Elevate Edge Consulting

► Design and execute strategic growth initiatives, enabling clients to achieve 3–20% revenue gains through operational optimization.
► Implement performance frameworks and KPI dashboards, improving decision-making speed and accuracy for executive teams.
► Lead business process and systems transformations, reducing costs by up to 25% and increasing organizational agility.
► Advise CEOs and boards on market expansion and scalability strategies.

Principal Consultant

BPS Technology, LLC

► Spearheaded operational strategy, successfully leading corporate expansion, manufacturing facility development, and multi-sector growth initiatives.
► Developed and successfully executed corporate vision, effectively leading cross-functional teams in R&D, operations, and supply chain.
► Led strategic M&A activities, acquiring complementary businesses and seamlessly integrating them into a cohesive operational structure.
► Achieved ISO 9001 certification for enhanced quality and regulatory compliance.
► Led the transformation and strategic scaling of an advanced materials manufacturing company, developing a proprietary chemical additive while consistently spearheading excellence initiatives across R&D, manufacturing, and supply chain functions.

Chief Executive Officer 

► Implemented ERP and data analytics frameworks for real-time decision-making.
► Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders, vendors, and strategic partners to drive growth.
► Drove the acquisition of strategic intellectual property for the chemical manufacturing strategy.

Vice President of Operations 

FALCON Technologies & Services Inc.

► Developed KPI systems to track and optimize performance across departments.
► Transitioned core operations to SAP ERP, seamlessly integrating real-time performance tracking and data-driven decision-making.
► Launched operational training programs, standardizing best practices across multiple locations.
► Designed and launched a company-wide "Boot Camp" training program, covering QA/QC, operations, safety, and DOT compliance, ensuring teams adhered to operational and regulatory standards.

Director of Operational Excellence

► Created a accountability system for field operations, improving on-time project completion rates by 35%.
► Spearheaded a KPI-driven management system, aligning operational execution with strategic objectives.

South Central Regional Manager & Advisor

United States Marine Corps

► Developed leadership, operational planning, and process improvement expertise while overseeing mission-critical aviation operations and logistics.

Aviation Operations Manager (Sergeant)

I Help Professionals Put Their Passions to Work | Leveraging Leadership Capacity | Connections with a Purpose | SDVOSB | USMC VET

Results-driven executive with extensive years of leadership experience across operations, manufacturing, oil and gas, and industrial technology sectors. Proven track record of building, scaling, and optimizing businesses while driving revenue growth, operational excellence, and financial performance. Adept at leading cross-functional teams, executing strategic plans, and leveraging AI, automation, and data analytics to enhance efficiency. Skilled in M&A activities and executive recruitment within fast-paced, high-growth environments.

Areas of Expertise:
★ Concept to Commercialization | ★ M&A Strategy & Integration | ★ ERP & KPI System Integration
★ Business Growth & Scaling | ★ Supply Chain Optimization | ★ Strategic Partnerships
★ ISO 9001 Implementation | ★ Facility Development | ★ Regulatory Compliance
★ P&L Management | ★ Culture Development | ★ Process Improvement

Bravis Brown, MBA

Seems our post have driven interest in additional information.  Please see the details below! Feel free to reach out to us for any additional questions you may have.

Official launch is December 3rd @ 8:00 a.m. CT.

Veteran Executive | Fractional COO | Driving Scalable Growth for Manufacturing & Industrial Companies Through Systems, Automation & Servant Leadership

THE Manufacturing Forge Alliance

We’re committed to partnering with leaders who are rebuilding American manufacturing, strengthening the great companies here now and helping new ones scale with precision. If you're driving innovation, reshoring, and operational excellence, let’s collaborate.

The Manufacturing Forge Alliance Chapter of Success Champion Networking (SCN) kicks off December 3rd. 8:00 AM CST. 

Here's what we're building:  A Manufacturing Ecosystem where manufacturers don't get one specialist. They get a trusted team. Packaging automation. Finance systems. Workforce development. Process improvement. Technology strategy. All working together. Zero competition. Pure collaboration.

When a manufacturer walks into our ecosystem, they have access to everything they need to run leaner, automate smarter, and compete with offshore competition. That's the vision.

American manufacturers are fighting an uphill battle. Rising costs. Labor shortages. Fragmented specialist networks. Processes that bleed money.
But they can compete when they have the right partners helping them execute. That's what this chapter is about.

I'm honored to serve as VP alongside President Bravis Brown, MBA and our leadership team: Lisa A Thomas, PMP, ACP, Benjamin Karrasch, and Tolani Lawson, CPA. We're building something special here.
—————————————————————
🗣️ Manufacturing leaders looking to scale? You need to know about this.
🗣️ Service providers who serve manufacturers with non-competing services? We're looking for founding members.  

Visit our launch on Dec 3rd! Link in the comments.
December 3rd. Wednesdays 8-9 AM CT. Zoom. LETS GO!!
—————————————————————
P.S. I help #procurement and #supplychain pros become heroes saving their companies money through #packaging #automation #machinery and materials solutions. #WinTheDay

Automation isn’t about replacing people, it’s about elevating them.

Walking the floor at the Manufacturing Technology Series reminded me why I love this industry. Every booth, demo, and conversation centered on solving real problems, reducing dull, repetitive, and hazardous tasks while improving quality, capacity, and competitiveness.

The goal isn’t fewer people… it’s better systems.
It’s about giving skilled operators and technicians the tools to do higher-value work, the kind that drives growth and innovation.

Proud to see companies like UiPath, Standard Bots, and Techni-Tool pushing forward what’s possible in automation and AI. The future of manufacturing is already here, we just need to keep adapting, learning, and leading.

#Manufacturing #Automation #AI #OperationalExcellence #ContinuousImprovement #Leadership #SystemsCreateFreedom

No alternative text description for this image

The Manufacturing Forge Alliance - SCN Chapter:

We will need a business focused on providing repairs and maintenance to manufacturing equipment, see list below.  Please make introductions if you know anyone in the spaces below.

Extrusion Press Service & Repair Companies
Furnace, Heat-Treat & Oven Specialists
Die Shop & Tooling Specialists
CNC Machine Service Providers
Industrial Hydraulic Service Companies
PLC / Controls / Automation Integrators
Metal Finishing System Specialists

All the Best,
Bravis Brown

Chris Hardwick 📦, Lisa A Thomas, PMP, ACP, Tolani Lawson, CPA, Benjamin Karrasch, Jason Boslow, Ashley R. Sanders, Ph.D., Gina Tabasso, Sarang Kamalakar, Donnie Boivin, Jessica Gruber

Can you relate to this?  I try to speak things into fruition, meaning I talk as if they are happening or that I am doing/taking action.  This creates a deeper obligation for me and drives commitment.  Obviously, there are times where I'm trying to drive things where I don't have ultimate control, when I miss goals due to that it is emotionally difficult for me.

Does anyone have some recommendations or other ways to look at this?  Again, looking to get it right, not be right.  I've run into enough emotional setbacks that I am seeking external perspective.

The Leadership Behind the Process - 30 Days of Discipline, Trust, and Systems That Work

Day 15: Innovation Through Accountability

One of the most overlooked truths about innovation is that it thrives under accountability.

This is true for vision and strategy as well.  I will do a video in the coming week identifying one of the many ways vision/strategies can positively support accountability in a simple application.

When people know their ideas will be tested, measured, and implemented through a clear process, they bring their best thinking forward.
When there’s no structure, ideas stay safe and invisible.

At one company, we created a system for employees to submit improvement ideas tied to measurable outcomes. Within six months, that structure generated dozens of cost-saving innovations and boosted engagement across departments.

Accountability doesn’t kill creativity, it validates it.

How do you make sure great ideas don’t just get shared but actually get used?

#Leadership 
#Manufacturing 
#ProcessDiscipline 
#TeamAlignment

That video I've been promising.

Strategy isn’t a poster, it’s how you run the business.
When your strategy, mission, vision, and values are clear and lived out day-to-day, they stop being words on a wall and start becoming the framework for how everyone makes decisions, communicates, and wins together.

The shift happens when every resource you’ve built, job descriptions, scorecards, onboarding plans, even bonus structures, connects back to why the business exists and how it grows.

A job description isn’t just a list of tasks anymore. It’s a direct link between what someone does each day and how the company succeeds.
That connection builds purpose, clarity, and ownership.

When that alignment is in place, everything changes:

Onboarding makes sense, people see how their role fits from day one.

HR stops chasing compliance and starts driving performance.

Reviews, bonuses, and growth conversations have context.

Everyone knows how their work supports the strategy and the team.

To make it stick, build these five tools:

A one-page strategy map that tells the story of your direction.

Operating principles that guide decisions under pressure.

Role scorecards that tie accountability to results.

A cadence map showing how the business runs week to week.

Onboarding and development paths that track back to strategy.

👇 In the video, I break down how to move your mission, vision, values, and strategy out of PowerPoint and into everyday operations so alignment isn’t a slogan, it’s a system that drives performance.

#Leadership #Strategy #Operations #Manufacturing #Culture #People #ContinuousImprovement #EOS #Lean

https://lnkd.in/gXEKhnd6

Open video: Videos | Library | Loom - 10 November 2025 on loom.com

Videos | Library | Loom - 10 November 2025

The Leadership Behind the Process - 30 Days of Discipline, Trust, and Systems That Work

Day 17: When the System Runs Itself (That’s the Win)

One of the most rewarding moments in leadership is when you realize you’re no longer the bottleneck.

I remember walking into a facility after being away for a week.
The production meetings started on time. The schedule updates were done. The metrics were current. No one had waited on me to move things forward.

That’s when you know the system works; when it’s not dependent on any single person.

It’s tempting for leaders to think being “needed” is a sign of value.
It’s not. It’s a sign the system isn’t finished. 

When people have clear expectations, documented processes, and decision-making authority, they don’t wait, they act.

Freedom as a leader comes when the business runs on systems, not on you.

Where do you still feel like the bottleneck in your business?

#Leadership 
#Manufacturing 
#ProcessDiscipline 
#TeamAlignment

The Leadership Behind the Process - 30 Days of Discipline, Trust, and Systems That Work

Day 19: Consistency Builds Confidence

Every great company looks boring from the outside, that’s a compliment.

Consistency is what builds confidence.
When teams know how decisions are made and what happens next, they move faster.

I once helped an organization that kept reinventing the priority every quarter, new product focus, new market, new messaging.
It was chaos disguised as urgency to market.
Once we committed to one go to market strategy, everything settled.

Productivity went up. Meetings got shorter.
Confidence returned.

People don’t need new every quarter, they need dependable.

Consistency doesn’t limit speed to market; it supports it.

How consistent is your business rhythm from week to week, quarter to quarter?

#Leadership 
#Manufacturing 
#ProcessDiscipline 
#TeamAlignment

The Leadership Behind the Process - 30 Days of Discipline, Trust, and Systems That Work

Day 20: The Next Generation of Leadership

The best sign of a strong culture isn’t the leader’s performance; it’s the next leader’s success.

I’ve seen too many organizations stall when a key person leaves because their systems lived in their head, not in the company.
That’s not leadership. That’s dependency.

Great leaders build people who outgrow them.
They create structure that doesn’t crumble when they move on.

The real legacy of leadership isn’t the title you held.
It’s the team that keeps winning long after you’re gone.

If your organization couldn’t thrive without you, it’s time to build one that can.

Who’s the next leader you’re preparing to hand the keys to?

#Leadership 
#Manufacturing 
#ProcessDiscipline 
#TeamAlignment

The Leadership Behind the Process - 30 Days of Discipline, Trust, and Systems That Work

Day 16: Building Leaders Who Own the Process

Early in my career, I thought leadership meant being the one who or could fix everything.

If a process broke down, I jumped in.
If a deadline slipped, I stayed late.

It worked, until I realized that by solving every problem, I was also owning every problem.

The system couldn’t scale because I hadn’t built people who could carry it.

That shifted my focus.

Instead of just teaching the process, I started teaching the thinking behind it; why we do it this way, how to spot drift, and when to make adjustments.

I watched team members start anticipating issues before they became problems.

They took ownership, not because they were told to, but because they understood the “why.”

Leadership that lasts isn’t about control.
It’s about creating clarity and ownership that outlives you.

If your systems still depend on you to run right, it’s time to start building the people who can.

#Leadership 
#Manufacturing 
#ProcessDiscipline 
#TeamAlignment

The Leadership Behind the Process - 30 Days of Discipline, Trust, and Systems That Work

Day 18: Clarity Creates Calm

Ever notice how chaos spreads faster than clarity?

When people don’t know what’s expected, they fill the gaps with assumptions.
That’s how confusion grows and why consistency starts with communication.

In one facility, production, maintenance, and QC each had their own version of “done.”
Schedules clashed. Priorities shifted mid-shift. Tempers flared.

We fixed it by doing something simple: aligning definitions.
We created shared language for what “ready,” “complete,” and “approved” meant across all departments.

Suddenly, what used to take debate took seconds.

Clarity doesn’t slow you down, it stabilizes everything around you.

When people know the plan, they stop reacting and start performing.

Where in your operation could more clarity replace more meetings?

#Leadership 
#Manufacturing 
#ProcessDiscipline 
#TeamAlignment

Mark Hernandez is #hiring. Know anyone who might be interested?

CEO @ SigmaPro | Injection Molding, Medical Device Manufacturing

Hey everyone, I cannot say enough about how critical this role is.  I truly believe the right person in this position can help our entire team be the best version of themselves and be a part of our company's upcoming growth.  

Because of that, I am very hopeful that this role can be filled by someone who I am connected with or who comes with a recommendation from within my network.  

If you know of anyone who would be a good fit for a startup environment with the key ability being to bring rigor to the role of Principal Engineer in a medical device manufacturing environment, please send them my way!

Otherwise, I'm going to be stuck sitting at a table in a high school gym with a single sheet of paper just hoping for the best.  (Office reference, iykyk)

Fort Worth, Texas, United States (On-site)

Job by SigmaPro Engineering & Manufacturing, LLC

Craig Leach, MBA

Welcome to where transforming companies and careers with precision-tailored executive placements and progressive leadership coaching meets personalized solutions that align with your unique culture and strategic goals. If you're here, you're likely seeking to attract and retain top-tier talent in a competitive market, align leadership teams with corporate strategy and culture, navigate leadership transitions without disrupting operations, and ensure new hires are the right fit for long-term success.

With over 30 years of experience in leading teams, I guide executives from uncertainty and misalignment to building high-performing teams that drive results. Is reducing time spent on recruiting or mis-recruiting on your radar? Do you aspire to increase productivity and performance? If these aspirations resonate, you've found your path.

I blend my diverse skills in negotiation, business planning, operations management, sales, market development, and leadersip with my passion for talent development, crafting strategic solutions that truly represent your organization's needs. This strategy allows you to transform your leadership capital and achieve sustainable success.

My 21st Century technology-influenced approach uses personalized executive search and coaching to create long-term impact that delivers reduced commercial downtime, improved employee retention rates, and reduced overall costs to hire. I empower hiring managers to make confident decisions, so 96% of our placements are still in place after 12 months.

What you can expect:
• Minimized client commercial downtime
• Improved new employee retention rates
• Reduced overall costs to hire

Your outcomes:
• 96% of placements still in place after 12 months
• 94% of placements still in place after 24 months

Embrace a journey that transforms your organization through strategic leadership development and succession planning. Ready to start?

I offer different ways to work with me to suit your budget and needs:
• Retained Search: Exclusive tailored executive search and coaching solutions, best suited for senior leadership positions (C-Suite, VPs, Directors)
• Contingency Search: Exclusive search for technical, sales, and marketing roles
• Executive Coaching: Tailored, one-on-one partnerships to empower leaders and high-potential professionals to maximize performance and achieve personal and organizational goals

Who it's for:
• C-suite executives
• Senior managers
• Emerging leaders
• Professionals transitioning to higher leadership roles

Begin your journey: https://calendly.com/6202205911/30min

President

I Placed the Same Executive Three Times (Here's What His Ex-Bosses Never Understood)

Same guy. Three different companies. Three promotions after I placed him.

His ex-bosses? They all called me asking if I could find them "another Mike."

I couldn't help but laugh.

They had Mike. They lost Mike. And they still didn't understand why.

First placement: VP Operations at a logistics company. Mike turned their worst-performing region into their best in 18 months. Then his boss took credit for the turnaround at the board meeting. Mike called me that night.

Second placement: COO at a manufacturing firm. Mike reduced costs by 31% without cutting a single job. Found inefficiencies everyone else missed. Then they promoted someone's golf buddy over him. Mike called me that afternoon.

Third placement: President of a PE-backed distribution company. The CEO told me during reference checks: "I don't care about his resume. Tell me why he left his last two roles."

So I told him.

That CEO did something Mike's previous bosses never did:

He asked Mike what he needed to succeed.
Then actually delivered it.

Not promised it. Delivered it.

Mike wanted:
• Authority to match his responsibility
• Credit to flow where credit was due
• A boss who'd have his back when things got tough

Revolutionary concepts, apparently.

Two years later, Mike's still there. They've doubled revenue. The PE firm made him CEO last month.

His two previous bosses? Both called me this year.

"We need someone like Mike."
"What made Mike special?"
"Can you find us another Mike?"

I tell them the same thing:

You don't need another Mike. You need to become the leader Mike would stay for.

The brutal truth about executive retention:

Great executives don't leave companies. They leave bosses who take credit, make promises they don't keep, and treat talent like it's replaceable.

Mike wasn't exceptional because of his skills. Every executive at his level has skills.

He was exceptional because he'd learned what most executives learn too late:

When someone shows you who they are as a boss, believe them.

The fastest way to lose your best executive? Make them feel like they're just another employee.

The fastest way to keep them? Remember they have my number in their phone.

And they're one broken promise away from using it.

What's the real reason your best executive left?

I Work with Senior Leaders to Build Teams that Shape the Future | Executive Search | C-Suite | Top Voice 2024

The Reference Who Begged Me Not to Place Their Former Employee

"Please. Don't send him to our competitor."

First time in 200+ placements someone asked me to sabotage a candidate's job search.

I was doing reference checks for a VP Sales candidate. Strong track record. Multiple successful exits. The board was ready to make an offer.

Called his previous CEO for a reference.

"Craig, I'll give you a glowing reference. But I need a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"Don't place him at "ABC". They're our biggest competitor."

I waited for him to laugh. He didn't.

"You're serious."

"Dead serious. If he goes there with what he knows, we're finished."

Most executives treat departing talent like yesterday's news. Delete their access. Ship their belongings. Move on.

This CEO understood something different.

His former VP wasn't just leaving. He was taking a $50M competitive advantage with him.

The playbook he built.
The client relationships he nurtured.
The team culture he created.
The strategic roadmap he designed.

All walking out the door for a 40% salary bump.

"Why didn't you match their offer?" I asked.

"Board said we couldn't justify it. Now they're asking me to hire three people to replace him."

The math never works that way.

You don't replace one A-player with three B-players.
You replace them with your competitor's new weapon.

Six months later, "ABC" had captured 30% of his former company's enterprise accounts.

The CEO who begged me not to place him? He's now looking for a new job himself.

Board fired him for losing market share.

Here's what 200+ placements taught me about talent:

The cost of losing your best people isn't in the replacement search.

It's in watching them build your competitor's empire with your blueprints.

Companies will spend $2M on a non-compete lawsuit but won't spend $200K to keep the person worth suing over.

Your top performer isn't just an employee.
They're your competitive moat.

And moats don't come with a replacement guarantee.

What's the real cost of the last A-player you lost to a competitor?

I Send Every New CEO This Text on Day 1 (It's Saved 12 Placements)

"Your honeymoon period is a myth. Your team is updating their LinkedIn profiles right now."

Harsh? Maybe. But after 200+ placements, I've watched too many CEOs crash because they believed they had time.

The text continues:

"You have 72 hours to signal who you really are. Not 100 days. Not 90. Three days. After that, every opinion is cement."

Last year, I placed a CEO at a PE-backed manufacturing company. Smart guy. Came from Amazon. Had all the answers.

Day 1: Announced his open-door policy from his closed office.
Day 2: Scheduled "listening tours" for week 8.
Day 3: Sent a 47-slide deck about his vision.

By day 4, his head of sales had called me.

"Craig, got any other opportunities?"

That CEO lasted 11 months.

Compare that to Sarah, who I placed three months later at a similar company.

Day 1: Worked the warehouse floor at 5 AM. No announcement. Just showed up.
Day 2: Had lunch in the break room. Asked about people's kids by name.
Day 3: Fixed the coffee machine everyone complained about for two years.

Her head of sales called me too.

"Craig, where'd you find her?"

Sarah's been there 18 months. Revenue up 34%. Same team that was "unmanageable" under the last guy.

The difference wasn't their resumes. Both stellar.
The difference wasn't their strategies. Both solid.

The difference was those first 72 hours.

The CEOs who survive understand something the failures don't:

Your team doesn't care about your credentials.
They care about your character.

And they're deciding right now while you're still figuring out where the bathroom is. Whether you're worth following.

That text I send? It ends with this:

"You're not being hired. You're being tested. And the test started the second they heard your name."

12 CEOs have gotten that text.
12 are still in their roles.

Coincidence? Probably.

Your first three days aren't your warm-up.
They're your entire game.

What did your CEO do on day one that told you everything?

The Executive Who Failed Every Leadership Test (And Why I Placed Him Anyway)

Last Tuesday, I presented a candidate who bombed his interview.

Forgot the CFO's name. Mixed up the revenue numbers. Stumbled through the strategy questions.

The board was ready to pass. Then I asked them to wait 24 hours.

Here's what they didn't see:

He drove 6 hours after his father's funeral. His assistant had quit that morning. His biggest client was threatening to walk.

And he still showed up.

Most executives would have rescheduled. Blamed circumstances. Made excuses.

He didn't mention any of it. Not once.

I only knew because his reference called me. "Did he tell you what week he's having?"

The Executives Who Fail:

• Perfect interviews, perfect answers, perfect image
• Never let you see them sweat
• Treat vulnerability like weakness
• Hide every crack in the armor

The Executives Who Last:

• Show up when life falls apart
• Let their humanity show through
• Know perfection is a performance
• Build trust through transparency

That "failed" interview revealed more leadership than any polished presentation.

Real leaders don't wait for perfect conditions. They lead through chaos.

18 months later, he's transformed their company. Turned around three underperforming divisions. Built the strongest leadership team they've had in a decade.

The board member who wanted to pass? He told me last week: "Thank God you made us wait."

Here's what 200+ placements taught me:

The executives worth $3.2M aren't the ones who never stumble.

They're the ones who stumble and keep walking.

When's the last time you hired someone despite their worst day?

The CFO Who Cried During Our Interview (And Why That's Why She Got Hired)

She lost it right there in the boardroom.

Full breakdown. Tissues everywhere.

The other board members were uncomfortable. One started reaching for his phone to "check the time."

I leaned in.

"Tell me more about that."

She'd been describing her biggest failure. A $12M acquisition that tanked. 200 people lost their jobs. Her first time leading due diligence.

"I signed off on projections I knew were aggressive. I wanted to prove I could close deals like the guys. Those families trusted us."

Most CFO candidates give me polished failure stories.

"We learned valuable lessons."
"It was a growth opportunity."
"The market shifted unexpectedly."

She gave me the truth. Raw. Uncomfortable. Real.

The board wanted someone bulletproof. I believed that I saw someone who'd never make that mistake again.

CFOs Who Flame Out:

• Never admit real fault
• Hide behind market conditions
• Treat losses like line items
• Protect their image above all

CFOs Who Build Dynasties:

• Own their catastrophes completely
• Feel the weight of their decisions
• Remember the human cost
• Let their scars show

That breakdown told me everything.

She didn't just understand financial risk. She understood human cost.

Three years later:

She's caught four deals that would have buried the company. Saved 400 jobs by restructuring debt instead of cutting heads. Built the strongest finance team they've had in two decades.

The board member who reached for his phone? Told me last month: "Best hire we ever made. She sees around corners we didn't know existed."

Here's what 200+ placements taught me about tears in interviews:

The ones who never crack under pressure? They're usually the ones who crack when it counts.

The ones who crack in front of you? They've already been broken and rebuilt stronger.

Your next great executive isn't hiding their humanity.

They're leading with it.

When's the last time vulnerability in an interview changed your mind?

I Now Use This 3-Second Test Before Hitting Send on Any Executive Communication

Last month, I deleted an email that took me 45 minutes to write.

The one I sent instead? Three sentences. No promises. No positioning.

It landed me a $50k search.

Here's what changed:

I stopped selling. Started solving.

Most recruiters lead with their credentials. Their track record. Their "proprietary process." Their AI-powered candidate matching. Their exclusive network.

I used to do the same thing. Pages of capabilities. Impressive client logos. Success metrics.

Then a CEO told me something that flipped my entire approach:

"I don't care how fast you are. I don't care about your network. I care about Tuesday's board meeting where I have to explain why our COO position is still empty after six months."

That's when I created my 3-second test.

Before hitting send, I ask myself: Am I trying to impress them or help them?

The Emails That Get Deleted:
• "We're the fastest growing executive search firm..."
• "Our unique 7-step process ensures..."
• "With years of experience, we..."
• "Let me tell you why we're different..."

The Emails That Get Responses:
• "If there's one problem I could take off your desk, what would it be?"
• "What's keeping you up at night about this role?"
• "What would success look like in 90 days?"
• "How can I be most helpful right now?"

Boring is better.

No promises I can't keep. No claims about being faster or better connected than every other recruiter calling them.

Just one simple question that cuts through the noise.

The irony? When you stop trying to prove you're valuable, you become invaluable.

That $50k search? The CEO's response was seven words: "Can you talk at 3pm today?"

Here's what 200+ placements taught me:

Executives don't want another vendor pitch. They want someone who understands that their problem isn't finding candidates.

It's finding the right one while everything else is on fire.

Your elaborate email is competing with 47 other "urgent" items in their inbox.

Make it easy to say yes by making it about them, not you.

What's the shortest email that's ever changed your business?

The Executive Who Saved His Career by Breaking His Own Email Rule

For 15 years, my rule was simple: No long emails. Ever.

Three bullets max. One clear ask. Get to the point or get deleted.

Then I watched a $60k deal die because I followed my own rule.

The client needed context. Background. The why behind the numbers. But I sent my usual three-bullet update.

"We need to pivot the strategy."
"Timeline shifts 6 months."
"ROI still intact."

His response? "This feels rushed. Let's revisit next quarter."

Translation: You just lost $60k because you couldn't explain yourself.

That night, I broke my rule. Wrote a 2-page email. Detailed every assumption. Mapped out three scenarios. Explained why waiting would cost them $15k more.

Took me 3 hours to write. He read it in 10 minutes.

Called me immediately. "Now I get it. Let's move."

Here's what 200+ placements taught me about executive communication:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀:
• Always be brief
• Never over-explain
• Stick to bullet points
• Keep it simple

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺:
• Match the moment, not the rule
• Some decisions need stories, not bullets
• Context beats brevity when stakes are high
• Your communication style is a tool, not an identity

That "too long" email saved the deal. Saved my reputation. Taught me that rigid rules make fragile leaders.

The best executives know when to break their own rules.

Your greatest strength becomes your greatest weakness the moment you stop questioning it.

What rule have you broken that changed everything?

The Executive Who Knew Too Much About AI (And Still Failed)

Just spent 90 minutes with a brilliant IT executive. 25 years at some of the most recognizable companies. The kind of resume that makes boards drool.

He can't find the right PE role.

Not because he lacks experience. Because PE firms don't know what they're looking for.

"We want someone who understands AI."
"Great. What's your use case?"
"Well... we want to do AI."

I've heard this exact conversation 47 times this year.

Here's what this executive told me that stopped me cold:

"Every PE portfolio company wants AI yesterday. But they're asking Oracle and SAP to build it for them tomorrow."

He's right. And it's costing them millions.

The AI Reality Check PE Firms Need:

Companies That Will Win:
• Know AI comes through their vendors, not custom builds
• Create clear yes/no/maybe policies for AI tools
• Understand data security before implementation
• Accept they're not Google or Microsoft

Companies That Will Burn Cash:
• Hire 50 AI developers for their mid-market company
• Chase every shiny AI tool without strategy
• Let employees dump sensitive data into ChatGPT
• Think they'll build the next breakthrough

This executive spent his last role preparing his company for a $100M+ exit. Rolled up 11 companies in 3 years. Knows exactly how to scale chaos into order.

But PE firms keep asking for "AI experience" like it's 1995 and they need "internet experience."

The pattern killers understand: You don't need an AI expert. You need someone who's transformed companies before AI was a buzzword.

Here's the kicker—he told me something I've believed for years:

"For good talent, there's never a down market."

The market isn't horrible. It's normal. The problem is companies writing job descriptions for unicorns while thoroughbreds are grazing in their backyard.

This executive will land somewhere brilliant. The PE firm that gets him will wonder how their competitors missed him.

The answer? They were too busy looking for yesterday's buzzwords to see tomorrow's transformation.

What's the most ridiculous "must-have" requirement you've seen in a job description?

taplio

The Battle

Bravis Brown, MBA

Craig Leach, MBA

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreBravis Brown, MBA's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreCraig Leach, MBA's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Bravis Brown, MBA

Craig Leach, MBA

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Bravis Brown, MBA's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreCraig Leach, MBA's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreBravis Brown, MBA's LinkedIn Performance