SHINE hires a one-in-a-million Chief Operating Officer.

The Need:

SHINE is transforming humankind through fusion technology and its vast potential to create a safer, healthier, and cleaner world. They’re passionate about their mission and willing to fully invest in the success and future of the company, so when they reached out to Bolster for help finding a COO, the team was already all in.

Backed by innovative ideas and cutting-edge science, SHINE needed a Chief Operating Officer to create the operating system and internal processes and drive cohesion among the leadership team. They needed someone who believed in SHINE’s mission, values, and growth trajectory. The right person would be ready to roll up their sleeves and jump in immediately, have experience with complex industrial products in a highly regulated industry, and be able to work from the company headquarters in Janesville, Wisconsin.

The Search:

The Bolster team worked closely with SHINE to establish a firsthand understanding of what they were looking for on a tactical level, but also in terms of leadership style, culture, and as an overall addition to the organization. Throughout the process, we were in daily communication with the CEO and CPO, owning logistics and schedules, sharing feedback, and offering search expertise and market intel.

The role requirements meant we weren’t working with a large talent pool, so unique outreach strategies were key. We shared our passion for the organization with candidates from the beginning, emphasizing its growth story and audacious mission. We also created a video of SHINE CEO Greg Piefer talking about the role in his own words. These strategies, paired with daily communication throughout the process, allowed us to build relationships and trust with a group of extremely invested candidates.

The Talent:

This hire was a one-in-a-million match. He immediately formed an undeniable connection with the leadership team, possesses the experience to bring the company to the next level, and believes in the SHINE mission wholeheartedly. We coached the leadership team through the interview and offer processes, encouraged them to make their enthusiasm for the candidate undeniable, and worked to overcome logistical challenges to reach the point where the match worked for everyone.

SHINE was a true partner in the search—operator-driven, receptive, proactive in communication, willing to prioritize their time, and trusting in our expertise and process—and as a result, they landed their dream candidate.