In this debut episode of Mission One: The Executive Edge, hosts Gerard Miles and Dan Hampton dig into what it truly means to reach the C-suite and why the corner office isn’t always the prize it seems. Drawing on their years of executive search experience across global giants and fast-growth startups, they unpack the leap from VP to C-level, where the job shifts from delivering results to owning vision, influence, and strategy.

They explore why empathy and communication are underrated power skills, how “leading through layers” separates good leaders from great ones, and why gravitas, more than charisma, is the quality that earns lasting respect. The conversation also takes a candid look at the trade-offs: more travel, more pressure, less proximity to your team, and the isolation that often comes with the top job.

Gerard and Dan round things out with practical hiring advice for boards and CEOs, including why charisma without substance can be dangerous, how politics play out in large organizations, and why sometimes the hungriest number two is a better bet than the safest, most seasoned candidate. It’s an honest, witty, and clear-eyed guide for anyone aiming not just to land a C-level title, but to thrive once they get there.

What You’ll Learn

• The real differences between VP and C-suite leadership
• Why strategy and vision matter more than tactics at the top
• How empathy, communication, and “reading the room” can make or break careers
• The pros and cons of charisma in executive leadership
• What gravitas is (and how it’s not just an old Roman word)
• Why politics in big companies isn’t always a dirty word
• The personal costs of leadership, from travel to isolation
• Hiring tips for boards: why you should consider the ambitious number two

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Episode Resources:

• Gerard Miles on LinkedIn
• Dan Hampton on LinkedIn
• Mission One: The Executive Edge on Apple Podcasts
• Mission One: The Executive Edge on Spotify
• Mission One: The Executive Edge on YouTube
• Gravitas by Caroline Goyder
• Radical Candor by Kim Scott
• Good to Great by Jim Collins

Interviews can rattle even the sharpest executives. In this episode of Mission One: The Executive Edge, hosts Gerard Miles and Dan Hampton share the secrets of great interviews, from tailoring answers and framing metrics to asking the right questions and running a process that doesn’t scare candidates away. Whether you’re in the hot seat or leading the panel, this is your playbook for interviews that actually work.

They also explore how context can transform even flat or declining results into a compelling narrative, and why great interviews feel more like conversations than interrogations. For hiring managers, Gerard and Dan highlight the power of scorecards to bring structure and fairness, the importance of avoiding repetitive interview loops, and the need to deliver a polished candidate experience that sells as much as it assesses.

Gerard and Dan mix humor with hard truths, from Dan’s teenage Walgreens interview blunder to real-world lessons on closing candidates quickly before competitors swoop in. It’s a practical, witty, and clear-eyed guide for executives on both sides of the table, because in the end, interviews aren’t just about getting the job or making the hire, they’re about building the right fit.

What You’ll Learn

• How to tailor your answers to peers, hiring managers, and cross-functional stakeholders
• Which metrics to prepare and how to share them without breaching confidentiality
• Why context is as important as numbers in explaining results
• How to frame flat or negative performance as resilience and market leadership
• Why great questions can elevate candidates above stronger résumés
• The anatomy of an effective hiring scorecard
• How to avoid repetitive loops and improve candidate experience
• When and how to accelerate the process to secure A-players

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here.

Episode Resources:

• Gerard Miles on LinkedIn
• Dan Hampton on LinkedIn
• Mission One: The Executive Edge on Apple Podcasts
• Mission One: The Executive Edge on Spotify
• Mission One: The Executive Edge on YouTube

Climbing the career ladder or hiring for the C-Suite requires insight into the skills that you need to operate at the top level.

On Mission One: The Executive Edge, hosts Gerard Miles and Dan Hampton reveal the truths they’ve learned building an international executive search firm. At Mission One, they’ve shaped senior leadership teams across leading Entertainment and Consumer companies, combining global reach with a culture built on responsiveness, agility, and service that goes deeper than results alone.

Gerard has spent more than a decade advising global organizations at the highest levels,  he is also an angel investor backing some of the world’s most exciting growth stories such as multi-unicorn AI startups ElevenLabs.  Dan brings over 15 years of executive recruiting expertise, guiding boards and CEOs from early stage to public companies through complex leadership challenges. Together, they’ve seen what separates candidates who make it to the top from those who don’t — and what world-class companies do differently when building leadership teams.

Each episode draws on decades of executive search experience to reveal what sets breakthrough candidates apart, how companies choose their top teams, and the playbooks world-class organizations use to hire transformational talent.

What You’ll Learn

• How ambitious leaders really break into the C-Suite and the missteps that hold most people back
• The signals search professionals look for when deciding who makes the shortlist (and who doesn’t)
• Why LinkedIn is more than just a profile; it’s your career amplifier
• The hiring playbook world-class companies use to attract and retain transformational leaders
• Real stories and lessons from leaders who’ve already made it to the top

Whether you’re an ambitious leader plotting your next breakthrough or a decision-maker refining your hiring process, this is your Executive Edge.

About the Hosts

Gerard Miles and Dan Hampton are executive recruiters and co-founders of Mission One, an international executive search firm. Gerard has spent more than a decade advising global organizations at the highest levels,  he is also an angel investor backing some of the world’s most exciting growth stories such as multi-unicorn AI startup, ElevenLabs. Dan brings over 15 years of executive recruiting experience guiding transformational executive hires for early stage to public companies. Together they have helped organizations across the Entertainment and Consumer sectors,I place senior leaders and guide ambitious professionals into breakthrough roles. Having advised organizations and candidates across industries, they know what it takes to both land and fill senior leadership positions. 

With Mission One: The Executive Edge, Gerard and Dan bring their insider knowledge to a wider audience, sharing candid conversations, practical advice, and stories from leaders who’ve made it to the top. Their mission? To demystify how executive careers are built and how companies can attract and retain world-class talent. If you’re looking to get noticed for your next breakthrough role or refine your hiring process to secure the very best leaders, Gerard and Dan are your guides into the unfiltered truth of senior leadership hiring.

👉 Make sure to subscribe to Mission One: The Executive Edge on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube so you don’t miss an edge. And once you’ve listened, don’t forget to rate and review the show.