Tariffs, Tech, and Turnarounds: Why This Time Feels a Little Different
A Familiar Cycle… With a New Layer
A CEO said something to me recently that stuck:
“Economic cycles are nothing new…but AI is.”
After 24 years in recruiting, I’ve seen a few downturns…post-9/11, the 2008 recession, COVID. The pattern is usually the same: companies pull back, priorities shift, and leadership becomes even more critical.
Right now, we’re seeing familiar signals: tariffs creating margin pressure, slowing sales cycles, and a cautious approach to spending.
But this one feels different. Not because of the economy…because of what’s layered on top of it.
Economic Pressure Meets AI Acceleration
This time, companies are being hit from both sides:
- On one hand, economic uncertainty is driving cost control, hiring freezes, and a push for efficiency.
- On the other, AI is reshaping workflows, business models, and team structures faster than most companies can staff for.
And this isn’t just happening in tech. I’m seeing it in manufacturing, private equity-backed services, healthcare ops, and more.
Leaders are asking questions like:
- Can we afford this role right now?
- Can we afford not to have it?
- Do we need a full-time hire…or just someone who can get us through the next phase?
How Companies Are Responding
What I’m seeing from the most agile leadership teams isn’t panic…it’s creativity.
They’re rethinking how they structure teams, how they bring in expertise, and how they keep momentum going without overcommitting.
At recruitAbility, we help companies do exactly that.
A Smarter Way to Scale Talent
We work with growth-focused companies that are navigating transformation, facing pressure, or just trying to stay ahead of the curve.
Here’s how we support them:
- Executive Search – We place proven leaders in operations, finance, and tech…people who don’t just survive disruption, they lead through it.
- Technical & AI Expertise – AI isn’t abstract anymore. We help clients hire professionals who can integrate automation and data-driven tools into real-world business processes.
- Interim & Project-Based Talent – Need someone now, but not permanently? We deploy experienced pros to keep initiatives on track, especially when full-time headcount isn’t in the budget. It’s a shift from fixed cost to variable investment—and it works!
- Managed Recruiting Services – When companies need to scale fast but don’t want to build a full recruiting team, we embed with their internal teams to drive process, consistency, and results.
What This Means for Leadership
AI won’t replace strong leadership. But it will redefine what strong leadership looks like.
The leaders who thrive today are the ones who:
- Move fast, without breaking things
- Balance people and technology
- Make confident decisions in uncertain conditions
We find those people. And we help companies get them in place faster than they could on their own.
Final Thought
If you’re trying to stay steady—or better yet, sprint—while others stall, it may be time to rethink how you’re structuring your team and accessing leadership.
Happy to share what I’m seeing, what’s working, and how others are making smart moves right now.