3 Questions for Dan Solo, who leads Klaros Talent
What drew you to Executive Search?
I somewhat fell into executive search. While looking for an internship in college, I landed an opportunity with a boutique legal recruiting firm in Manhattan that was one of the few firms focused on regulatory and compliance roles in financial services in the late ’90s. I quickly fell in love with the work, the people, the conversations, and the opportunity to really understand what made someone successful in a particular role or organization.
As regulation expanded in the early 2000s, so did the opportunity. What started as a niche in legal and compliance grew into risk, governance, and controls, and ultimately into the broader leadership and executive search work I do today. What has kept me engaged all these years is that the market never stands still. The regulatory winds, changing business models, and constant innovation continue to make the work interesting, and there are always new people and businesses to learn from.
What's the hardest thing about executive search?
One of the hardest parts is balancing what a client thinks they want with what you learn they actually need. A search often starts with a very specific picture of the ideal candidate, but as you get into the market, talk to people, and better understand the business challenge, that picture can change. Part of our job is knowing when to listen and when to respectfully challenge the original thinking. Getting that right takes experience, judgment, and a lot of trust.
What's the one piece of advice you give everyone?
Play the long game. Careers rarely unfold exactly the way you expect them to, and some of the most important relationships and opportunities won’t reveal themselves until years later. Be curious, do good work, treat people well, and stay in touch. The financial world is smaller than you think, and you’d be amazed at how often people come back into your life in completely different ways 10 or 20 years later.
