Dominic Bosher is a Director at La Fosse Executive, specialising in the recruitment of CIOs, CTOs, and technology leadership teams across the UK, Europe, and the US. With over 14 years of experience, he has played a key role in shaping La Fosse’s permanent recruitment division, launching specialist areas such as Product, Infrastructure, Architecture, Security, Data, and RPA. Dominic is also one of the company’s top cross-sellers, managing some of its largest enterprise accounts, including FTSE 100 clients and global organisations like Arm, Knight Frank, and Taylor Wimpey. Starting his career in business development, Dominic was instrumental in establishing La Fosse’s reputation beyond executive search, driving high-value engagements with senior technology leaders. Transitioning into executive search, he built and led a team of 50+ specialists before returning to a hands-on role, focusing on high-impact placements at the highest levels of technology leadership. His expertise lies in advising businesses on structuring technology functions from a strategic and commercial perspective, ensuring leadership teams are aligned for success. As part of La Fosse’s employee-owned business, Dominic is invested in its long-term growth and success, bringing deep market knowledge and a consultative approach to both clients and candidates.
Building high-performing teams is never easy. The pace of change, rising competition for talent, and constant pressure to innovate mean that businesses, especially their CIOs, are constantly balancing big challenges with bold opportunities.
2025 is no different. Whether it’s making the most of AI in hiring, upskilling teams, or fostering inclusive environments, the way we approach these issues will define the strength of our teams now and in the future. So, how do you make it work in practice?
AI in Hiring: A Double-Edged Sword
Let’s be honest: AI tools sound amazing on paper. They promise efficiency, speed, and better results. But they also have flaws. They can miss out on unconventional talent and, at times, unintentionally reinforce biases.
How to make AI work for you:
- Use AI as a starting point, not the final say. Blend its insights with human judgment.
- Focus on adaptability and potential, not just ticking boxes on a CV.
- Broaden your horizons: self-taught developers, career switchers, and diverse candidates bring valuable perspectives to the table.
AI isn’t about replacing recruiters; it’s about helping them spot great talent that could be overlooked otherwise.
Upskilling: Closing the Gap
Upskilling your team sounds like the perfect answer to the talent shortage, but there’s a catch. Technology changes fast, and sometimes, it feels like the skills you teach today will be out of date tomorrow. Plus, there’s always the risk that employees you’ve invested in might be tempted away by competitors.
What works instead:
- Design training that’s tailored to real business needs, not just generic skill-building.
- Make learning hands-on. People learn better by doing, not by watching endless webinars.
- Think broader: help your teams develop skills outside their usual roles to create more flexibility and innovation.
Upskilling isn’t just a tick-box exercise; it’s about preparing your people, and your business, for what’s next.
Leadership: Flat Isn’t Always Best
A lot of businesses are moving towards flatter hierarchies and collaborative decision-making. And while these can work brilliantly in some scenarios, they can also cause headaches. Endless discussions and trying to reach a consensus can slow teams down.
Striking the right balance:
- Autonomy is great, but make sure there’s accountability too.
- Some people love leadership roles; others thrive as specialists. Recognise and support both.
- Encourage decisive action, sometimes you just need someone to make the call.
Leadership isn’t about having no structure. It’s about finding the right structure for your team.
Trust, Inclusion, and Wellbeing
High-performing teams need more than just technical skills. Trust, collaboration, and diversity aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the secret ingredients for success.
What to focus on:
- Create a culture where everyone feels valued and heard.
- Support mental health and work-life balance. Burnout isn’t a badge of honor.
- Build trust by focusing on empathy, emotional intelligence, and transparency.
When people feel included and supported, they bring their best selves to work—and the results speak for themselves.
Recruitment: Why Internal Teams Can’t Do It Alone
Internal recruitment teams are amazing, but even they have their limits. When it comes to hiring for niche or high-level roles, it’s tough to find the time, expertise, or tools to make it work.
The challenges they face:
- Limited expertise in assessing highly technical roles.
- Rushed processes due to high workloads.
- Small talent pools and inefficient tools.
The solution:
- Partner with specialists (like La Fosse) who know the market inside out.
- Use programmes like La Fosse Academy to reskill and build talent pipelines.
- Combine internal efforts with external expertise to find and develop the best talent.
When you bring the right people to the table, magic happens.
The Bottom Line
2025 isn’t just about adopting the latest trends. It’s about focusing on what really matters and making it work for your team and your business.
The best CIOs will blend AI with human judgment, upskill their teams with purpose, and foster cultures of trust and inclusion. They’ll focus on a few game-changing strategies and execute them brilliantly.
This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing it better.
So, what’s your focus for 2025?