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In an era of unprecedented change, organisations must embrace cross-sector leadership to remain resilient and innovative. By casting a wider net in executive searches, they can access a broader talent pool, bring in fresh perspectives, and foster transformative change. With the right search approach, organisations can find leaders who are not only capable of making the transition but also poised to drive lasting impact across industries.
In this article, the first of a series, we’re looking at why organisations worldwide are looking beyond their own traditional sectors to find the leaders who can navigate these complexities to drive this change. We’ll explore the benefits of an executive search that is creative and discuss how transferable leadership skills are becoming an increasingly valuable currency.
Global challenges such as climate change, healthcare accessibility, and sustainable development are inherently complex and interconnected. Addressing these issues effectively requires solutions that span multiple sectors. Leaders with cross-sector experience are better equipped to navigate these complexities, as they possess the ability to integrate diverse perspectives and facilitate effective collaboration.
For instance, combating climate change demands coordination between energy companies, technology firms, government agencies, and non-profit organisations. A leader who understands and operates across these sectors can drive more effective and comprehensive solutions. This growing need for cross-sector expertise is pushing organisations worldwide to look beyond their traditional talent pools and seek leaders capable of bridging these divides.
Organisations across industries are proactively seeking innovative, inspirational leaders who are agile and creative. By broadening their search beyond conventional sector boundaries, they gain access to fresh perspectives and systems-level thinking.
Cross-sector executive hiring extends the talent search to a much wider pool, enabling companies to find transformative leaders with diverse experiences and proven success in different domains.
A cross-sectoral search prioritises a candidate’s personal values and transferable leadership skills over conventional sector knowledge. Leaders who can think differently and promote interdisciplinary collaboration are increasingly valuable in tackling today’s multifaceted challenges. However, sourcing leadership talent from outside a given sector—and ensuring their success in a new environment—can be complex. The process is most effective when guided by an experienced search firm with a track record of successfully moving candidates across industries while also navigating potential pitfalls.
Leaders who successfully transition between sectors often possess exceptional interpersonal skills, making them adept at multi-stakeholder engagement and intersectoral problem-solving. They understand how to build and lead teams, adjusting their leadership styles to fit different communities and environments. Moreover, they excel at challenging established practices and introducing innovative methodologies that have proven successful in other contexts.
We take a holistic and structured approach to identifying and assessing leaders who can transition successfully between sectors. Our process includes:
In-depth discovery:
We work closely with organisations to understand their unique leadership needs, cultural expectations, and strategic goals
Thorough market analysis:
Market analysis helps identify cross-sectoral leadership by highlighting trends, gaps, and opportunities for effective collaboration across industries
Extensive data base search and original research:
We treat each assignment individually, leveraging creative research, guidance from our trusted network and all available tools to build a diverse, balanced candidate pool
Industry-specialised knowledge:
Our expertise spans education, research, society, and environmental sectors, enabling us to curate a first-class list of candidates with the right skills and potential to drive meaningful impact.
Values-based leadership assessment:
Assessing a leader’s ability to transition successfully into a new sector requires more than reviewing resumes. Beyond technical expertise, we evaluate candidates based on their ability to align with an organisation’s mission and values.
360-Degree Referencing:
We gather feedback from a range of stakeholders (e.g., peers, direct reports, industry leaders) across sectors to assess the leader’s effectiveness.
This rigorous approach ensures that organisations have access to candidates with not only the right leadership style and experience but also the necessary transferable skills to thrive in a new sector.
The benefits of cross-sector executive searches extend beyond individual leadership qualities. Broadening the search beyond traditional industries significantly increases the diversity of the candidate pool. This diversity translates into:
Using an external advisor for executive searches also mitigates the risk of ‘hiring in your own image,’ ensuring a more dynamic and inclusive leadership selection process.
As Global Senior Partner, Sinéad and Arabella are responsible for the long-term strategic development of Perrett Laver alongside the acceleration of its commercial growth.
During her ten years at Perrett Laver, Sinéad established and led the firm’s operations in Amsterdam and Dublin, while continuing to grow Perrett Laver’s Research, Technology and Innovation, and Higher Education practices across Europe.
Sinéad’s experience at Perrett Laver includes advising on senior executive and non-executive appointments for universities, public and privately funded research institutes, as well as research-oriented charities and non-profits.
Arabella has been at Perrett Laver for over twelve years and was Global Head of the Social Impact and Environment Practice for 8 years. Arabella scaled and diversified Perrett Laver’s Social Impact and Environment Practice to become one of the leading advisors on leadership recruitment in the sector.
Arabella’s experience at Perrett Laver includes senior Chair, Board and Chief Executive appointments across the Social Impact and Environment Sector. This includes working with INGOs, Foundations, domestic non-profits, the UN, research institutes, social enterprises and at the intersection of the social impact and private sector.
Sinéad holds an honours degree in Natural Science from Trinity College Dublin and a PhD in Neuroscience from University College Cork.
Arabella holds an MA (Hons) in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh and a PG Dip in Psychology at the Institute of Education, University of London.
