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April 10, 2025
In molecular biology, Phenotype is what you can observe—eye color, height, physical traits.
Genotype is what lies beneath the surface—the genetic code that actually drives those traits.
We’ve borrowed this framework to explain a mistake we see far too often in Life Sciences hiring:
Companies hire Commercial leaders based solely on what’s visible.
👉 Impressive resume
👉 Industry experience
👉 Big-name companies
👉 A strong interview presence
We call this the Phenotype. And while it matters, it’s not enough. Most hiring happens through networks—so unless you're intentional about going deeper, you’re likely to overlook high-potential candidates who don’t look like you or come from the same mold.
To make truly high-impact leadership hires, companies must look into the Genotype—the leadership DNA beneath the surface:
🔬 Traits — Who they are under pressure
🔬 Drivers — What fuels them when times get tough
🔬 Behaviors — How they make decisions, lead, and coach
🔬 Fit — Will their leadership style thrive in your environment?
These deeper qualities define how a leader shows up—not just when things are easy, but when things get real. And they vary widely based on your company’s stage, strategy, and culture.
This is why even leaders with flawless resumes can fall short.
They weren’t built for your growth model, your team, or your pace of execution.
You can only uncover a leader’s Genotype through the right assessment process. At Alder Brooks, we build something called a Success Profile before every critical search.
This isn’t just a checklist. It’s a structured framework that defines what success actually looks like in your business—so we can objectively evaluate candidates based on what matters most.
📖 Read how we build Success Profiles →
📖 Learn why Traits vs. Competencies matter →
Once the Success Profile is built, we benchmark every candidate against it:
✔️ Ask performance-based and scenario-based questions
✔️ Assess how they’ve led—not just what they’ve done
✔️ Score alignment across each factor (1–10) to reduce bias and open the door to more diverse, high-performing leaders
✔️ Validate their impact through deep reference checks—especially with direct reports
Structured evaluation isn’t red tape.
It’s how you recruit leaders that actually deliver.
The right Commercial leader can change the trajectory of your company.
But only if they’re built for your stage of growth, your market challenges, and your execution style.
Don’t just hire what you can see.
Hire for what it actually takes to win.
Alder Brooks is the only search firm exclusively focused on recruiting Commercial leadership in Life Sciences: Tools, Diagnostics, Devices, Therapeutics, and Infusion.
We help CEOs and Investors find high-performing Commercial executives who drive revenue and deliver oversized growth.
📖 How to Build a Success Profile →
📖 Traits vs. Competencies: What Really Matters →
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