> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foundedbywomen.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Alison Ryan of Executive Headhunters EMA Partners on Why Senior Hiring Still Needs a Human Touch - URL: https://www.foundedbywomen.org/women-who-lead/alison-ryan-of-executive-headhunters-ema-partners-on-why-senior-hiring-still-needs-a-human-touch/ - Published: 2026-10-19T07:18:07.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-19T07:18:07.000Z - Author: Editorial team - Tags: Women Who Lead Alison Ryan started her career in executive search 25 years ago as a consultant and became a founding Director of [Executive Headhunters EMA Partners](https://www.executiveheadhunters.co.uk/?ref=foundedbywomen.org) in 2005\. Today she is the firm’s Chief Customer Officer and, for the past 12 months, EMEA Chair for EMA Partners, working with colleagues across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to strengthen collaboration and support cross-border assignments. What drew her to the work still keeps her in it: a natural curiosity about people and businesses, and the knowledge that a good appointment can make a genuine difference to a business and to someone’s career and life. Alison believes one of the biggest mistakes companies make is hiring the person they like the most rather than the person who is the best fit for what the business needs. The strongest leadership teams, she says, are not necessarily made up of people who think alike, but of people whose skills and personalities complement the team and fit the culture. As AI plays a bigger role in recruitment, she argues that understanding motivations, leadership styles and how someone will work with others still takes experience, judgement and real conversations. And for her, the appointment is only the beginning: Executive Headhunters EMA Partners includes a Landing with Impact programme, which gives each appointee a personal coach for the first six months at no extra charge. Looking ahead, Alison plans to keep building long-term client relationships and to grow the firm’s international reach through EMA Partners, while exploring how new technology can help without losing the personal approach. Her advice to women aiming for senior roles is not to wait until they tick every box, and to recognise the value of their own strengths. In this Q&A with Founded by Women, she shares her path into executive search, what companies get wrong when they hire senior leaders, and what she would tell women aspiring to lead. > Know a founder (or are one) doing incredible work? **Founded by Women Awards** are open for entries. If you're building something bold, leading with purpose, or driving change in your industry, we'd love for you to enter. 👉 [foundedbywomen.org/awards](https://www.foundedbywomen.org/awards/) --- ### Q: What was your path to becoming Chief Customer Officer at Executive Headhunters EMA Partners, and what drew you to executive search? I started my career in executive search 25 years ago as a consultant and became a founding Director of the business in 2005\. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a huge variety of businesses, from ambitious SMEs to large international organisations, helping them appoint the leaders who will shape their future. What originally attracted me to executive search is still what I enjoy most about it today. I’ve always had a natural curiosity about people and businesses. I love learning about different industries, understanding what makes organisations successful and hearing different perspectives from the people I meet. There’s also something incredibly rewarding about knowing that the work we do can have a genuine impact, not just on the success of a business, but on someone’s career and life. More recently, I’ve taken on the additional role of EMEA Chair for EMA Partners. For the past 12 months, I’ve been working with colleagues across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to strengthen collaboration, support cross-border assignments and expand our international reach. It’s a role I’ve really enjoyed because it combines so many of the things that attracted me to executive search in the first place: building relationships, learning from different cultures and finding opportunities to support more businesses and individuals. ### Q: What do companies most often get wrong when they hire senior leaders, and what helps a new leader succeed in the first months? I think one of the biggest mistakes businesses make is hiring the person they like the most, rather than the person who is genuinely the best fit for what the business needs. Of course, personal chemistry matters, but the strongest leadership teams aren’t necessarily made up of people who think alike or have similar personalities. It’s about finding someone whose skills, experience and personality complement the existing team, while also fitting with the organisation’s culture and values. That’s where I believe the human element of executive search is absolutely critical, particularly as AI becomes increasingly influential in recruitment. Technology can help us identify candidates, analyse information and make processes more efficient, but understanding people, their motivations, their leadership styles and how they’ll work with others requires experience, judgement and meaningful conversations. And making the appointment is really only the beginning. The first few months in a senior leadership role can be challenging, even for the most experienced executives. They’re navigating new relationships, learning the culture and often facing significant expectations to deliver results quickly. That’s why we offer our Landing with Impact programme, which provides coaching support throughout the first six months of an appointment as an integral part of our executive search process at no extra charge. Each appointee has their own personal coach who acts as an independent sounding board, helping them navigate challenges, build relationships and establish themselves successfully. For me, a successful executive search isn’t simply about placing someone in a role. It’s about helping that person and the business thrive together over the long term. ### Q: What’s next for you and the business, and what would you tell women aiming for senior roles? Our focus is very much on continuing to build strong, long-term relationships with our clients and helping them find the leadership talent they need to grow and succeed, both in the UK and internationally. Through EMA Partners, we’re able to combine the personal, hands-on approach of a boutique executive search firm with the reach and expertise of an international search firm. I’m particularly excited about the opportunities to work more closely with colleagues across different countries and support businesses as they expand into new markets. Personally, I’m keen to continue developing our international relationships and exploring how we can use new technology to enhance what we do, while protecting the personal approach and human judgement that I believe are so important. As for advice to women aspiring to senior leadership roles, I’d say don’t feel you have to tick every box before putting yourself forward. Over the years, I’ve met so many talented women who underestimate what they have to offer, while I’ve also seen people progress because they’ve had the confidence to pursue opportunities even when they haven’t had all the answers. Be curious, keep learning and don’t be afraid to take on something that stretches you. Build relationships with people who challenge your thinking and support your ambitions, and remember that you don’t have to lead in the same way as everyone else to be successful. I’ve built my career around a genuine interest in people, an enjoyment of learning and a desire to make a difference. Those qualities have served me well, and I think it’s important that women recognise the value of their own strengths rather than feeling they need to fit someone else’s idea of what a leader should look like. > Are you a woman leader with an inspiring story? Founded by Women elevates the voices of women making an impact. > Breaking barriers or paving the way for others? We'd love to feature you. Get in touch! 👉 [hi@foundedbywomen.org](mailto:hi@foundedbywomen.org)