Executive Search

When the hire is too important to leave to chance, we run a rigorous, transparent search that covers the full market, and stay with you until we reach a result.

Work With Us

Who is this for

For everyday hires, your current methods may suffice. For pivotal roles that call for a robust search process, systematic assessment, and a rigorous headhunting approach, we offer retained solutions, tailored to meet your specific hiring demands.

Hard-to-Fill Roles

When positions demand rare skills, are stuck open for months, or sit in competitive markets where traditional recruiting just isn’t working

Business-Critical Hires

When the role directly impacts revenue, growth, or strategy, and a wrong hire would have lasting consequences for the business.

Confidential Searches

When discretion is essential, such as replacing a current executive, planning succession, or managing sensitive leadership changes.

Capacity Gaps

When internal HR or TA teams are stretched thin and need a partner to take on complex, time-intensive searches while they focus on day-to-day hiring.

Why Sharp

We run a structured, exhaustive search from a full briefing, systematically mapping the market and crafting the right message, so you choose from every viable option, not just whoever happens to be active.

Personal Search Ownership

Every search is led personally by the consultant you spoke with, no handoffs, no junior staff. You get true ownership, accountability, and candidates identified fresh for your mandate.

Clear Timeline & Process

Weekly steering calls with transparent metrics keep you fully informed. Our standard time to shortlist is 4 - 6 weeks, with a fast-track option for urgent hires.

Commitment to Result

We work with you until the project reaches a conclusion, either the right hire or market intelligence that lets you make a confident decision. With retained, no search is abandoned halfway.

Experience the Search Process

The Briefing Meeting

Most searches go off the rails because no one slowed down at the start. We sit with all the decision-makers and get brutally clear on what success looks like, hard skills, leadership outcomes, and cultural fit. We align on search parameters and how progress will be reviewed, setting the foundations for a process that stays on track from start to finish.

Market Mapping

Instead of fishing in whoever happens to be actively looking. We build a fresh map of the whole market based on agreed parameters. Every outreach and response is tracked to keep market insights updated. That way, when you make a choice, you know it’s from the entire market with full transparency and evidence.

Professional Headhunt

Most recruiters blast out messages and hope. We don't. The best people rarely respond to ads or InMails, but they'll engage with someone who treats them with respect. We speak to them directly and discreetly, one by one, to spark curiosity and real conversations with the people who aren't actively looking but might be intrigued by the right opportunity.

Evidence-Based Assessment

Every interested candidate is measured against the exact skills and behaviors we agreed at the start. No gut feel, no shortcuts. You get evidence of capability and cultural alignment, and candidates know the process is serious and fair.

Longlist & Shortlist

We walk you through a longlist, including who we spoke to, who engaged, who passed, and why, before narrowing it down with you to a 3 - 5 person shortlist. No mystery pile of resumes, just evidence and transparency. By this point, you can be confident you’re choosing from the very best, not whoever was easiest to find, with the assurance that the market has been fully explored.

Interviews

We don’t just throw resumes over the fence and wish you luck. We run the interview process end to end, coordinating schedules, keeping candidates engaged, and making sure feedback flows both ways. Our job here is to make the experience smooth for you and serious for them, so you get clear signals on who’s truly the right fit.

Offer & Onboarding

Plenty of searches fall apart at the finish line, candidates get cold feet, offers stall, or details get lost in translation. We stay in the middle to keep momentum, manage expectations, and land the deal on solid ground. And we don’t disappear after the signature, we stay close through onboarding to ensure your new hire actually sticks.

Executive Search That Works

Simplify Your Search With Sharp

You’re likely doing fine without us, but let’s make sure. If filling crucial roles or preventing burnout among your top performers is a struggle, you could be stunting your growth. If this rings true, let's chat. We'll explore how our approach might help alleviate these burdens.

Book a Discovery Call

FAQs

Considering our search service for your recruitment challenges? Take a look at these questions and answers to get a clearer understanding of our specialization, our approach to working with clients, and how we manage situations when finding the perfect fit proves to be a challenge.

How do I know if your services are right for us?

We suggest scheduling a quick diagnostic call with us to determine if our services align with your needs. During this 10-15 minute call, we'll evaluate your requirements and assess if a more in-depth meeting would be beneficial. Our approach is tailored to each client's specific circumstances, ensuring we offer effective and efficient solutions

What sectors and functional areas do you recruit for?

Based in California, we focus on two key areas: leadership roles like CTO, CPO, and CMO, and functional roles in product-centric AI/ML engineering and technical go-to-market. We specialize in finding top talent for positions such as machine learning engineers, product managers, and product marketing managers.

We partner with startups in sectors set for AI-driven growth—specifically software, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. Every company’s needs are unique, and we believe in having nuanced discussions to address the specific challenges you want to solve through hiring. If the role you’re seeking aligns with your goals and our expertise, we’re ready to explore how we can help. If not, we're happy to point you in the right direction to tackle the problem.

Do you conduct searches outside of the United States?

We're firmly planted in the key U.S. tech hubs, providing exceptional value to clients in the software industry. Coincidentally, we've also got our fingers on the pulse of Tokyo's elite bilingual market. This dual expertise comes in handy for our U.S. clients eyeing their first hire or planning an expansion into Japan. While we're excited about offering this bonus service, our steadfast commitment to supporting U.S. hires remains at the core of what we do.

What happens if the search is unsuccessful?

Mutual commitment drives our service; we work with you until we reach the desired result. Sure, skill shortages might throw a curveball, but we'll adjust the trajectory together, always aiming for success. So far, we've never failed this way, and we don't intend to start now.

In all honesty, after assessing your needs, we might conclude our approach isn't suitable for your situation. That's why we carefully evaluate potential partnerships before diving in, ensuring both parties are confident in our collaborative potential. If, after this evaluation, either of us feels the fit isn't right, we'll encourage exploring other options. But when we both agree it's a go, you can count on our unwavering commitment to achieving the end goal

Can we receive a proposal or document outlining your services before engaging in a search?

Offering a proposal without understanding your situation is like prescribing medicine without diagnosing the symptoms first. That's why we begin with an in-depth discovery meeting, which serves as the first part of our proposal—a "taster session," if you will. This is where you experience what and how we do differently, allowing you to determine if you can trust us to find the ideal candidate.

We'll share everything you need to know, including potential challenges and reasons you might not proceed.Following the discovery meeting, we'll present a written proposal to all decision-makers involved in the search. This proposal will detail our understanding of your needs, the solution we recommend, and the commercial aspects. Please contact us to schedule a brief discovery call and kick things off.

Contact us

Are you a company grappling with recruitment challenges, or a professional hunting for tech opportunities? Unsure if we're the ideal partner for you? Schedule a brief discovery call, and let's find out if we can help each other.