At Praeva, we are committed to building a different kind of executive search firm, one grounded in deep relationships, insight, and long-term value creation. We’re delighted to welcome our newest team member - Talia Maggs-Rapport. We sat down with her to learn more about her career, her motivations, and how she approaches her work.
I began my search career placing strategy consultants into a range of FTSE-listed and private equity-backed businesses. That gave me a strong foundation in understanding how high-performing individuals can create impact across different environments.
More recently, I’ve focused on supporting private equity firms with a range of C-suite and Board-level mandates. This has involved working closely with investors and leadership teams to identify individuals who can truly drive long-term value creation.
Alongside my work in search, I’m currently undertaking a Master’s degree in Psychotherapy. It’s been incredibly complementary to what I do - search is, at its core, a relational business. Developing a deeper understanding of people, motivations, and cultural dynamics has really shaped how I engage with both clients and candidates.
Praeva is building something genuinely distinctive within the executive search market. I was particularly drawn to the firm’s innovative and forward-thinking approach, as well as its clear commitment to putting both client and candidate experience at its core.
It felt like an opportunity to be part of a business that is not only growing, but doing so with real intention.
It’s an exciting time to be joining Praeva, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the continued development of a best-in-class search offering.
More broadly, I hope to play a meaningful role in shaping how the business evolves, helping to strengthen its foundations while supporting its long-term growth ambitions.
Search processes can sometimes feel disingenuous - for both candidates and clients - particularly when there isn’t a genuine understanding of what success looks like on both sides.
I see search as much more than a transactional process. It’s an advisory relationship. It’s about connecting individuals with organisations that represent the right step in their career journey, while ensuring clients bring in talent that can truly deliver against their long-term goals. This is what Praeva promises, and I’m really excited to be on board and delivering this vision.
There’s been a noticeable shift away from a ‘growth at any cost’ mindset. Increasingly, organisations are taking a more considered approach to building leadership teams, focusing not just on performance, but on sustainability and long-term impact.
That shift is changing the nature of conversations we’re having in search, and raising the bar for what great leadership really looks like.
For me, it starts with really understanding the organisation and the role in depth. It’s not just about the immediate need, but where the business is heading; its ambitions, challenges, and growth plans.
From there, it’s about asking the right questions. Not just to define the technical skillset required, but to understand the relational qualities and mindset that will enable someone to thrive and grow with the business.
One that stands out is a CEO hire for a high-growth professional services business that had recently received investment.
It was a fantastic opportunity to partner closely with the investors, working together to identify the right individual to lead the business through its next stage of growth. Seeing that alignment come together - and knowing the impact it would have - was incredibly rewarding.
Talia has joined Praeva Partners as Senior Consultant and will support Mark Sherman and Daria Koren on search delivery.
Get in touch with us today to see how we could help make your next search easier.
