Tailored Talent

Bespoke Partners
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  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Bespoke's CEO Eric Walczykowski interviews PE industry leaders for the latest insights and trends shaping the private equity talent landscape. Join us for an engaging quick-hit discussion on: macro trends in private equity, economy outlook, leadership in challenging times, go-to-market strategies, compensation trends, Step-up candidates, and strategic hiring. Listen in on this quick-hit  podcast to hear about their take on current market trends! Want to watch the full video episode? https://www.bespokepartners.com/tailored-talent-insights/--Learn more at bespokepartners.com

Episodes

  1. JAN 28

    How CEOs Are Thinking About Their Next Act

    What makes a CEO say yes today—and what makes them walk away?  CEO Eric Walczykowski joins Katherine Baker, Lead of Bespoke Partners’ CEO, Board, and P&L Practice, to explore how CEOs are thinking about timing, market conditions, compensation, and equity through the lens of both professional ambition and personal life stage.  With demand rising and supply tightening into 2026, this episode breaks down how sponsors and boards can align with CEOs who are choosing fewer, higher-conviction moments to charge the hill. Watch the episode here Get deeper insights by downloading your version of our newest release of the Private Equity Talent Report, Talent Market Update: https://www.bespokepartners.com/private-equity-talent-report/

    13 min

  2. JAN 7

    The New Math: The $1 billion Leadership Decision

    In Part 2 of this year in review, Eric Walczykowski, CEO of Bespoke Partners, is joined by Adam Boone, Chief Commercial Officer, to examine what the 2025 results made unmistakably clear. As executive turnover dropped by roughly 50 percent across private equity backed software companies, the leadership market tightened even further, raising the stakes of every hiring decision. This discussion breaks down how leadership gaps translate into real EBITDA leakage and lost enterprise value, why executive roles increasingly represent billion dollar decisions at exit, and how delays in filling critical seats compound risk. Drawing on data from hundreds of placements and proprietary market analysis, Eric and Adam explain why executive search has become a capital allocation decision and what sponsors must understand as deal activity accelerates into 2026. Learn more about Bespoke Partners and leadership strategy for private equity backed software companies: https://www.bespokepartners.com  Get deeper insights by downloading your version of our newest release of the Private Equity Talent Report, Talent Market Update: https://www.bespokepartners.com/private-equity-talent-report/

    22 min

  3. 12/31/2025

    Private Equity Leadership in 2025: Speed, AI, and Why Talent Drives Value

    In this discussion, Eric Walczykowski, CEO of Bespoke Partners, and Adam Boone, Chief Commercial Officer, break down what the executive talent market revealed in 2025. They cover why executive search demand accelerated earlier than expected, how Bespoke outpaced the broader industry, and why leadership talent has become the defining lever in private equity value creation. The conversation also explores why traditional bottom up executive search models struggle to deliver results, how top down market mapping drives completion rates above 99 percent, and why speed to close now directly impacts EBITDA and execution risk. Drawing on real data from 101 private equity firms and leadership work across 65 portfolio companies, this episode provides a grounded look at what actually moved the market and why time is no longer a neutral factor in leadership decisions. Learn more about Bespoke Partners and leadership strategy for private equity backed software companies: https://www.bespokepartners.com Get deeper insights by downloading your version of our newest release of the Private Equity Talent Report, Talent Market Update: https://www.bespokepartners.com/private-equity-talent-report/

    15 min

  4. 12/17/2025

    2026 CFO Talent Outlook: Navigating the Tightest Market in Years

    The CFO market in private equity software is entering one of its tightest phases in years. Deal flow is rising, exits are coming back into view, and demand for proven financial operators is outpacing supply. Join Eric Walczykowski, CEO of Bespoke Partners, for a timely discussion with our newest Partner, Marie Deller, who recently joined our Finance Executive Recruiting Practice. Together they explore the forces defining CFO hiring in 2026, including reduced candidate mobility, sharper value creation expectations, and shifting location requirements that are reshaping competitiveness across the market. They also share why culture has become a strategic advantage in professional services and how Bespoke continues to support high performing leaders while solving the most complex financial officer searches in private equity backed software. Hear what lies ahead for CFO recruiting in 2026. Get deeper insights by downloading your version of our newest release of the Private Equity Talent Report, Talent Market Update: https://www.bespokepartners.com/private-equity-talent-report/

    10 min

  5. 12/03/2025

    CFO Talent Is Harder to Land: What Sponsors Need to Know

    In this new Tailored Talent episode, Eric Walczykowski talks with Katelyn Quaresma, Head of our Finance Practice, about the forces driving one of the tightest CFO and VP Finance markets in recent years. They examine why proven CFO supply has constricted, why number two roles are up more than fifty percent year over year, and how step up candidates and CFOO or CFO+ profiles are becoming critical to filling essential leadership gaps. Katelyn also covers shifting geo requirements, equity realism in compensation discussions, and what it takes to secure top financial talent as new platforms accelerate and exits approach. Get deeper insights by downloading your version of our newest release of the Private Equity Talent Report, Talent Market Update: https://www.bespokepartners.com/private-equity-talent-report/

    14 min

  6. 11/19/2025

    The Go-To-Market Shift: Winning in a Tight Talent Market

    Bespoke Partners CEO Eric Walczykowski joins Partner and Go-To-Market Practice Lead Tess Fischer for a deep dive into the shifting dynamics of go-to-market leadership across private equity-backed software companies. They discuss why turnover remains high, how compensation continues to climb, and what it takes to secure top talent as firms level up ahead of exits in an increasingly competitive market. Get deeper insights by downloading your version of our newest release of the Private Equity Talent Report, Talent Market Update: https://www.bespokepartners.com/private-equity-talent-report/

    13 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

Bespoke's CEO Eric Walczykowski interviews PE industry leaders for the latest insights and trends shaping the private equity talent landscape. Join us for an engaging quick-hit discussion on: macro trends in private equity, economy outlook, leadership in challenging times, go-to-market strategies, compensation trends, Step-up candidates, and strategic hiring. Listen in on this quick-hit  podcast to hear about their take on current market trends! Want to watch the full video episode? https://www.bespokepartners.com/tailored-talent-insights/--Learn more at bespokepartners.com

Information

  • Creator
    Bespoke Partners
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tailored Talent