Executive search recruitment is not for the faint of heart, especially in competitive metros such as Boston, Chicago, and New York City. That’s why the team at DSML Executive Search, part of Alexander Hughes, focuses on hiring cross-cultural recruitment specialists commanding deep knowledge of executive recruitment.
We are delighted to announce the integration of another seasoned professional, Clémence Gueugnier, for our Boston office. She was gracious enough to sit down for an interview to discuss her role, industry experience, and insights on the future of executive recruitment for the subsidiaries of European companies.
Getting to Know Clémence and Her Journey into Executive Search Recruitment
Q: Tell us about your professional background and experience. How did you get into executive recruitment?
My husband had an opportunity to move from Paris to Boston, so we moved here in 2021. I did freelance recruitment remotely for two years, specifically for European and French companies. It was work I enjoyed and was good at doing, so I was eager to learn more about the field.
As of today, I’ve been working in the recruitment space for over a decade. My educational background at Université Paris Cité, specifically my degree in organizational and personnel psychology, has equipped me with the knowledge necessary to manage the intricacies of executive recruitment.
Q: How did you come to DSML?
I met Myriam Le Cannellier, Co-Founder and Director of DSML Executive Search, through my network at the beginning of 2024. She was impressed with my professional acumen and cross-cultural recruitment experience. At this time, DSML Executive Search had just joined Alexander Hughes. Myriam asked if I wanted to freelance for them.
I began as a freelancer at the beginning of this year and quickly fell in love with the work. As of September 2024, DSML/Alexander Hughes is my full-time employer.
I knew that, as a contractor, it would take time to acclimate to a new job. But at DSM/Alexander Hughes, I was already considered a part of the team — I have felt cared for and welcomed since my first day on the job.
Q: What is your current role at DSML?
I am an Executive Search Consultant operating mostly within the Boston area. However, I wear multiple hats. My primary role is to bring new opportunities to the team.
I do engage in recruiting and interviewing candidates alongside my coworkers, but my biggest task is opening our network in Boston, meeting candidates and clients, and looking for new opportunities. I may need to book calls with clients, provide feedback, and make progress calls, or visit new prospects 1:1 for coffee.
One of my favorite duties is socializing at networking events so I can meet with candidates, clients, and companies. It is refreshing to work on business development, and I enjoy networking in the same way that Myriam does.
It is very beneficial for me to serve in a recruitment and business development role because I can be connected with all parts of the business. As I connect with clients and candidates, I can share the full experience — which allows me to speak to the value of Alexander Hughes and DSML.
Q: What languages do you speak? And how do you feel that benefits your role now at DSML?
I currently speak French and English. I believe this allows me to unpack complex ideas and be a good listener for both clients and candidates.
Being multilingual is really a benefit for this job because you have to deeply understand what your clients need. Sometimes, you have to understand what he or she is not telling you, which allows you to understand their true needs. I enjoy reading verbal and nonverbal cues, asking helpful questions, and analyzing the recruitment climate by doing background research on the client.
Q: What is your area of recruiting expertise?
I have experience with a wide range of companies. However, I really like and am focused on manufacturing, engineering, life science, and tech start-ups. In the Boston area, there are lots of life sciences and manufacturing companies, so I get to connect with them often.
Q: What advantages do you have with prior executive recruiting experience?
I have a master’s degree in psychology and executive recruitment. I also have a lot of experience in recruitment, more than 10 years. I used to work as an intern with the CEOs of executive search companies, so I have a great deal of experience sourcing and interviewing for roles.
It’s also in my personality to be a good listener. I have good situational awareness and can quickly understand how people operate, which allows me to match the right candidate to the right client.
I’m glad to have freelanced with Alexander Hughes before because it allowed me to get familiar with their workflows and processes. I was able to attend meetings with the team and get a better understanding of their systems. I now know how to explain Alexander Hughes to clients and candidates, which allows me to connect better with people in person.
Q: What are the core values of DSML?
Teamwork, first and foremost. We work together very closely to bring client requests to fruition. Everybody knows what everyone else is doing, which is something I love about this company.
The second value is transparency. There are no secrets. We speak aloud if we have something to say, and all voices are welcome at the table.
The third is quality because the quality of our work is paramount. We seek to do the best work, not just the fastest, so we go above and beyond with every client, every time.
This leads to one of our most powerful values: communication. We communicate a lot, both internally and externally. I believe it’s one of our greatest strengths and one of the reasons we’re so deeply trusted by European companies expanding to the US.
Q: How have your responsibilities grown since you have been at DSML?
In the beginning, I spent a lot of time with Myriam to understand the capabilities, tools, and processes at Alexander Hughes, as well as how she interacted with candidates and clients.
After my onboarding meetings, we would schedule a 1:1 meeting every week to develop my business development skills. We also discussed the primary areas to focus on. Very quickly, I was booking meetings on my own, which allowed me to take on more tasks for Myriam.
I really like a lot of things about this job. I am a very research-minded person, and I love researching the environment, people, and context behind new projects. It also gets me thinking about the best candidate profiles, where I can find them, and how I can exceed expectations.
Q: What is your favorite part of working at DSML?
I love the feeling of helping people succeed.
On the one hand, I love matching with candidates and clients so I can surpass their goals. I also love explaining the value of our company, as well as our client companies, as I can practice storytelling for candidates.
I also love knowing our clients on a personal, 1:1 basis. It’s so exciting listening to candidates talk in an interview and thinking, ‘wow, they’re a good match.’
Q: Over the past 10 years, have you seen any major changes in the executive search industry? Are there any changes that you think will stay for the long term or become permanent changes?
The most important change I see in the industry is that we are not doing in-person meetings anymore.
I used to meet a lot of candidates in my office, especially when I worked in my previous position. However, after COVID, that is no longer the case. Executive recruiters must learn how to interview candidates via Teams and evaluate them remotely, even without a physical handshake.
Secondly, the US/European compensation gap is an ever-evolving topic. It is changing a lot, up and down, and we have to focus even more in the US depending on the day.
Some candidates come with very high compensation packages, and some are below market average. For this reason, companies should follow the benchmarks set by experienced executive search recruitment firms and be open to learning about standards and expectations.
DSML Executive Search, an Alexander Hughes company, specializes in recruiting for European subsidiaries in the USA from major locations in Chicago and Boston. We are honored to have Clémence as a part of our Boston team and look forward to serving our clients with an even higher degree of professionalism. You may contact the team at DSML Executive Search at +1 312 268 6166.