Episode Details

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Moussa, founder of Thirdway Advisory and host of the Founders Fire podcast, to unpack what it really takes to make the right senior hire inside a founder-led business.

We talk about why founders operate differently, the pressure that comes with building a business, and why the wrong executive hire can create more problems than it solves.

Dan shares his approach to executive search, including why businesses need to do the “pre-season” work before going to market, how to get internal alignment before hiring, and why the best person for the role often isn’t the one with the flashiest CV.

We also cover:

• Why the right hire can genuinely change a business
• The danger of hiring just to “fill a seat”
• Why founders need to think about their 3-year plan before hiring
• The importance of internal alignment before going to market
• Why culture, personality and workplace dynamics matter
• How senior hires can fail when the business isn’t ready for them
• Why transparency during recruitment is critical
• The difference between superstar hires and “glue” hires
• What actually attracts top-level people into founder-led companies

This is a great conversation for founders, business owners and leaders who are thinking about growth, leadership structure and the people decisions that shape the next stage of business. 

Thirdway Advisory - https://www.thirdwayadvisory.com.au/ 

Dan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-moussa-thirdway/

The Founders Fire Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/033vkbhxwzNFnazB69Udj3 

The HR Cartel - https://www.hrcartel.com/