In this TED Talk, Mads Faurholt-Jorgensen, entrepreneur and co-founder of more than 20 companies, explains why most leaders fail at hiring and how to fix it. He argues that leadership is not about being the smartest person in the room. It is about selecting the right people and helping them succeed. Despite being a core function of any leadership role, talent selection is rarely taught or systemized.
Faurholt-Jorgensen shares how bad hires cost time, money, and energy. They weaken culture, stall performance, and create unnecessary stress for everyone involved. He points out that most leaders hire based on instinct or bias, often choosing people who are similar to themselves or trying to find one person who can do everything. This approach leads to shallow benches and unpredictable results.
To solve this, his team created a structured hiring process supported by a predictive algorithm. It does not remove human judgment, but it forces clarity about what success looks like in a role and how to evaluate it. The framework includes defining specific needs, asking the right questions, and interpreting responses against those needs, not gut feeling.
He emphasizes the importance of identifying what he calls “whispering talent.” These are high-potential individuals who may not have impressive resumes but can thrive with the right support. By focusing on fit, capability, and long-term alignment, companies can open their doors to more impactful talent.
