The Recruitment Show with Lewis Maleh

Mark Zuckerberg is building an AI avatar of himself — voice synced, visually cloned, and designed to attend one-on-one meetings on his behalf.

But should leaders ever outsource their presence?

In this episode, Lewis Maleh shares his perspective on the rise of AI leadership avatars, the risks of using AI to replace difficult conversations, and why human connection still matters more than ever in leadership.

Lewis explores where AI genuinely helps CEOs become better leaders — from agents, analysis, and decision support — and where it becomes a dangerous leadership shortcut.

Topics covered:
• Why AI avatars could become a leadership trap
• The real danger of outsourcing difficult conversations
• Why the best leaders still show up in person
• How AI agents can act like a “co-CEO”
• Where Lewis uses Claude and AI tools inside Bentley Lewis
• Why human trust still wins in executive leadership

If you're leading teams, building a company, or navigating AI transformation, this episode is worth your time.

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Connect with Lewis: linkedin.com/in/lmaleh
Learn more: bentleylewis.com

Sixteen years ago, Lewis Maleh started Bentley Lewis alone—winning clients himself, doing his own admin, and building the business one decision at a time.
Today, Bentley Lewis operates globally across three regions with a fully remote team spanning multiple continents.
In this episode, Lewis reflects on what it actually takes to build and lead a business over the long term: resilience, mindset, leadership, reinvention, and learning how to move from “I” to “we.”
From the Roger Federer 54% statistic to AI transformation, remote leadership, boutique firm strategy, and staying emotionally steady through uncertainty—this is a candid conversation about what survives after 16 years.
We cover:
• From sole trader to global executive search firm
• Why mindset matters more than strategy
• Leadership lessons from sport, failure, and long-term resilience
• Why Bentley Lewis went fully remote
• How AI is changing executive search
• Why boutique firms are beating bigger competitors
• Advice for leaders feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or behind
This episode is for founders, leaders, and anyone trying to build something that lasts.
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Connect with Lewis: linkedin.com/in/lmaleh
Learn more: bentleylewis.com

Most senior leaders think the job market is a meritocracy. Apply, interview, get hired. At the executive level, that's not how it works.

80% of searches are never advertised. You won't see them posted. The only way in is to already be known — by the right people, at the right firms, before the role even exists.

In this episode, Lewis Maleh — Founder and CEO of Bentley Lewis — shares exactly how executive search works from the inside. How headhunters build their lists, what gets you on them, and the practical steps that put you in front of the right people long before you're looking.

In this episode:
How retained executive search actually works
How to network with headhunters before you need them
LinkedIn optimisation for AI-powered sourcing
What search firms are really assessing on the screening call
Why the questions you ask matter more than your career story
Bentley Lewis is a global boutique executive search firm.
Subscribe for weekly insights on leadership, hiring, and the future of work.
Connect with Lewis: linkedin.com/in/lmaleh
Learn more: bentleylewis.com

70% of executive roles are filled through unadvertised channels. At Bentley Lewis — that number is 100%.

If you're applying online at senior level, you're competing for roles that are often already decided. In this episode, Lewis Maleh — executive recruiter and founder of global search firm Bentley Lewis — pulls back the curtain on how the hidden jobs market actually works, and shares five things you can do right now to get the recruiter's phone call.

You'll learn:
→ Why 70–85% of senior roles are never advertised
→ The only 3 ways executive recruiters find candidates
→ Why referral hires succeed at 4x the rate of job boards
→ The 90-Day Visibility Plan
→ How to build your Pre-Role network
→ Why being the best on paper isn't enough at leadership level

Connect with Lewis: linkedin.com/in/lewismaleh
Work with Bentley Lewis: bentleylewis.com

AI isn't just changing how you hire — it's already identifying your next leader before they've written their resume. Most organisations don't know it's happening yet.

In this episode, Lewis Maleh unpacks four data-backed signals reshaping executive hiring right now. Why 65% of hiring managers say AI-generated CVs are overwhelming their process. Why KPMG is warning that half of all tech teams will be non-human by 2027. Why LinkedIn data shows companies using AI strategically are 42% more likely to report hiring satisfaction. And why Wharton research proves AI can spot leadership potential long before a candidate even applies.

This isn't a conversation about whether AI is good or bad for hiring. It's about understanding what's actually happening — and what to do about it.

Whether you lead a business, manage talent, or are thinking about your next career move, this one is worth your attention.

New episode every Friday.

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