Hiring Mistakes Every Financial Services Leader Should Avoid
September 2025
Searching Smarter Podcast: Hiring Mistakes Every Financial Services Leader Should Avoid
The way we work is shifting again. In this episode of the Searching Smarter podcast, host Jesse Skaff sits down with Chris Berta, Partner at Laurel Group, to unpack the rising tensions between hybrid expectations, return-to-office pressures, and how AI is transforming the way companies assess and hire talent.
This episode is built for hiring managers navigating a new kind of uncertainty. As firms try to balance flexibility with performance, and as AI reshapes what makes someone “qualified,” leaders are being forced to rethink how they attract, promote, and retain top performers.
What you’ll discover:
Firms are dialing back flexibility, with many leaning toward four or five days in-office - even if unofficially. For leadership roles in particular, proximity is being tied more directly to perceived commitment and visibility.
Remote performance alone may no longer cut it. Chris shares why in-person face time with senior leadership is quietly returning as a requirement for career progression - and how that’s influencing who gets promoted.
Hiring managers are no longer just looking for relevant experience - they’re evaluating adaptability, curiosity, and AI fluency. The skills that mattered five years ago aren’t the same ones that will define success in 2026.
Whether you're reassessing your team structure or evolving your hiring strategy, this conversation offers practical insights into how leading firms are staying ahead - without compromising on talent quality.
There’s no one-size-fits-all. But there is a clear shift happening, and those who respond decisively will be best positioned to win the next chapter of the talent market.
Want to learn more?
At the Searching Smarter podcast, we speak to the brightest and boldest minds in financial sciences & services. From talent acquisition leaders and hiring managers to world-class professionals, we delve into all the ways they leverage top talent to drive their businesses forward. Listeners will walk away with expert guidance on how to attract, acquire and retain high-performing teams, as well as what it takes to be a part of one.
It's available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So listen, learn, and let us know what you think.
Find the talent you need
Get in touch with one of our talent specialists who will be able to offer bespoke and tailored guidance on hiring for your business' objectives and resourcing plans.
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