In this episode of the Leadership Quotient Podcast, Keith Giarman, President of the Private Equity & Principal Investing Practice at DHR Global, shares how a context-first approach to talent selection drives value creation. Drawing on his experience as a CEO and executive recruiter, Keith explains why domain expertise alone can derail a hire, how psychometrics and critical-thinking assessments inform better decisions, and the two traits he screens for above all: courage and energy. He also unpacks his Talent Operating Flywheel, a pre-deal-to-exit framework for succession planning and leadership development that keeps portfolio companies ready for every stage of the investment cycle.