Purpose is at the heart of any organisation.
We unearth transformative leaders who bring it to life.
Smart. Human. Deeply Invested.
WHO WE ARE
We're boutique by design. Leadership is personal. So is our approach.
We partner with organisations in growth, transformation, or in leadership transition mode to uncover C-suite leaders who bring commercial intelligence and human depth.
Two partners. Decades in business. Over 20,000 interview hours between us, spent listening for what really matters, not just what's on the page.
More than 250 executive appointments delivered. A 100% fill rate on retained projects. 5+ diverse candidates on every shortlist, and 97% of our placements still in the role after two years. Proof we build futures, not just fill seats.
But numbers aren't what define us. We've lived corporate life. We've led teams. We've navigated growth, tension, culture shifts and bold ambition from the inside. We understand what leadership feels like, not just what it looks like on paper.
We’ve been in your shoes and understand the complexity of business today.
We care about the commercial result. And we care about the human being stepping into the role. That balance matters.
We're not the big four of Search. We're experienced leaders who care deeply about what makes businesses, and people, tick. And that changes everything.
WHY WE EXIST
We started Cultivate because we knew executive search could be done differently.
01. Less process. More partnership.
We take the time to understand your business, ambitions, culture and what success truly looks like before we search for the person to deliver it.
02. Go beyond the obvious.
We look beyond conventional backgrounds and familiar networks to uncover exceptional leaders others may overlook.
We focus on relevance, not volume. Every candidate we introduce has earned their place through capability, character and genuine fit.
03. Quality over quantity.
We treat people like people. We build trust, offer honest counsel and communicate openly, regardless of the outcome.
04. People, not profiles.
05. Tell the truth. Even when it's uncomfortable.
We bring independent judgement, challenge assumptions and say when something, or someone, isn’t right. Better outcomes start with honest conversations.
06. Success is what happens next.
An appointment is only the beginning. We measure the success of a search by how the leader performs, fits, grows and creates lasting value.
Every great appointment starts with a conversation.
MANAGING PARTNERS
JOANNA PRICE
Joanna has spent her career helping organisations make confident leadership decisions, through deep insight, practical judgement and an instinct for people who make a lasting difference.
She has sat at the executive table herself, leading People & Culture, Marketing and Technology functions, so she understands the pressures and trade-offs of life inside a leadership team, and what exceptional leaders look like beyond a résumé. Curious by nature, she's known for asking the insightful questions and spotting the patterns others miss.
Clients value her ability to combine commercial thinking with genuine care for people. She believes the right leadership appointment is one of the most important decisions an organisation can make, shaping performance, culture and confidence for years to come.
MANAGING PARTNER
DOUG SPAHN
Doug understands that organisations rise or fall on the quality of their leadership, a conviction shaped by more than 30 years leading businesses himself.
Having been a CEO and senior executive across private and ASX-listed organisations in Australia and Singapore, he's made the big hiring calls himself, so he looks beyond impressive résumés to the behaviours, character and capability that make the real difference. He's known for his calm discernment, deep listening, and a knack for uncovering leadership potential others overlook.
Clients value his commercial insight and trusted counsel. Candidates value his genuine interest in who they are, not just what they've done. His search philosophy rests on one belief: exceptional leadership transforms organisations.
MANAGING PARTNER
High trust, relationship-led engagements.
Never a volume play.