Case Studies

Case Studies

Alamo Colleges District Logo

Finding the “Unicorn” Leader for Nursing Education | Alamo Colleges District – Northwest Lakeview College

The Situation

Northwest Lakeview College needed a proven leader to oversee nursing programs, manage faculty, and interface effectively with the Board of Education.

The Approach

To streamline the hiring process and address the urgency of the search, SES implemented a targeted, high-touch strategy centered on a calibrated success profile and rigorous candidate mapping within higher education nursing.

The Outcome

The identified hire proved to be a “unicorn” candidate whose culture and technical aptitude aligned perfectly with the College’s unique needs.

International Life Sciences Organization

CFO Search | International Life Sciences Organization

The Situation

Scion Executive Search was retained by a confidential international life sciences nonprofit public–private partnership navigating rapid growth and increasing operational complexity.

The Approach

The organization required not just a builder of finance infrastructure, but a seasoned executive capable of introducing new levels of rigor, discipline, and strategic partnership to the CEO and board.

The Outcome

The placed CFO brought deep corporate finance training paired with significant nonprofit leadership experience, delivering immediate executive credibility while advancing systems modernization, compliance, financial reporting discipline, and organization-wide financial literacy.

American Forests

Navigating Complex Conservation Leadership Transitions | American Forests

The Situation

Facing a shifting environmental landscape, the American Forest Foundation needed to transition from a traditional grant-based model to a sophisticated, market-driven conservation strategy requiring a new breed of executive leadership.

The Approach

SES implemented a targeted, high-touch recruitment strategy to identify “unicorn” candidates who could seamlessly bridge the gap between deep conservation mission alignment and high-level business acumen.

The Outcome

These strategic placements successfully launched the Family Forest Carbon Program, securing first-round board approvals and establishing a scalable, revenue-generating model that provides verified carbon credits to global corporate partners.

Community Action Marin

Community Action Marin | Finding Leadership After a Pandemic

The Situation

Facing post-pandemic staffing shortages and inconsistent leadership alignment, Community Action Marin required a strategic partner to fill 12 critical roles while navigating a restricted local talent pool and a high cost of living.

The Approach

Scion conducted a full organizational discovery and implemented a calibrated search process focused on role-specific success profiles, candidate mapping across California, and rigorous inclusive slating.

The Outcome

The partnership resulted in 12 high-level leadership placements with a 100% offer acceptance rate, successfully professionalizing the organization’s teams and significantly improving operational stability and employee retention.