it

We’re excited about the year ahead and look forward to continuing our work together. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a successful New Year.  - H. 

 

Better Resume For AI

 

Use the Job Description Like a Cheat Sheet -  AI resume screeners (and even recruiters using AI) match your resume to the job description.  Copy true to you key skills, tools, and responsibilities from the posting. For example, if the job mentions “cross-functional collaboration” or “data-driven decision-making,” include those exact phrases where relevant.

Optimize for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) - Most resumes are read by software before a human.  Use a simple format — no fancy tables, graphics, or columns.  Save as .docx or PDF (text-based).  Use standard section titles like “Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.”  Spell out acronyms at least once (e.g., “Customer Relationship Management (CRM)”).

Ask AI to Tailor Your Resume for Each Role – For example “rewrite my resume summary to match this job description: [paste JD].” AI can help reword your bullet points to highlight the most relevant skills for each job — a huge time saver.

Quantify Everything You Can - AI and recruiters both love numbers.  Instead of “Improved team performance,” write “Improved team performance by 30% in six months.”  Instead of “Handled customer inquiries,” say “Resolved 40+ customer tickets daily with 95% satisfaction.”

Use Action Verbs That Sound Natural - AI tools rank resumes higher when they use active impactive, professional language. Examples: led, created, managed, implemented, streamlined, designed, launched, improved. Skip filler words like “responsible for”.

Add a Skills Section  - At the top of the resume in bullets that’s keyword rich - List your top hard skills and tools (Excel, Salesforce, SQL, etc.). AI and ATS systems scan for these keywords — the more matches, the better your ranking.

Use AI to Check Readability - Paste your resume into an AI tool and ask: “Make this resume easier to read and more impactful without changing the meaning.”
AI can fix clunky phrasing, grammar, and flow — especially if writing isn’t your strong suit.

Keep It Human-Friendly Too - Even if AI loves your resume, remember — humans read it next. Use clear spacing, no huge paragraphs, and some personality in your tone (especially for creative or leadership roles).

Test It With AI Before Sending - Ask: “Would this resume pass an ATS for [job title]?”or “How could I improve this resume for [industry] roles?”  AI will point out missing keywords or areas that feel weak — like a free resume coach.

If you are stumped with resume writing call me at the office and I'm happy to refer Lily, a great resume writer! 

California Dreaming

I just got back from a whirlwind trip to California!  I met with family, friends and clients from Long Beach to Newport Beach. It was the coolest trip - sunset sailboat ride, celebrating two dear friends’ 60th birthdays and an amazing couple’s 35th wedding anniversary!💗 I also met with some of my neighborhood friends. We had so much fun no one thought to take a picture. Love it when everyone is just in the moment. 

Next trip I need to spend more time. I loved my "office" on the back patio with the view of the pool. The trip energized me and made me realize how many special people I have back in California. 

Hey you - here are three easy things to do to start networking for a job –

 

 

1.     Let your friends and family know you are looking they are most likely to help you by referring to a friend.

2.    Connect with everyone you know on LinkedIn and reach out to them to let them know you’re looking for a job. Be genuine and friendly with your message.

3.    Network in your industry by researching companies within a certain mile radius. Then reach out to potential bosses. Most people will connect if you send a friendly message.

Red, White and Blue

I love the 4^th of July! It’s my favorite holiday  because there’s no expectations besides having great food and a great day.  

Here’s a bit of 4^th Trivia –

In 1777, Philadelphia held the first official Fourth of July celebration, with bonfires, bells, and fireworks.

The Declaration of Independence was Drafted by Thomas Jefferson in June 1776.

The colors of the US flag represent - Red: Valor, White: Purity, Blue: Justice

The Declaration wasn’t signed on July 4, but it was adopted then. Most signers signed on August 2, 1776.

56 people signed the Declaration of Independence.

John Hancock was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence.

 

15 years!

 

Wow! I was looking through my blog and I’ve been writing for over 15 years.   My favorite part of looking back at my winding path of writing is how I integrated my work and family life.  I just made it work. My boys got to see their mom often at school events while I continued to work  placing amazing people at our awesome client firms.  

My boys are grown and independent now. The volume of work is not the same since our firm has become smaller but the excitement of starting a new search and learning about new industries and jobs is still the same.

We do recruit the people you want!