---
id: "question-assessing-scale-leaders"
type: "open-question"
source_timestamps: ["§ 2. They ensure they have the talent to match their growth ambitions."]
tags: ["hiring", "talent-assessment"]
related: ["concept-scale-leaders", "concept-standing-governance-mechanism"]
resolutionPath: "Further research into the specific hiring rubrics and behavioral interview frameworks used by the 53 super-performer CEOs."
sources: ["tail2"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-tail2"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-tail-121-best-pe-backed-ceos"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/04/what-the-best-private-equity-backed-ceos-do-differently"
sourceTitle: "What the Best Private Equity-Backed CEOs Do Differently"
---
# How to Accurately Assess Scale Leaders?

**Open question.** The authors note that 5x CEOs bring in 'proven [[concept-scale-leaders|scale leaders]] who know what good looks like.' However, the text does **not detail the specific interview techniques, assessments, or vetting processes** used to accurately identify these individuals and **distinguish them from leaders who only excel in steady-state environments.**

**Resolution path:** further research into the specific **hiring rubrics and behavioral interview frameworks** used by the 53 super-performer CEOs. Enrichment lead: McKinsey's 'Talent to Value' method (map critical roles to value creation, then vet against role-specific value) offers one candidate rubric to test against.