Case Study: How Rise Executive Search uses Clockwork to wow clients, boost efficiency, and reduce days to placement

As an experienced retained search professional specializing in C-suite roles, April Sarraille knows what it takes to lead clients to win-win outcomes. When she co-founded Rise Executive Search in 2023, she needed software her team could rely on to set every client engagement up for success. Clockwork was her trusted first choice.

Before Clockwork, Sarraille felt the pain of using outdated systems to run high-stakes executive searches.

• Key data stored in disjointed tools and spreadsheets: At a previous firm, her team lost time and valuable context while navigating cobbled-together spreadsheets for critical info.
• No single source of truth to share with clients: They presented progress to clients through documents buried in long email chains, which were time-consuming to prep and difficult for clients to follow.
• Manual updates required for every step in a search: Each update to candidate profiles, client briefing materials, and status reports had to be done manually, with extra time and effort for client-facing assets.

That's where Clockwork came in.

Clockwork is executive search software purpose-built for boutique search firms. Grounded in proven methodology, Clockwork equips teams to run an efficient search process, deliver a winning client experience, and grow exponentially over time.

“The number one thing that drew me to Clockwork was the client portal. Clients' ease of use within the system has sped up the time to completion of a search, and that transparency has really and truly helped bring about a better client relationship."

 

- April Sarraille, Partner / Co-Founder

Rise Executive Search

How Clockwork helps the Rise Executive Search team impress clients and close searches faster:

1. Time-Saving Database Insights

   With insights and best-fit candidates from past searches at their fingertips, the Rise Executive Search team can conduct better research, faster by starting from their Clockwork database. With records of all communications, plus data enrichment from sources like LinkedIn, they can trust that contact profiles are always up to date.
   
   Example: When beginning a new search project, team members can get a head start on candidate sourcing by pulling in relevant lists from similar past projects.
   
   

2. Seamless & Polished Client Experience

   Rise Executive Search's clients include private equity firms and boards looking to hire at the highest level—who need timely updates with as little friction as possible. Clockwork's Client Portal keeps them apprised of search progress while prompting them to give quick feedback, either within Clockwork or right from their email inbox.

   Example: Rise Executive Search can easily share polished reports and candidate lists to clients through the Client Portal, and clients can add their thumbs up, thumbs down, and comments in a few clicks.

3. Transparent Project Communications

   Because every team member can have full visibility into project communications, they can drop into any search and have all the context they need—making it easier to collaborate and cover each other's projects, without compromising the client experience.

   Example: When a team member goes on vacation, a colleague covering their work can see a full email history with any given client or candidate and avoid repetition.

"Sometimes the client will say, 'I don't want to learn something new.' But Clockwork is really easy. It's intuitive, so you can jump right in and start using it. You don't really have to learn anything, because it operates the way you think it's going to. Clients really like that."

What results has Rise Executive Search reached through using Clockwork?

• Searches closed in as few as 63 days

Efficient team and client collaboration allows the Rise Executive Search team to close searches up to 60 days below industry average.

• Engaged and Happy Clients

Clients love the ease with which they can give quick feedback on candidates and comment on search progress right from their inbox.

• Increased Team Efficiency

Full visibility into project communications means team members can slot in and out of process flows quickly without losing context.

"My team is able to do more because they're not spending a lot of time making the system work for them. Instead, they can spend more time with candidates, making travel arrangements, or working an additional search. It helps the recruiter, researcher, administrator—or whomever—be more efficient.”

Make your firm's value visible to clients from day one, without adding to your workload.

Give your team the tools to present better candidates, close searches faster, impress more clients—and make your firm unbeatable.