Leadership Link | December 2023

Welcome to this month's edition of Leadership Link! In this edition,?we bring you our top leadership insights and observations of 2023, including our future-ready leaders spotlight, insights on artificial intelligence and technology, how HR leaders can empower a hybrid model and culture, and how to find and retain leaders in hyper-growth environments. Finally, we wrap up this year with our 2023 Skills Index from Business Talent Group.

Sign up here to get the full edition of this newsletter in your inbox every month.

Treating your leadership pipeline as a strategic asset

Companies face an increased risk of losing effective leaders due to unprecedented retention challenges and a struggle to adapt to rapidly changing leadership needs. We collected a series of articles and interviews that focus on three key areas: rethinking CEO, board, and executive succession planning to meet rising stakeholder standards, adopting strategy-driven approaches to leadership assessments, and the swift adaptation of executive leadership teams to address ongoing challenges and future succession needs in terms of skills, capabilities, and diversity. These insights highlight the critical role strategic leadership development plays in navigating the evolving business landscape.

Visit our insights page here.

Artificial Intelligence

AI is reshaping business models and organizations at a dizzying speed. Leaders face increased pressure to define and find the talent they need to understand, implement, and govern AI in a safe, ethical, and profitable way.?

Dive into our thought leadership compendium for expert insights on AI's impact on leadership, business, and talent.

Visit our insights page here.

Industries: Software

Recognizing software as the key enabler of such transformations, Heidrick & Struggles emphasizes the need for a continuous influx of top talent for sustained growth. Our global team of experts collaborates with software companies at every growth stage, guiding talent decisions at the CEO, board, and senior levels. Leveraging market-leading industry knowledge and executive relationships, our teams facilitate connections with exceptional leaders and offer consultation on critical issues such as succession planning, cultural alignment, and executive onboarding.

Visit our insights page here.

Human resources focus: Four priorities for HR leaders to empower a hybrid model and culture

Hybrid work models are here to stay. Despite recent pushes to return to office, 74% of US companies either have or are planning on implementing a permanent hybrid structure. In discussions with eight HR leaders we interviewed on this topic, we found that they face four core dilemmas navigating hybrid: designing the structure, shaping an inclusive culture, promoting DE&I, and ensuring employee well-being. How they address these issues will have a lasting impact on the fortunes of their organization—and can offer insights to their peers.

Read the full article here.

Identifying, attracting, and retaining leaders for hyper-growth environments: An interview with Karishma Patel Buford, chief people officer at Spring Health

In this podcast, Heidrick & Struggles’ Josh Clarke speaks to Karishma Patel Buford, chief people officer at Spring Health, which provides comprehensive mental health solutions for employers and health plans. Buford discusses how the role of an HR leader is evolving as a strategic business partner and how she identifies leaders who can fit into and thrive in a hyper-growth environment, as well as what else leaders should be considering in terms of leadership capabilities for fast-growing companies.

Listen to the podcast here.

What skills do companies need most today?

In today’s dynamic business environment, leading companies are exploring innovative solutions to address the challenges of the present and seize growth opportunities for the future. Increasingly, they’re relying on independent, on-demand talent marketplaces that offer safe, flexible, and cost-effective access to the specialized skills and expertise needed to thrive. Business Talent Group, a Heidrick & Struggles company, examines data on thousands of on-demand talent engagements from enterprise and mid-market companies, private equity firms, and global nonprofits to reveal the top on-demand talent skills business leaders are seeking in 2023.

Read the full report here.

For more insights like this, sign up for our monthly email newsletter here .