A Strategic Partnership: Makana Partners & Global Leadership Solutions (GLS)

At Makana Partners, we believe executive search is more than just matching a resume to a job description; it is about finding the precise leadership fit for your unique organizational culture. However, in today’s high-stakes environment, even the most thorough search process can benefit from an additional layer of objective, scientific scrutiny.

To meet this need, Makana Partners has established a strategic collaboration with Global Leadership Solutions (GLS). This partnership bridges the gap between traditional executive search and behavioral science. By integrating GLS’s sophisticated assessment frameworks into our methodology, we offer our clients a level of selection intelligence that ensures your most critical hiring decisions are validated by data, not just intuition.

Why Interviews Aren't Enough

The Hidden Risks of Traditional Executive Hiring

Most leadership failures don’t happen because of a lack of technical skill; they happen because of behavioral misalignment that was never uncovered during the hiring process. While interviews are vital, they have four primary blind spots that lead to costly "mis-hires":

The Sophistication of the "Interview Mask"

High-level executives are expert communicators. Interviews typically reveal a candidate’s polished "professional persona"—how they want to be seen—rather than the actual behavioral traits that drive their daily actions.

The Invisible Threat of Behavioral Derailers

Every leader has "derailers"—traits that only appear under high pressure, stress, or organizational change. These risks are rarely visible in a standard interview but can be catastrophic once the leader has taken the reins.

Unclear Success Conditions

A "perfect" candidate doesn't exist in a vacuum. Many hires fail because the organization hasn't defined the "guardrails" or support structures that specific individual needs to thrive in their environment.

Second Opinion Service

The Second Opinion: Bringing Evidence-Based Certainty to the Final Stage

The Second Opinion Service is designed for roles where the cost of a wrong hire is simply too high. When you reach the final stage of your selection process, we provide an objective, scientific "stress test" of your top candidates to ensure they are truly built for the role.



Powered by the internationally recognized Garuda Competence Profile, this service moves the conversation from subjective opinions to evidence-based validation

16-Trait Behavioral Mapping

We conduct a deep-dive analysis into 16 fundamental behavioral traits, providing a clear map of the candidate’s natural work style, social interaction, and mental energy.

Defining the "User Manual"

The Second Opinion provides a detailed report on exactly how to manage the candidate, what support they will require, and where they may need development to succeed.

Eliminating Internal Bias

Our assessment provides a neutral, third-party audit, giving your hiring committee a common language and a factual foundation for the final decision.