Senior executives often believe that casting a wider net creates more opportunity. In reality, the opposite is usually true.

This case study illustrates how clarity, focus, and targeted executive messaging helped a COO transition into a President role at a $250M private equity–backed company—without chasing dozens of roles or relying on cold outreach.

The takeaway is simple, but not always easy to accept:
When your positioning is clear, the right opportunities find you.

From COO to President: Why Focus Matters at the Executive Level

When this client and I began working together, he was an accomplished COO with deep operational leadership experience. Like many senior leaders, he initially felt uneasy about narrowing his executive search strategy.

“I thought focusing on one direction would limit my options,” he later admitted.

Instead, it did the opposite.

By targeting his messaging toward a CEO/President-level narrative, he became more compelling—not less. Recruiters and investors didn’t have to guess where he fit. His value proposition was immediately clear.

As executive career coach Gina Riley puts it:

“The executives who stop resisting this idea and start doubling down with focus have better and more clear messaging!”

Executive LinkedIn Optimization: Why the Recruiter Found Him

The opportunity didn’t come from an application.
It came from LinkedIn search.

A Keyword-Optimized Executive Profile That Told a Story

The recruiting firm found him because his LinkedIn profile was:

• Keyword optimized for President, CEO, Private Equity, P&L leadership
• Written with a clear narrative arc, not a generic executive summary
• Designed to speak directly to investors, boards, and search firms

One of the biggest shifts? Rewriting the About section.

He moved away from the classic—and forgettable—opening:

“20+ years of experience in progressive leadership roles…”

Instead, we leaned into a creative hook that immediately signaled scope, scale, and leadership style.

“Hooks in a profile work in ALL situations—don’t be afraid to leverage that marketing tactic.”
— Claire Davis, Owner, Traction Resume

For senior leaders, LinkedIn is not a resume.
It’s a positioning asset.

Bespoke LinkedIn Profile Writing Services

Being Ready When the Call Comes

When the senior recruiter reached out, there was no scrambling.

A Strong Executive Resume, Ready to Share

His resume was:

• Aligned with private equity expectations
• Clear about P&L ownership, headcount, and growth metrics
• Structured to show enterprise-level decision-making

This allowed the recruiter to immediately assess fit and confidently advance him.

Clear Executive Value Proposition = Faster Momentum

What separated him from other candidates wasn’t just experience—it was clarity.

The recruiter could easily see:

• His competitive advantage
• The scope of his leadership
• The results he had delivered at scale

He also moved quickly and professionally, staying responsive and engaged throughout the process—an underrated but critical signal at the executive level.

“Clarity really is a differentiator. When your story is sharp and targeted, the right opportunities find you.”
— Shub Faujdar, Owner, JobS-ME

Winning Over the Search Committee

By the time he reached the search committee, his positioning was already working in his favor.

Preparation That Goes Beyond “Good Interviewing”

He:

• Researched the firm, the leadership team, and the PE sponsor
• Understood the company’s mission, challenges, and growth goals
• Spoke directly to what they needed next, not just what he had done before

Through several mock interview sessions, he refined STAR stories that reinforced his readiness for a President-level role.

Just as importantly, he built genuine rapport with every interviewer.

Likability still matters—especially in PE-backed environments where trust and alignment are essential.

Guide: Preparing for an interview

Coaching: Executive Interview Coaching

The Timing Lesson Most Executives Miss

One of the most important lessons from this experience?

This did not happen overnight.

• Career collateral work began in January
• The first call for this opportunity came in mid-June
• But when it came—he was ready

He didn’t rush. He didn’t react. He positioned himself ahead of time.

The result?

With compensation and incentives, he’s expecting a 30–45% increase in total pay as he steps into the President role.

Executive Resume Writing Services

Final Takeaway for Senior Executives

If you’re a COO, CFO, or senior leader eyeing your next role, this story offers a clear message:

• Broad messaging creates confusion
• Targeted messaging creates momentum
• Clarity is a competitive advantage

The executives who win the best opportunities aren’t louder—they’re clearer.

And clarity starts long before the recruiter calls.