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#018: How to Fix Your Hiring Process: CEO Reveals Why You’re Losing Top Talent | Executive Search Expert

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A conversation with Brandt Hanley brings 21+ years of executive search experience

Struggling to find and retain top talent? You’re not alone. In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, I sit down with Brandt Hanley from ROI Executive Search to uncover why most mid-market companies are getting hiring ALL WRONG.

What You’ll Learn:
Why the traditional interview process is fundamentally broken
Cultural fit vs qualifications: What ACTUALLY matters in hiring
The true cost of a bad hire (3-4x annual salary!)
How to create an effective onboarding process that retains talent
Why hiring “mini-me’s” destroys innovation and growth
The power of psychographic assessments in talent acquisition
When CEOs should step back from day-to-day operations

Book Mentioned:

A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future

Perfect for:

  • Mid-market CEOs and founders
  • HR professionals and talent acquisition teams
  • Business leaders struggling with employee retention
  • Companies experiencing rapid growth
  • Anyone responsible for building high-performing teams

The biggest takeaway? Stop hiring for tenure and start hiring for cultural fit and giftedness. In today’s market where average tenure is just 4 years, the old rules no longer apply.

KEY TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Introduction & Welcome to CEOs Unscripted
02:30 – Brandt’s Background: From P&G to Disney to Executive Search 08:45 – Why Mid-Market CEOs Struggle with Talent Acquisition
12:20 – The Broken Interview Process
15:40 – Cultural Fit vs Qualifications: What Really Matters
19:15 – The Age Discrimination Problem in Hiring
23:50 – Finding Your True Gifts vs Following Passion
27:30 – The Power of Psychographic Assessments
31:45 – The Cost of Impatience in Hiring (3-4x Salary!)
36:20 – Understanding Your Company Culture Before Hiring
40:15 – The MBA Myth: Why Degrees Don’t Guarantee Success
43:50 – Hiring for Different Stages of Company Growth
47:25 – The “Mini-Me” Mistake: Why Diversity Matters
52:10 – The Importance of Professional Reference Checks
55:40 – Onboarding: The Missing Link in Talent Retention
58:30 – The Inverted Pyramid Leadership Model
61:45 – Rapid Fire Questions & Final Wisdom

Episode Guest

Brandt Hanley brings 21+ years of executive search experience, previously working with Procter & Gamble and Walt Disney Company across international markets.

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ABOUT JANE GENTRY

Jane Gentry has had a successful 30-year career as a CEO, Business Consultant, Executive Coach, and Keynoter. Jane formed her practice in 1999 and since then has partnered with her clients to improve growth, profitability, client retention, employee retention, leadership capabilities and business value.

Jane leverages strategies including the proprietary Value Blueprint to enable business owners and leaders to successfully create healthy organizations, plan for succession or sell their businesses for the highest possible market value. Jane is considered one of the top voices in leadership and sales.

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CEOs UNSCRIPTED

Bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs for mid-market CEOs

Welcome to CEOs Unscripted, the podcast where real talk drives real growth and delivers real results for mid-market leaders. Each episode offers an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at the wins, the losses, and the playbooks shared by CEOs, founders, and executives. Grab a seat and join us for unscripted, honest conversations about what it takes to lead, grow, and scale in today’s business landscape. 

no fluff. no jargon.