(099) Executive Head Hunter - Dan Moussa

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