The Leadership Talent Clients Keep Asking For
At Bakar Smith, we’ve noticed a clear pattern emerging in the types of leaders our clients are asking for. Regardless of specific industry or niche. Pharma, Biotech, Aged Care, Med-tech. The technical skills may vary, but the leadership qualities they want have a common thread.
They’re looking for leaders who inspire, steady, and adapt.
In the past year, we’ve worked with organisations navigating major transformation. New systems, regulatory pressures, workforce shortages, the rise of AI and much more. What’s standing out is how quickly companies can feel the impact of the right leader. Someone who brings calm to the noise, who can lift people’s confidence while still driving accountability.
The new brief: empathy with edge
Empathy has moved from a “nice-to-have” to a core leadership skill. But empathy alone isn’t enough. Clients are looking for leaders who can pair it with edge. Those who can make tough calls, have difficult conversations, and maintain focus on outcomes while staying human.
Commercial curiosity
Even in highly technical or clinical settings, clients want leaders who think commercially. They value those who can connect their function’s success to the bigger business story. Someone who can translate data, spot opportunities, and influence at the executive table.
Coaching and composure
Another shift we’ve seen is towards coaching-led leadership. The best leaders don’t jump in to solve every problem; they develop the capability around them. We heard from a leader recently who shared a reflection on their own leadership journey. This person jumped in to fix a spreadsheet rather than talking the team member through it.
They know when to step forward and when to step back. And they do it all with composure, a quality that builds trust fast.
What this means for hiring
When we talk to clients about leadership roles now, we spend more time defining how success looks, not just what the person will do. Job descriptions still matter, but culture fit, adaptability, and values alignment have become just as critical.
The truth is, the best talent are rarely sitting on job boards. They’re busy making things better where they are. Finding and engaging them takes time, insight, and conversations that go deeper.
If you’re building your next leadership team – or simply rethinking what great leadership looks like – we’d love to share what we’re seeing in the market.
Rob @ Bakar Smith.
I work with senior leaders in Pharma & Biotech to build leadership teams and RPO solutions.