School of Hiring

High-Performance Hiring and Entrepreneurial Flow with Gerrit McGowan

School of Hiring

In today's episode, I am thrilled to welcome Gerrit McGowan, a seasoned entrepreneur and a thought leader in the science of human performance.

Gerrit isn’t your typical entrepreneur. With experience spanning four countries and three continents, Gerrit has built and scaled companies from the ground up, raised millions from investors, and served as interim CEO for multiple organizations. He’s achieved two successful exits and has helped thousands of founders transform their startups into thriving businesses.

But Gerrit’s expertise goes far beyond just building companies. He has a deep interest in the science behind what makes people and businesses perform at their best. His passion for human potential led him to take a sabbatical in his mid-40s to conduct PhD-level research on entrepreneurial flow—the state of peak performance that drives success in high-pressure environments.

Gerrit’s knowledge is not just academic; he has applied these insights in the real world. He has hosted one of Europe’s leading entrepreneurship podcasts, founded a startup accelerator, and served as a peak performance coach with the Flow Research Collective. His approach is grounded in scientific evidence, refined by hands-on experience, and designed to help leaders and founders reach their full potential.

Today, Gerrit is here to share how understanding the science of performance can radically improve how you hire, build, and lead your teams. His insights are not just theoretical—they’re actionable, practical, and proven to work in the real world.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

  1. What is Entrepreneurial Flow and Why It Matters
    • Gerrit explains the concept of entrepreneurial flow, a state of peak performance that helps individuals achieve success in high-pressure environments. Learn why understanding this state is crucial for both personal and team productivity.
  2. Lessons from Sports Performance for Business Leaders
    • Drawing parallels between sports and business, Gerrit discusses how the strategies used in sports to build high-performing teams can be applied in the corporate world. Discover the key lessons business leaders can learn from sports to enhance their team's performance.
  3. Improving Interview and Selection Processes
    • In sports, recruitment is a meticulous process involving scouting, testing, and trials. Gerrit shares how business leaders can adopt similar methods to refine their interview and selection processes, ensuring they hire the right talent for their teams.
  4. Practices for Developing and Retaining High-Performing Teams
    • Gerrit outlines key practices from the world of sports that leaders can use to not only hire top talent but also develop and retain high-performing teams. Learn actionable strategies that can be implemented in your organization to foster a culture of excellence.
  5. Creating a Supportive Environment for Top Talent
    • Many elite athletes attribute their success to a strong support system and the right environment. Gerrit discusses how leaders can create an environment that not only attracts top talent but also keeps them motivated and committed for the long term.

Connect with Gerrit McGowan on LinkedIn

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For more insights check out www.schoolofhiring.com and www.caissarecruitment.com/blog