Score Big or Sell Short?

I love sport …of any kind really …although I am definitely a voyeur rather than participant nowadays. I also love my work …Executive Search…. with equal passion, and have not lost my enthusiasm after 20 something years in the profession. So, when I get the chance to use sporting analogies to illustrate business paradigms, I will grab it with both hands.

In the realm of sports and tech ventures, parallels often emerge, showcasing the importance of refreshing leadership teams for heightened performance. Take, for instance, the remarkable tale of Wrexham, the world's third oldest football club, currently basking in the limelight of celebrity ownership and back-to-back promotions.

From non-league obscurity to within touching distance of elite football, Wrexham's journey inspires impassioned loyalty from its fans. Yet, as the team ascends leagues, the need for strategic player adjustments becomes apparent. The leap from League Two to League One demands a squad capable of meeting heightened demands. Manager Phil Parkinson acknowledges this pivotal juncture: "We've got to make sure we have a squad that is really strong and can cope with what will be the biggest season for the football club."

MitchelLake, a trailblazer in finding and appointing transformative leadership teams for visionary tech companies, acknowledges Wrexham’s dilemma. As companies transition from early-stage ventures to global enterprises, the question looms large: Can existing leadership evolve at the requisite pace? Or is there a need to infuse new talent, skills, and experience?

The journey from pre-revenue to $50 million, and again to $100 million, marks significant shifts in operational complexity and cultural maturity. Yet, many companies gamble on their future success, overlooking the critical role of strategic leadership appointments, instead looking to the existing team to operate at a higher level or reshuffling the decks in a bid to retain and elongate leadership. Make no mistake it is imperative to look after people and explore every viable option .... but the emphasis has to be on that word, viable. Whilst not everyone becomes obsolete as businesses scale, playing fields and corresponding competition change and the team on the pitch has to be up to task in front of them. The value of battle-tested leaders in key roles cannot be overstated. They often serve as the linchpin between acceleration and stagnation. This is the dilemma facing Wrexham right now ....do they stick or twist? What's the endgame they are heading towards? How quickly do they want to get there? Where are the weak points which put the plan at risk? It is certainly a head vs heart moment, made all the more challenging by the heartfelt joy felt by many, the publicity has created around their journey

This week I have met with some outstanding CHROs, CROs, and CPOs from the technology sector who underscore this reality. Their strategic actions have propelled firms toward substantial growth, if not stratospheric heights. Proven, match-fit, inspiring leaders who have already navigated the toughest trails. All of them, impact leaders in their respective fields, who can boast to have made a difference in moving their companies up a division or two!?If you find yourself in need, it is likely we have an answer and we should speak.

Returning to Wrexham, the narrative teeters between romanticism and pragmatism. While the heart yearns for continued ascent, akin to Leicester City's fairytale Premier League triumph in 2015, practicality dictates periodic team upgrades to sustain competitiveness. Just as in sports, in the realm of tech ventures, refreshing leadership teams is often the key to surpassing past achievements and conquering new frontiers.

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