From Executive Search to Executive Impact: How Vanessa Garcia Built Performant Scout on Trust, Not Transactions
Vanessa Garcia knows that hiring the right leader can make or break an organization, yet too many executive search firms treat it like a transaction: fill the role, move on to the next one. She set out to do things differently, and in 2015, she and a business partner launched Performant Scout to bring a more consultative, relationship-driven approach to executive recruiting.
More than a decade later, Vanessa is the firm's sole owner, and Performant Scout has grown well beyond its original focus on agribusiness and food production into sectors like food manufacturing, construction, banking, professional services, and nonprofits. Along the way, the company earned certification as a woman-owned and minority-owned business, opening new doors for partnerships built around supplier diversity.
We spoke with Vanessa about what inspired her to start Performant Scout, the gap she saw in executive search, and how she's positioning the firm for its next chapter, including a growing investment in AI to strengthen research, candidate engagement, and client insights.
Are you a woman leader with an inspiring journey to tell? Founded by Women is on a mission to elevate and amplify the voices of women making an impact. If you’re breaking barriers, driving change, or paving the way for others, we’d love to feature your story. Get in touch with us today! 👉 hi@foundedbywomen.org
Q: What inspired you to start Performant Scout?
Performant Scout was born from a desire to do executive search differently. As a first-generation Dominican American, I've always felt a strong drive to dream big and create opportunities that would make my family proud. After earning my degree in Applied Psychology from Penn State University and building a successful career in recruiting, I realized the timing was right to leverage my education, experience, and passion for connecting people to build something of my own.
Throughout my career, I saw too many firms prioritize filling jobs over building meaningful, long-term partnerships. I wanted to create a firm that truly understood each client's business, culture, and leadership needs while treating every candidate with respect throughout the process.
In 2015, my business partner and I launched Performant Scout with that vision. Today, as the sole owner, I'm proud that we've built a reputation for quality, integrity, and delivering leaders who make a lasting impact on the organizations they join.
Q: What problem are you solving?
Hiring the right leader is one of the most important decisions an organization can make, yet it's often one of the most difficult. Companies don't just need qualified candidates, they need leaders who align with their culture, values, and long-term goals.
At Performant Scout, we solve that challenge by taking a consultative approach to executive search. We invest the time to understand our clients' organizations, then identify, assess, and attract exceptional talent who may not even be actively looking. Our goal is to create lasting matches that help businesses grow and leaders thrive.
Q: What's next for you?
We're entering an exciting new chapter of growth. While our roots are in agribusiness and food production, we've successfully expanded into food manufacturing, construction, banking, professional services, nonprofit organizations and more.
One of our biggest milestones this year was becoming a certified woman-owned and minority-owned business. That achievement opens the door to new partnerships with organizations that value supplier diversity, creating even more opportunities to align our work with our purpose and make a broader impact.
We're also investing heavily in strengthening our AI capabilities to enhance every stage of the executive search process, from research and market intelligence to candidate engagement and client insights. We believe the future belongs to firms that combine innovative technology with authentic human relationships, and we're committed to leading that evolution.
As we celebrate more than a decade in business, I believe the next few years will bring exponential growth. I'm energized by the opportunities ahead and excited to continue building meaningful partnerships while helping organizations across the country find transformational leaders who create lasting impact.
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
