The Hidden Job Market for Executives in 2026/Andy Mowat - Builders, Whispered, AI Resumes ~ Spark of Ages Ep 54

Why are management layers thinning?  How does AI change hiring signals? And how can senior leaders break into the hidden market for unposted executive roles? Andy Mowat shares practical playbooks for proof-of-work interviews, CEO diligence, and building a data-first GTM engine that actually ships.

• management ranks thinning and the rise of builders
• proof-of-work interviews and AI used well
• unposted VP and C-level roles and network strategy
• clarity of story over keyword stuffing
• being a high-impact number two under great leaders
• data foundations over tool sprawl in go-to-market
• CEO diligence and avoiding toxic cultures
• career 2.0, brand resets, and paying it forward

Want the truth about senior hiring in an AI-soaked market? Andy Mowat, four-time unicorn operator and founder of Whispered, pulls back the curtain on how VP and C-level roles really get filled, why management layers are thinning, and what it takes to stand out when every résumé looks flawless. We unpack the tactics that actually move the needle: proof-of-work case studies, hands-on demos that beat shiny decks, and a singular narrative that tells a CEO exactly what problem you solve.

We dive into the hidden job market for executives—where most roles never get posted—and map practical paths to get in the door without setting off alarms at your current company. Andy lays out a quiet-search playbook built on targeted lists, recruiter and talent partner relationships, and a community-powered network effect that shares live intel on companies, leaders, and backstories. If your experience includes a bump or two, we talk about owning it clearly and moving forward, rather than trying to bury the lead with keyword stuffing that pleases algorithms but confuses humans.

On go-to-market, Andy tackles the “GTM engineer” trend and explains why data foundations and real implementation beat tool sprawl and clever slides every time. Think operationalizing product events, smarter routing, and lifecycle triggers that create pipeline—versus busywork alerts that fade in Slack. We also explore why being a high-impact number two under a world-class leader can be a better career accelerator than chasing the top seat at the wrong company, and how to vet CEOs for transparency, delegation, and decision-making.

If you’re aiming at a senior move in 2026, this conversation will sharpen your approach: build with AI, don’t hide behind it; ship artifacts that prove your value; pick the right leader and stage; and pay it forward to compound your network.

Andy Mowat: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amowat/

Andy Mowat, a four-time unicorn executive, is the Founder and CEO of Whispered, a specialized talent network and platform dedicated to helping senior executives find and land high-level roles before they are publicly posted. Andy's extensive executive background includes serving as the Vice President of RevOps at Carta, where he oversaw GTM systems, data, strategy, and enablement for a business exceeding $400 million in ARR. Prior to that, he was instrumental in scaling both Upwork and Culture Amp from approximately $10 million to over $100 million in ARR. Andy is also the host of the How I Hire podcast and an alumnus of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Whispered: https://www.whispered.com/

Website: https://www.position2.com/podcast/

Rajiv Parikh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivparikh/

Sandeep Parikh: https://www.instagram.com/sandeepparikh/

Email us with any feedback for the show: sparkofages.podcast@position2.com