case studies
A selection of searches I've run — anonymised where required. Real roles, real timelines, and the thinking behind each placement.
A fast-scaling DeFi protocol had been searching for a VP of Engineering for three months without success. Their previous agency had sent generic candidates with no on-chain experience. I re-scoped the brief, identified that their real problem was retention risk not seniority, and sourced a shortlist of four candidates within a week — all with active DeFi backgrounds. The role was filled in 18 days from first conversation.
An early-stage Layer 2 team needed to double their engineering headcount before a major network upgrade. Budget was tight and the roles required deep EVM and Rust experience — a rare combination. Through targeted sourcing in protocol-level communities and contributor networks, I delivered three hires across six weeks, all within budget and all still with the company 18 months later.
A consumer-facing Web3 startup needed a General Counsel ahead of a token launch with a hard deadline. The candidate needed both crypto-native regulatory knowledge and startup experience — a highly specific profile. I mapped the market, made direct approaches, and closed the right candidate in 24 days, two weeks before the launch window.
All case studies are anonymised. References available on request. View my LinkedIn recommendations →