Why Every Company Needs A Unicorn + How To Find One

“I’m really not sure we’ll be able to find one person who can do all of this.”

I’d met my client for lunch at Balthazar and as we worked our way through a plate of their french fries, she detailed everything they were looking for in their new head of marketing.

“Well, we’re looking for someone who can handle a fast-paced, dynamic growth environment, and we need someone who can partner seamlessly with our creative founder AND our analytical, strategic CEO. Plus, as you know, our company, Hello Products, has private equity investors, so the new marketing leader needs to have experience in that kind of environment. Do you think this is possible?

And the truth is: it would be difficult to find someone who met all those criteria. Sort of like finding a unicorn.

Enter Amy Calhoun Robb, discovered by TKJ Executive Search while she worked at The Princeton Review. Amy’s career wasn’t the obvious path for this role, but it was the sum of her diverse experiences that made her the perfect fit. 

Once hired, Amy propelled Hello Products to new heights, contributing significantly to its growth, brand image and profitability. Her impact didn’t stop there; she went on to achieve the same success for other businesses after helping lead Hello to its purchase by a strategic partner. 

Amy’s story is a shining example of a classic business "unicorn."

What’s a unicorn in the business world?

In the business world, a unicorn is a rare, multi-talented executive who can operate as a “utility player” to deliver against competing demands. Unicorns adapt to challenges with finesse, they lead teams to deliver beyond their job descriptions, and they bring extraordinary value to a company. They drive innovation, foster collaboration, and inspire teams to deliver their best. Unicorns have a unique blend of skills that allow them to excel beyond expectations.

A unicorn might excel at both analytical and creative thinking, or bring operational depth combined with exceptional interpersonal skills. Their ability to think cross-functionally and connect the dots between disparate parts of an organization sets them apart from other classic talents.

Why your company needs a unicorn

A unicorn hire can transform your organization, improving morale, profitability, and innovation. Here are three key reasons why your company needs one:

  1. Driving exceptional growth

    A unicorn’s ability to excel across multiple functions creates opportunities for unprecedented growth. According to this 2022 study from Deloitte, companies in the top quartile of executive talent outperform their competitors by 21% in profitability.

  2. Boosting morale and retention

    Unicorns inspire their teams and foster a culture of positivity and high performance. Their leadership style often results in lower turnover rates, which is crucial, given that replacing an executive can cost up to 213% of their annual salary, according to the Center for American Progress.

  3. Bridging leadership gaps

    Unicorns can provide the connective tissue that’s needed to keep a business running when another leader leaves the company. 

    An unfilled leadership role can cost a company hundreds of thousands of dollars per month in lost productivity and morale. That’s why TKJ Executive Search’s ability to fill roles in 1-2 months—compared to the industry average of 3-5 months— is so important.
    We ensure minimal disruption and quicker impact from new hires

How to find a unicorn for your team

Unicorns are rare, but finding one doesn’t have to be an impossible task. Here’s how we deliver unicorns to our clients:

  1. Think beyond the obvious

    Amy Calhoun Robb wasn’t an obvious candidate for the head of marketing role at Hello Products. Her previous role at The Princeton Review didn’t scream “startup marketing dynamo,” but her career’s breadth and depth across consumer product industries made her the perfect fit. TKJ’s creative, nimble sourcing process ensures that we uncover hidden gems like Amy --candidates who might not surface through traditional channels.

  2. Move fast and efficiently

    Executive searches can drag on for months, leaving critical roles unfilled. At TKJ, we complete searches in 1-2 months—half the time of larger firms. Our speed and efficiency not only save time but also minimize the high costs of leadership vacancies.

  3. Access across industries  

    Unlike many global firms, TKJ is not constrained by extensive "off-limits" agreements. This allows us to tap into top talent from academy companies like Pepsi, Ford, and Pfizer—leaders who bring unparalleled expertise and a fresh perspective to your organization.

  4. Combine executive search with leadership coaching

    Our leadership coaching expertise adds an extra layer of value to our search process. By guiding our clients with customized interview questions and providing onboarding support, we ensure that every placement is a perfect fit—not just for the role, but for the company’s culture and long-term goals.

Ready to find your unicorn?

Unicorns may be rare, but with the right partner, they’re within your reach. TKJ Executive Search delivers transformative leaders who not only meet expectations but exceed them—bringing unparalleled value to your organization.

Let us find your next game-changer. Drop us a line at team@tkjexecutivesearch.com or grab a spot on our calendar for a quick chat to make your new hire your best hire. 

Testimonials

Tammy is unlike any recruiter I've ever worked with; she is one of the best. While most search firms focus on the client, Tammy understands that for the client to succeed in its search goals, she needs to equally represent the candidate. She works tirelessly to help the candidate evaluate the opportunity to determine whether it's right for them. Her authentic desire is to help the candidate make the right decision.

— Alexandra Aleskovsky, President & CEO

We hire TKJ Executive Search because they introduce highly qualified candidates in a quick timeframe and we always feel like true partners in their process. They take the time to understand our business so they can really pinpoint the need, and they are invaluable for broadening our talent ranks with hires from new industries. Their approach is creative and out of the box. They can meet the demands of any search we put before them, regardless of function.

— Lori Massad, SVP Human Resources and Chief Talent Officer, Alliance Bernstein

TKJ Executive Search gets the job done every time in an efficient manner. They quickly understand the nuance of situations, and they get the chemistry fit. Their team has open and honest styles and they connect well with candidates, making them great ambassadors for our company.

— Ellen Shedlarz, Former SVP HR Ziff Brothers Investments and Former Chief Operations Officer, Global Talent Management Group, Morgan Stanley

TKJ Executive Search takes a uniquely thoughtful approach to finding the best person, not only for a position but also as a match for our organization and culture. To be able to collaborate on the important nuances makes all the difference. They are highly intuitive, deliberative and thorough, and they are authentic partners with their clients.

— Sarah Cox, Manager, Talent Management, L.L. Bean

Tammy understands me in a way I never would have expected from a search partner. She helped me hire a Head of HR years ago when I ran a media business and that hire was such a perfect fit as my business partner that I have taken her with me to several new businesses. Creating a match like this is a rare feat for a recruiter.

— Kerry Hatch, Former COO, Global Client Services, Axciom

I have hired Tammy many times as a recruiter and as a coach. As a recruiter, she is thoughtful, creative, and delivers results quickly. As a coach, she helped the CEO in one of my previous companies become aware of the consequences of his behavior — and, together, they made some critical and high impact adjustments. Tammy is the real deal and a great partner.

— Michael Bruno, former CHRO Muscular Dystrophy Association, IAC and Rodale

TKJ Executive Search exceeded our expectations, a rarity from an executive search firm. We met our first CHRO candidates in week three and selected our finalists in week six. The quality and caliber of each candidate made the vetting process positively challenging; fortunately, the TKJ team’s candid and collaborative input helped make this easier. A pleasant surprise was the unsolicited positive feedback from the candidates about their experience with TKJ — a positive reflection on our company. I would partner with TKJ again in a heartbeat.

— Kevin Doran, Senior HR and Communications Leader, PQ Corporation

TKJ Executive Search is our recruiter of choice. They find solutions to some of our more complex hiring needs, and their placements deliver high impact. What I most value is their approach as thoughtful partners — we always know the search progress, what makes each candidate compelling, and what we need to explore and emphasize in each interview conversation. I have complete trust in Tammy’s instincts and counsel.

— Susan Grimbilas, Partner and Managing Director, Head Of HR And Operations for North America, The Boston Consulting Group

I selected TKJ Executive Search as a search partner after a thorough comparison with other firms, and I was delighted with my choice for our Head of Talent. I have high expectations and they exceeded them because they made a challenging search seem easy. A key to their approach was the extensive amount of time they invested up front to understand me and my drivers, our Firm and our culture, and the reasons and motivations for our hiring decision. Then Tammy guided me in custom questions to ask each candidate, and she observed my interviews which helped me refine my approach and confirm my selection. She redefined for me the concept of partnership.

— Jennifer Stier, COO, Highfields Capital Management

There is a boundary-less aspect to Tammy's work. It's integrated and she goes deep. She understands that a hire is a reflection of the leader, so she puts herself in my shoes. Her coaching experience makes her a forward-looking search partner; beyond searching for a fit for the role, she works to understand and anticipate how the role might change over time. And now that I have used Tammy in multiple capacities and in multiple organizations, I can attest to how powerful that is.

— Hy Pomerance, Chief Talent Officer, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP