No matter how perfect the process looks on paper, executive search is never fully predictable. We work with human beings, not machines, reason why even when the process is rigorous, when information is carefully validated and candidates look strong on paper, there are always variables beyond our control. Sometimes it feels as if every star needs to align perfectly, and sometimes, they don’t.
What I have learned is that the complexity of executive search doesn’t come only from the market or the candidates. It also comes from how we, as trusted advisors to our clients, handle those moments when things don’t go as expected. Do we freeze or do we take control? Do we focus on blame or do we focus on solutions?
I remember one search in particular where, despite a thorough process, last-minute changes in the client’s organization shifted the entire context. What made the difference was not avoiding the challenge, but how quickly we realigned the search, reset expectations, and kept the client engaged. In the end, the placement not only met the new needs but generated long-term impact for the business.
In my experience, the key is to own the process, because none of us is free from mistakes and no project is free from surprises. What matters most is how we respond, how fast we adapt, how transparently we communicate, and how committed we stay to our client’s goal.
Today’s market adds even more layers of complexity, uncertainty, rapid change, and shifting leadership demands. That’s why being trusted advisors is not just about filling a role, it’s about helping organizations navigate change with confidence.
When searches become difficult, we go back to what truly defines us at INAC Mexico (Strategic Talent) and INAC Global: our purpose, our commitment to The Mark of Search Excellence, and the values that guide how we work – client focus, passion, human sensitivity, and commitment. All of this has the clear goal of providing our clients with results that are not only tangible in the short term but also sustainable in the long run.
How do we achieve it? By acting as trusted advisors, guided by principles that shape the way we respond:
▪️Take control early. We don’t just solve problems; we anticipate them and act before they escalate.
▪️Stay transparent. Clients value honesty over perfection, and transparency builds long-term trust.
▪️Reframe setbacks. Challenges are not failures; they are opportunities to adapt and strengthen the process.
▪️Keep the client’s goal in focus. Beyond filling a position, we ensure the outcome creates sustainable value for the business.
▪️Stand by the client. Even when circumstances shift, we remain fully committed, walking alongside them until the right leadership is in place.
For us, success means more than closing a search, it means helping our clients secure leaders who will shape their business in a sustainable way. That is the difference we are committed to delivering, every single time.
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Ángeles Madrigal, Founder & CEO Strategic Talent (INAC México)
Founder and CEO of Strategic Talent INAC, an international executive search firm, and Accelerate DEI|TALENT, a consulting firm focused on designing leadership and organizational transformation strategies with Diversity and Inclusion as key drivers of business success. Both companies have over 18 years of consolidated presence in the market.
With over 30 years of experience in Human Resources and Organizational Development, she has led high-impact talent transformation projects with a strategic, human, and inclusive vision.
She is a certified coach, partner, and Mexico representative for INAC Global Executive Search, one of the most recognized global networks in executive talent search. She has been a speaker in forums hosted by the most influential companies in the country and is the creator of the Forbes INDEX, as well as the author of the declaration “Entrepreneurs, Invest in Women”, presented at the Forbes Powerful Women Forum.
