What Executive Recruiting Won't Tell You
What makes one executive candidate irresistible while another gets passed over? When Conway Shui cold-emailed the CHRO of CBS looking for a career pivot, he got a response within an hour, which landed him in the top leadership roles at CBS and Time Warner. Now, with 40+ years combined experience at C&C Talent Partners, Conway reveals the bold moves that separate elite C-suite candidates from the rest.
In this candid conversation, Conway shares battle-tested insights from placing hundreds of senior executives at major media companies like CBS, Time Warner, and beyond. From the surprising reason why "scale" is the most overrated buzzword in executive search to the crucial soft skills that make or break leadership appointments, you'll discover what really happens behind closed doors in C-suite hiring decisions.
Here's what we cover:
The one culture factor that derails 90% of C-suite candidates who have all the right hard skills on paper
How to decode what companies really mean when they say they need someone who's "done it before"
The bold move that landed a Hollywood actor's startup their first COO and why it almost backfired
Why going to "listed references" is the worst mistake you can make in the executive recruiting process
The unexpected generation gap in executive hiring and how 5 different generations are clashing in boardrooms
Conway's counterintuitive advice on how many changes a new executive should try to implement (hint: it's much less than you think)
The secret strategy Conway cold-called his way into a CBS executive role, and how any aspiring leader can replicate it
What bold move could you make today to position yourself as an irresistible C-suite candidate? Whether you're navigating a stalled career trajectory or ready to leap to the next level, understanding the unspoken rules of executive recruiting can be the difference between staying stuck and reaching your leadership potential.
“The candidate should always feel empowered, and it’s their responsibility to do their homework and do their due diligence on a leader, on a company, or on an organization.”
Take what Conway shared and ask yourself: Are you knocking on the right doors, or are you waiting passively for opportunity to find you? Connect with us on LinkedIn to share your boldest career moves and join other high-performing leaders cracking the C-suite code together.
More About Conway Shui
Conway Shui is a Partner and Co-Founder of C&C Talent Partners, a boutique retained search firm. With 20+ years of experience at two Fortune 200 media conglomerates, Conway has extensive knowledge in the media and new media industries. He has lived in and has a deep network in the NYC, LA, and SF geographies. Transparency, Communication, and Consultation embody C&C's approach in building long-term relationships with clients and candidates alike.
Connect with Conway:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/conwayshui/
conway@cctalentpartners.com
Connect with Stacie:
More about C-Suite Strategies
Welcome to C-Suite Strategies, the podcast for B2B leaders navigating the messy middle of scaling. I'm Stacie Sussman, CRO at RevUp Advisory.
Let's face it: growing a business can be hard, frustrating, and frankly overwhelming. It often feels like your hair's on fire. That's why we're here.
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This episode of C-Suite Strategies is brought to you in partnership with Leah Bryant Co.
