SAN FRANCISCO · TECH · 3 WEEKS
TWO FAILED SEARCHES.THREE CANDIDATES IN TEN DAYS.OFFER ACCEPTED IN 48 HOURS.
10 DAYS
Brief to shortlist delivered
2
Prior searches that had failed
48 HOURS
Offer accepted after final interview
3
Candidates shortlisted
THE SITUATION
A post-liquidity technology principal in San Francisco had attempted two EA searches in the preceding twelve months. The first had been run internally and produced no viable candidates. The second had been run by a generalist recruitment firm and had produced a hire who left within four months.
The role was a senior one. The principal's life was complex, spanning multiple businesses, a philanthropic operation, and significant personal logistics across two properties. The EA needed to operate across all of it without clear boundaries between domains.
The principal had been referred to TalentSmiths by a founder in their network who had placed through TalentSmiths in New York.
WHAT WE DID
Two failed searches in twelve months almost always point to the same root problem: the brief was never right. The first call with TalentSmiths focused entirely on understanding why the previous searches had failed. The internal search had not been able to access the right candidates. The generalist search had accessed candidates but had not understood the environment well enough to match effectively.
The brief that emerged from the call was precise. The role required someone who had operated across personal and professional complexity simultaneously, who had worked with a principal at or above this level of wealth, and who had the judgment to make decisions without being asked. It was not a standard EA mandate. It was closer to a chief of staff with a personal remit.
The Circle was searched the same day. San Francisco Inner Circle members were reviewed first, then the broader Circle in New York, where the density of candidates with comparable experience is higher.
Three candidates were presented at day ten. All three had multi-domain experience. The principal met all three within the following week. The third meeting produced an immediate sense of alignment. The offer was made the following day. Accepted within 48 hours.
“They understood our culture and our principal's working style before we had finished the brief. The Chief of Staff they placed has been with us for three years. That kind of placement quality is only possible when the recruiter already knows the candidate.”
CHIEF OF STAFF · SAN FRANCISCO