#334 - Anne Lucas - The talent unicorn doesn't exist

In this episode, I welcome Anne Lucas, Founding Partner of Alt-a, for a conversation about executive search, board building, and leadership transitions in tech companies.We discussed :Why finding alignment between founders and investors before a search even starts is the most critical — and most underestimated — part of a headhunter's job, illustrated by a CTO search where both parties said "we want an AI expert" but meant completely different thingsThree recurring hiring mistakes in tech: giving a C-level title prematurely, recruiting from large corporates without assessing context fit, and launching a search too late — given that a full process takes around six months from start to day oneWhy independent board members in Europe are still treated as a "would-be-nice" rather than a strategic lever, and why that is a governance mistake for companies planning an exitThe four pillars of an effective board according to Anne: the right complementary skill set around the table, a culture of constructive conflict, strong relationships between founders and board members, and adherence to basic best practices like reading the board packWhy looking only for candidates who have "already done it" is a mistake — and how the real question should be "can they do it?", which often leads to more creative and better-fit profilesThe leadership profile shift across growth stages: a zero-to-one builder thrives on chaos and ambiguity, while scaling from ten to a hundred requires structure and process — and the two profiles are rarely the same personHow AI is reshaping the headhunting profession not by replacing human judgment, but by accelerating the labor-intensive parts of the job — leaving more time for the advisory and relationship work that actually drives resultsAnne's perspective challenges the idea that governance and talent strategy are operational afterthoughts. This conversation is a reminder that the decisions made around people and boards shape a company's trajectory for years. Anne’s recommendation : “The Athena Doctrine” by John Gerzema and Michael D'AntonioUseful links:Anne Lucas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-lucas-alta/ Alt-a:  https://www.alt-a.co/ ********************Finscale is much more than a podcast.It’s an ecosystem that connects key players in the financial sector through networking, coaching, and strategic partnerships.📢 With Finscale Private Talks, I bring together investors, entrepreneurs, and institutions for high-value private exchanges – I have zero tolerance for bullshit.🎯 Through my coaching and advisory support, leaders and finance professionals can better structure their vision and accelerate their impact.🤝 As for partnerships, they create unique opportunities to position yourself at the very heart of the industry’s transformation.🔗 Discover all the initiatives on the Finscale website : https://finscale.businessEnjoy listening!