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So far Christina Claus has created 101 blog entries.

How AI Is Strengthening Business Development in Executive Search

5 key learnings from AESC’s first member workshop on AI-enabled business developmentBusiness development in executive search is evolving. In a market defined by complexity, competition, and constant change, clients expect more than outreach — they expect insight. They want search partners who understand their business, anticipate leadership needs, and bring relevant perspective to every conversation.That was the focus of AESC’s first Member workshop on AI-enabled business development, delivered in partnership with Retrained. The session explored how artificial intelligence can help executive search professionals strengthen business development efforts not by increasing activity, but by improving the quality, relevance, and strategic value of every client interaction.AI should support a more advisory approachA central theme of the workshop was that AI should support a more advisory approach to business development. Rather than encouraging firms to cast a wider net, the opportunity is to go deeper: to prepare more thoroughly, identify more meaningful signals, and engage clients with greater context and precision.In this model, AI accelerates research and surfaces intelligence, while consultants apply the judgment, discretion, and relationship insight that remain essential to trusted advisory work.Better preparation leads to better conversationsThe workshop highlighted how AI can dramatically improve preparation. Tasks that once required hours [...]

By |2026-03-13T16:02:12-04:00March 13, 2026|Blog|0 Comments

Lindauer Unveils a New Look

For nearly three decades, Lindauer has been guiding mission-driven organizations through leadership transitions to achieve transformational results. From education, healthcare, and the arts to advocacy, public policy, and community impact, we have evolved alongside the sectors we serve. In that time, we have expanded our geographic scope and functional expertise to provide our clients with a greater range of executive search and talent solutions. Throughout this period of growth, we have maintained our singular focus: to support people and organizations in the workplace so they can activate their values in the world. This has been a hallmark of Lindauer since our founding. Today, we’re excited to unveil an updated brand identity that reflects our evolution while celebrating the clients and candidates we’re honored to partner with every day. Anchoring this new look is a new tagline: “Bringing the Future into Focus.” Tagline “Bringing the Future into Focus” means turning intention into action and translating mission into impact. It honors the profound difference that mission-driven organizations make every day. It also captures the essence of what we strive to create for both clients and candidates: a clear, thoughtful recruiting experience that is grounded in purpose and driven by long-term results. As [...]

By |2026-03-11T10:50:27-04:00March 11, 2026|Member News|0 Comments

Closing the Gender Leadership Gap: A Review of Legislative and Real-World Outcomes

Despite decades of progress in gender equality, women remain significantly underrepresented in corporate leadership. While many countries have introduced board gender quotas and diversity targets, the impact on executive leadership has been far more limited. The AltoPartners International Women’s Day 2026 report — Closing the Gender Leadership Gap : A Review of Legislative and Real-World Outcomes — examines whether these policies have translated into meaningful progress for women in senior leadership roles. Read the full report Connect with AltoPartners

By |2026-03-10T15:20:58-04:00March 10, 2026|Member Thought Leadership|0 Comments

Boutique vs Large Executive Search Firms: Which Is Right for Your Business?

When a leadership hire matters (and they almost always do), the “right” executive search partner isn’t about who’s better—it’s about who’s best matched to your role, timeline, market, and internal bandwidth. Boutique and large (often global) executive search firms can both deliver excellent outcomes, but they tend to do it in different ways. Below is a practical framework to help you decide which model fits your business, plus how to get the best of either option. What typically defines a boutique vs a large firm? Boutique firms are generally smaller, more specialized, and often partner-led in day-to-day execution. They may focus on a specific industry (e.g., life sciences, industrial, fintech), function (e.g., HR, CFO, GTM), or leadership segment (e.g., board, PE-backed growth leaders). Their value often shows up in depth of market knowledge and hands-on attention. Large firms typically operate across many industries and geographies, with larger teams, broader infrastructure, and established processes. Their value often shows up in scale, global reach, and robust research/assessment resources. Why some organizations prefer boutique executive search firms A boutique firm can be a strong fit when you want: A highly personal, hands-on search experience. Many boutiques emphasize partner-level involvement, tight communication loops, and [...]

By |2026-03-09T12:39:13-04:00March 9, 2026|Blog|0 Comments

AESC Welcomes RSAcademics into its Global Membership of Top Executive Search and Leadership Consulting Firms

New York, NY, March 10, 2026 — The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC), the global association representing the firms that place and advise the world’s leaders, is pleased to welcome RSAcademics as a new Member. The firm’s acceptance follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure quality standards. Based in London, UK, RSAcademics is a global executive search and consultancy firm working exclusively with schools. For more than 20 years, the firm has combined its first-hand experience in schools with specialist expertise in strategy, research, marketing, and finance to support governors and leaders with their most important leadership decisions. RSAcademics employs dual services – leadership recruitment and consultancy and research – to ensure a lasting impact on schools and their communities. RSAcademics Chief Executive Officer Heather Styche-Patel said: “Joining AESC marks an important step in RSAcademics’ continued growth as an international executive search and leadership consultancy focused solely on schools. Our work sits at the intersection of leadership recruitment, research and strategic advisory, giving us a distinctive perspective on how leadership shapes organisational success over time. We are proud to meet AESC’s global standards and look forward to collaborating with fellow member firms as we continue supporting schools [...]

By |2026-03-09T11:46:43-04:00March 9, 2026|Press Release|0 Comments

Building Your Personal Brand as an Executive Search Consultant

Early in your executive search career, it can feel like you’re building two things at once: your network and your credibility. The good news is that personal brand isn’t reserved for those with decades in the industry. In fact, the earlier you define how you show up and what you want to be known for, the faster trust follows.  In executive search, your reputation often arrives before you do. Long before a client says yes to an engagement or a candidate agrees to take a first call, they’re forming an impression based on what they’ve heard, what they’ve seen, and how you communicate.  A strong personal brand isn’t about being “well known.” It’s about being well understood: clear in your strengths, consistent in your values, and credible in the way you support clients and candidates. Below are practical ways early-career executive search consultants can build a brand that reflects the highest standards of the profession and sets you up for long-term impact. Get clear on what you’re building toward You don’t need a narrow specialty on day one, but you do need direction. Think of your brand as a hypothesis you refine over time.  Pro Tips:  Identify the types of [...]

By |2026-02-24T10:22:13-05:00February 24, 2026|Blog|0 Comments

AESC Launches AI Intensives with AESC | Epistemy

New Bespoke Training Helps Executive Search Firms Build Practical, Responsible AI Capability  New York, NY, February 23, 2026 - The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) is proud to announce AI Intensives with AESC | Epistemy, a personalized, hands-on professional development experience designed to help executive search firms unlock transformative AI capability without compromising quality, confidentiality, or the refined approach that differentiates top firms.  AI has the potential to reshape every stage of the executive search lifecycle, from research and candidate development to client communication and project execution. The AESC | Epistemy AI Intensives support firms in adopting AI wisely, responsibly, and effectively through a bespoke training program tailored to each team’s goals, needs, and workflows. Participants gain practical tools, guided experience, and AESC-aligned safeguards so AI strengthens performance rather than introducing risk.  Through the program, teams will learn how to:  Prioritize high-impact AI use cases across the executive search lifecycle, focusing on where AI delivers the strongest strategic value  Strengthen efficiency with prompting and templates to increase speed, accuracy, and consistency while maintaining confidentiality and quality  Integrate ethics, governance, and risk controls including privacy protection, bias mitigation, and accuracy checks to ensure responsible adoption  Apply role-specific action [...]

By |2026-02-23T09:54:25-05:00February 23, 2026|Press Release|0 Comments

Heller Promotes Tim Hobson to Senior Principal, Bolstering Firm’s Healthcare Technology Product Capabilities 

[February 17, 2026] – Heller, a leading technology executive search firm, today announced the promotion of Tim Hobson to Senior Principal. Leveraging more than a decade of experience in both retained and in-house executive search, Tim regularly identifies and places exceptional c-level and director-level technology talent, including Chief Product Officers, CIOs, CTOs, Heads of Artificial Intelligence, Directors of Product and Engineering, and more to enable growth and digital transformation. He recruits executive technology talent across several industries, including healthcare, consumer, digital, and private equity. “Enhanced AI and digital capabilities are crucial for companies looking to scale a product. Tim’s proven track record of both recognizing the changing needs of product platforms and identifying executives who can immediately catalyze growth has been vital,” added Heller CEO Martha Heller. “Tim’s expertise will continue to strengthen our longstanding relationships with product businesses and align with increasing client demands in the space.” Prior to joining Heller, Tim was an executive recruiter in the technology and consulting practice at a global talent advisory firm, where he recruited executive level talent for private equity-backed SaaS companies and large consulting organizations, with a specific focus on data, AI, engineering, and technology leadership. About Heller Heller is a specialized technology executive [...]

By |2026-02-19T17:46:53-05:00February 19, 2026|Member News|0 Comments

GOSECO International Executive Search® Expands Team in Latin America

AESC Member firm GOSECO International Executive Search® has appointed Leticia Guerra Valle as Executive Search Associate, strengthening its leadership advisory capabilities across Mexico and Latin America. The appointment reflects the firm’s continued growth and its investment in developing executive search professionals equipped to support clients navigating a rapidly evolving business landscape shaped by digital transformation and artificial intelligence. As organizations across industries redefine leadership requirements to meet the demands of an AI-enabled and globally interconnected economy, GOSECO is expanding its team to enhance market intelligence, executive mapping, and cross-border search execution throughout the region. Leticia will support senior leadership mandates across multiple sectors, contributing to the firm’s work advising multinational and regional organizations seeking leaders prepared for increasing complexity, technological disruption, and organizational change. GOSECO International Executive Search® is headquartered in San Diego and operates across the United States, Mexico, and Latin America, with a focus on senior leadership and executive management roles.

By |2026-02-19T17:44:27-05:00February 19, 2026|Member News|0 Comments

Russell Reynolds Associates: Global Corporate Governance Trends for 2026

Converging forces of economic volatility, technological disruption, and geopolitical realignment are putting significant pressure on companies, their executives, and their non-executive leaders. To help demystify a complicated landscape, RRA combines the expertise and experience of its leadership advisors with detailed, confidential discussions with leading governance experts each year to help organizations stay at or ahead of critical trends. With many thanks to those thought leaders, hailing from across 17 geographies, RRA pleased to share the eleventh edition of Russell Reynolds Associates’ Global Corporate Governance Trends. Corporate governance is inherently local; shaped by divergent legal, regulatory, and other requirements and norms. However, we identified five trends that cut across borders and will affect board agendas and discussions in 2026. Read the Trend Report Connect with Russell Reynolds Associates

By |2026-02-19T17:41:08-05:00February 19, 2026|Member Thought Leadership|0 Comments
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