Practice 02 · Talent Strategy, Recruitment & Succession Planning

Know who leads next. Before you have to.

The value of your business lives in its people. We help you see your talent clearly, build the next generation of leaders, and hire the roles that will shape the next five years.

A large tree with deep spreading roots and sunlight through its canopy
Is this you?

You might be ready for this if…

These are some of the situations clients bring to us. If one sounds familiar, or you're facing something not on this list, let's talk.

  • You're thinking about stepping back, selling or passing the business on.
  • One or two people hold knowledge your business can't afford to lose.
  • Your best people are leaving for opportunities you could have offered.
  • Key hires keep taking too long, or not working out.
  • You don't have the time or HR resources to run a hiring process well.
  • You're not sure whether AI changes who you should hire next.
What we do

The work, in plain terms.

  • Owner and leadership succession planning
  • Talent reviews and nine-box calibration with your leadership team
  • Critical role and key-person risk assessment
  • High-potential identification and development plans
  • Strategic workforce planning for the next three to five years
  • Recruitment strategy and end-to-end hiring for key roles, from role design to signed offer
  • Performance management that leaders actually use
  • Leadership pipeline and early-career programs
What changes

Outcomes our clients look for

  • A named successor and readiness plan for every critical role
  • Lower key-person and knowledge risk
  • Higher retention of the people you most want to keep
  • Hiring decisions grounded in the work you'll need done, not the job you had
Signature offers

Clear starting points, shaped around you.

Every engagement is scoped to your situation. These are the ways clients most often begin.

For owners

Owner Succession Program

A people-first succession plan for owner-led businesses: who can lead, what they need to be ready, how to transfer relationships and knowledge, and a timeline you can trust. Works alongside your accountant and lawyer.

Format
Facilitated program
Best for
Owner-led businesses
Term
3 to 6 months
Diagnostic

Talent Review & Critical Role Assessment

A clear picture of your bench in weeks: your critical roles, key-person risks, ready-now successors and the gaps to close first.

Format
Project
Output
Board-ready talent map
Term
6 to 8 weeks
Hiring

Key Role Hiring: Strategy to Signed Offer

For the hires that matter most. We define the role for the work ahead, including how AI changes it, then support your process or run it end to end: sourcing, screening, interviews, references and the offer. You stay in control of the final decision.

Format
Per role
Best for
Any level, from first manager to executive
Term
4 to 12 weeks
How it works

From first conversation to lasting change.

Listen

A candid conversation about what's happening, what's at stake and what good looks like for you.

Diagnose

We look at the facts, talk to the right people and tell you plainly what we see.

Act

We roll up our sleeves alongside your leaders, with clear milestones and no surprises.

Sustain

We build your team's capability so the change holds long after we step back.

Who you'll work with

Senior people. Every time.

You work directly with our principals, supported by specialists from the CECai Collective when your work calls for it.

Meet the team
FAQ

Questions leaders ask us

When should a business owner start succession planning?

Ideally three to five years before you plan to step back. Developing a leader, transferring relationships and preparing a business for sale or transfer all take longer than most owners expect.

Is succession planning only for large companies?

No. Smaller organizations often carry more key-person risk, because a few people hold most of the knowledge and relationships. A simple, honest plan protects the business and its value.

Can you run the hiring process for us?

Yes, for roles at any level. We can advise on your process, or run it end to end: defining the role, sourcing and screening candidates, coordinating interviews and references, and supporting the offer.

How does AI affect workforce planning?

AI changes what many roles contain, so planning by job title alone is no longer enough. We plan around the work, the skills that differentiate you and where people and AI each add the most value.

Next practice

Executive Coaching & Leadership Development

Explore

Let's start with a conversation.

Thirty minutes, no pitch. Tell us what's happening in your organization and we'll tell you honestly how we can help, or who can.