November 2026 · A TWO - MINUTE READ
Who's missing from your leadership team?
Planning for 2027 has a way of bringing that question front and center! Maybe you need someone to take day-to-day operations off your plate. Maybe it's time to build a stronger finance function, or to lead an expansion your team hasn't tackled before.
Before you decide on a title, get clear on what you need that person to accomplish. That's where the magic starts.
In this month's The Executive, I'm sharing where to begin. We'll also look at why so many CEOs are rethinking their leadership teams, the latest hiring numbers, and an exciting executive opportunity with one of our clients.
A NOTE FROM MARCIA
Who do you need around the table in 2027?
This time of year, my conversations with business owners keep coming back to the same question: "Who do we need to hire next?"
Sometimes the answer is obvious. Other times it starts with something more personal: "I'm stretched too thin." "Too many decisions still come through me." "We have a great opportunity, but no one with the experience to lead it."
Those are great starting points! Before you put a title on the role, take some time to talk honestly about where you and your team need help.
Is important work sitting on the back burner because everyone is at capacity? Or are you asking your team to take on something they've never done before? You might need more of their time, a different set of skills, or an experienced leader who can take real ownership.
I'd love for you to bring these questions to your next leadership meeting:
- What do we keep putting off that could make a real difference to the business?
- Which decisions come back to me that someone else should own?
- Where would experience we don't have today help us move forward?
- A year from now, what would we want to thank this new leader for accomplishing?
That last one is my favorite, so give it a little extra time! "We need a COO" gives you a title. "We need someone who can run daily operations so I can focus on customers and growth" gives you a much clearer starting point for a search.
Before you hire, agree on the three things this person needs to accomplish in their first year. Then make sure you're ready to give them the authority and support to do the job. That's what sets great leaders up to win!
So what's taking too much of your time as you look toward 2027? Hit reply. I truly love hearing what you're working through!
Marcia Zaruba O'Connor
CEO & Founder, 57th Street Partners
The Numbers that Matter
Nearly 60%: Is a C-Suite Reset Coming?
Nearly 60% of CEOs surveyed by Boston Consulting Group plan to replace at least one senior leader within the next six months. CFOs were most frequently identified, followed by COOs, CHROs and CMOs.
What's behind it? A growing concern about whether current leadership teams have the capabilities, alignment and agility for what comes next. The smart move is to assess whether each executive is equipped for your next stage of growth before a performance gap turns into a crisis.
Read the article from Inc.
THE MARKET IN 60 SECONDS
A stronger month for job growth
U.S. employers added 165,000 jobs in October, while unemployment remained relatively steady at 4.1%. Professional and business services, healthcare, and transportation and warehousing posted gains. Average hourly earnings for private-sector employees rose 3.1% over the past year .
The latest available data also showed:
| 7.5M |
5.4M |
3.4M |
| Job Openings |
Hires |
Voluntary Quits |
October 2026 Employment Situation · September 2026 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
|
57TH STREET PARTNERS IN ACTION
A strong search starts with the right questions
-
Before we reach out to candidates, we spend time with your leadership team to understand the role, the people and the business. Together, we work through:
-
- Why you need this leader now
- What they need to accomplish in their first year
- The challenges they’ll face and the support they’ll have
- How you’ll measure their success
- How they’ll work with your team
- What would make the opportunity worth a move
-
Those conversations shape where we look, how we introduce the opportunity and what we ask candidates about their experience. They also give your team a shared basis for comparing finalists.
By the time you’re making a hiring decision, you should have a clear understanding of what each candidate could bring to your business and where they may need support.
An Executive Search Opportunity
We’re pleased to share that 57th Street Partners has been exclusively retained by LMC to lead the search for its next Vice President, Building Materials.
LMC is looking for an accomplished building materials leader to help shape the future of its Building Materials Division. This individual will bring strong industry and distribution experience, with an understanding of the full channel, from manufacturers and suppliers through distributors and independent dealers. We’re looking for someone with strength in supplier negotiations, category strategy, commercial growth, and P&L leadership who can identify new opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and drive continued growth across the division.
Learn more here!
|
