90% of exec candidates fail basic business comprehension test after 10 interviews

The Gist

• Investor screens candidates by asking what they learned after 10 interviews
• Most recite generic praise but lack operational understanding
• Top performers reverse-engineer metrics and identify gaps proactively
• Reveals systemic lack of curiosity in leadership hiring

• 90% of executive candidates fail to demonstrate basic business comprehension after 10 interviews, lacking knowledge of key metrics like unit economics, burn rate, and retention numbers.
• The best candidates (1 in 10) show deep curiosity by reverse-engineering the business model, asking hard questions, and independently researching the company.
• A candidate's failure to ask hard questions during interviews is a strong indicator of how they will perform as an executive.
• Candidates who rely on vibes rather than knowledge after multiple interviews are often disqualified.
• Being the last interviewer allows you to assess whether the candidate has genuinely learned about the business.
• A lack of curiosity in candidates can lead to mishires, as they may not understand the operational realities of the company.

• Be the last interviewer to assess whether candidates have genuinely learned about the business.
• Ask candidates what they’ve learned about the company to gauge their curiosity and comprehension.
• Avoid hiring candidates who rely on vibes rather than knowledge, as they may lack the curiosity to succeed.
• Evaluate candidates based on their ability to ask hard questions and understand key business metrics.

• 90% (Percentage of executive candidates who fail to demonstrate basic business comprehension after 10 interviews.)
• 1 in 10 (Ratio of candidates who show deep curiosity and understanding of the business.)