The Founder Who Learned the Hard Way

Meet David Russell

David Russell built the Hire the Best system after experiencing what most business leaders eventually face:  A catastrophic hiring decision that cost far more than just money.

The wrong person in a critical role didn't just cost $1.5 million in losses.  They damaged client relationships, disrupted team morale, consumed leadership time, and killed the company.  But was it their fault?  No.  David realized this failure was primarily his fault - he hired the guy, worked with him, and retained him although concerns surfaced his first week on the job.

That painful lesson sent David on a 20+ year journey to develop a bulletproof hiring system modeled after pro sports and other elite organizations that consistently hire championship talent - rather than companies those stuck in a revolving door of mediocre hires.

The answer?  It's not better job ads.  It's not paying higher compensation.  It's coaching untrained teams to hiring mastery where guessing is replaced by confidence based on facts.

His Background

David is the founder of Manage 2 Win, a management consulting firm based in Granite Bay, California. His systematic and conscientious approach helps leaders and organizations in all industries:

▣  Hire better people.

▣  Manage more effectively.

▣  Develop individual and team strengths.

▣  Retain top performers longer.

His Expertise

5 Books Authored

David has authored or co-authored 5 books on hiring, leadership, and management excellence that have guided thousands of leaders worldwide.

100+ Leadership Lessons Created

He's developed over 100 lessons on leadership and business soft skills, providing practical frameworks leaders can implement immediately.

300+ Podcast Episodes Hosted

Through more than 300 podcast episodes, David has shared proven strategies and interviewed industry experts on what actually works in hiring and leadership.

Trusted by Leading Organizations
David has coached managers and partners of Microsoft, Cisco, Ingram Micro, Tech Data, SYNNEX, and ConnectWise - plus thousands of growing businesses across dozens of industries.

What Makes His Coaching Different

David doesn't teach generic hiring theory.  He works with you one-on-one on your actual hiring decisions, coaching you through real interviews with real candidates until you've mastered the skills that separate elite hiring managers from everyone else.

His coaching is:

▣  One-on-one (group training available as an option)

▣  Customized to your company culture, roles, and challenges.

▣  Results-focused - you'll notice meaningful improvement quickly and be on the path to hiring mastery.

The Results

Since founding Manage 2 Win and Introducing his Hire the Best system and coaching, David has helped thousands of organizations:

▣  Identify red flags before making costly offers.

▣  Build teams of “A” players who elevate everyone around them.

▣  Make hiring decisions based on facts.

▣  Engage new hires from Day 1 so they contribute quickly.

▣  Develop managers who attract and retain top talent..

Learn how David Russell and Hire the Best hiring coaches and hiring system help organizations eliminate costly hiring mistakes through coaching, consulting, and training. Trusted by Microsoft, Cisco, and thousands of companies worldwide.

Eliminate Bad Hires, Build Championship Teams

For over 20 years, we've coached thousands of organizations to hire top performers and develop exceptional leaders - helping them avoid costly hiring mistakes and build teams that drive growth.

Based in Granite Bay, California, Manage 2 Win and our Hire the Best team serve organizations across every industry - from fast-growing startups to Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft and Cisco.

The difference?  We don't just audit your hiring process and leave.  We coach your team to mastery as you assess and interview real candidates.

Why We Do This

Our Mission

No Bad Bosses

Our Hire the Best coaching team and DFY (Done For You) team exist to help leaders make better hiring decisions and become the kind of managers people want to work for.  

Every bad hire costs companies an average of $50,000-$1,000,000.

Every bad boss costs immeasurably more

in lost talent, damaged morale, and missed opportunities.

We're here to change that one coached hiring decision at a time.

Our Vision

Positively impact everyone we serve

When leaders hire right and manage well, everyone wins: the company, the team, the individual, and the families they support.

Our work creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond the workplace.

When you hire a superstar instead of settling for mediocrity, you're not just filling a role

you're changing lives.

Our Values

Find the best way.

We're constantly refining our coaching methods and hiring system based on real-world results, not outdated theories.  We welcome facts, ideas, and opinions to further improve our processes. Our coaching isn't about ego it's about getting you results.

Do the right thing.

We respectfully discuss the truth about your hiring process and behaviors, even when it's uncomfortable.  Candid coaching gives you a foundation for lasting change.  We also constantly focus on doing the right thing for you when working on your behalf - no shortcuts, no excuses.

Everyone matters.

From Fortune 500 executives to first-time managers, every leader we coach receives the same level of dedication and expertise.  We're laser-focused on helping your leaders develop their strengths and improve their weaknesses.  We're equally committed to serving other members of your team, so they advance their abilities to contribute in meaningful ways.

Our Hiring Coaches

David has personally trained and certified a team of expert hiring coaches who share his commitment to eliminating bad hires and building great leaders.  Each coach brings 10+ years of real-world hiring experience and has mastered David's proven coaching methodology.

Our Coaches Bring You:

David Russell's Proven Methods

Every coach is personally trained and certified by David to deliver the same systematic, one-on-one coaching that has helped thousands of managers develop hiring mastery.

Real-World Hiring Experience

Our coaches aren't career trainers; they're former executives, HR leaders, and managers who've made thousands of hiring decisions themselves.  They understand your challenges because they've lived them.

Personalized, One-on-One Coaching

Like David, our coaches don't email you a PDF guide and disappear.  They work with you as you assess players trying out for your team, coaching you through real interviews and hiring decisions until you master new skills.

The Coaching Process

1. You're Matched with the Right Coach

Based on your industry, role level, and specific hiring challenges, we match you with a coach who is best suited to help you succeed.

2. Customized Player Development Plan

Your coach creates your Player Development Plan (“PDP”).  In pro sports, these plans are created by coaches to define specific technical skills, physical conditioning, mental preparation, and game situations.  They're customized to each player's needs and regularly monitored for progress.

3. Real-Time Coaching

Your coach works with you during actual candidate interviews, providing real-time feedback and guidance.  You learn by doing, not by watching videos.

4. Ongoing Support

During and after your engagement, we're available for quick questions, email support, and twice-monthly open Hire the Best Academy Q&A with David.

Our Commitment

Every hiring coach on our team:

▣  Is personally certified by David Russell.

▣  Has 10+ years of hiring and leadership experience.

▣  Is regularly mentored to stay current with our best practices.

▣  Is held to our standards:  No Bad Bosses; Positively impact everyone we serve;  Find the best way, Do the right thing, and Everyone matters.

Whether you work directly with David or one of our certified coaches, you're getting the same proven methodology that has helped thousands of organizations hire right the first time.

Our Coaching Philosophy

Strengths to Mastery, Weaknesses to Neutral

We don't believe in the myth that you can be great at everything.  That's not only impossible, it’s foolish.

Instead, we believe in Tiger Woods' approach (detailed below):  Develop your existing strengths to an uncommon level of mastery, and improve weaknesses only to the point where they no longer hold those strengths back.

In hiring, this means:

If you're naturally good at building rapport with candidates, we'll coach you to make that a superpower - so candidates open up and reveal truths they hide from other interviewers.

If you struggle with objective assessment, we won't make you a forensic psychologist.  We'll simply teach you structured approach with scorecards and a Manage 2 Win Talent Assessment that prevents bias and assumptions from clouding your judgment.

The result?  You become exceptional at what you're naturally good at, and competent enough in your weak areas that they don't sabotage your decisions.

This is how pro sports athletes and other elite performers in every field operate.  And it's how we'll coach you.

Motive Matters

We work for something greater than ourselves, whether it's God's glory or a noble cause that elevates humanity.  

This transforms how we serve our clients, teammates, and the world.

We Always:

Bring light to darkness.

We humbly serve others, connecting them with hope, purpose, wisdom, progress, healthy collaboration, gratitude, and joy in a hurting world.

Live our values visibly.

We embody our culture cornerstones and proven paths, inspiring others through action, not just words.

MAP purpose and progress.

We protect time daily, weekly, and monthly to pause for self-accountability, focus, and planning.

Collaborate with wisdom, humility, and courage.

We respect others, challenge ideas constructively, and grow stronger together.

Innovate through smart pilots.

We encourage ideas and test those with merit at low cost, with limited resources, and quickly.

Honor people's time.

We show respect by being early or on time.

Escalate roadblocks with candor.

We speak up immediately, respectfully, and transparently when challenges arise.

Protect what's entrusted to us.

We protect the security, privacy, and confidential information of teammates, clients, and partners.

Focus on facts, not assumptions.

We stay calm, ask questions to gather pertinent details, and make decisions based on reasonably complete information.

Steward everything well.

Our souls, relationships, and resources are sacred trusts.  We maintain and develop them wisely, with detailed excellence and sincere care.

Is This You?

We coach, consult, and train leaders and organizations of all sizes across every industry, who are serious about eliminating costly hiring mistakes and building high-performing teams.

We Serve

Growing Companies

Fast-scaling businesses that need to build their teams quickly without sacrificing quality.  You can't afford hiring mistakes because every failed hire negatively affects your momentum.

Established Businesses

Organizations tired of the revolving door of mediocre hires.  You've seen the cost of hiring wrong and you're ready to invest in getting it right every time.

First-Time Managers

New leaders building their teams from scratch, who want to hire wisely rather than wing it, guess, and make assumptions.

Experienced Executives

Seasoned leaders humble and wise enough to know they still have things to learn.  Your decisions impact many people hiring the best enables you to focus on strategy.

HR Leaders

Human resources professionals looking to elevate their organization's hiring standards and equip managers with proven interviewing techniques.

Business Owners

Founders and owners who understand that every hiring decision directly impacts profitability, culture, and long-term success.  Excessively replacing people wastes valuable time and stalls growth.

Industries We've Served

▣  Technology:  Hardware, cloud, software, AI…

▣  I.T. Managed Service Providers (“MSP”)

▣  Professional Services

▣  Manufacturing


▣  Healthcare

▣  Financial Services

▣  Retail & E-commerce

▣  Construction & Engineering

▣  Nonprofit Organizations

▣  And many more

The Common Thread

If you're responsible for hiring decisions that impact your company's future, our coaches will expand your hiring skills and teach you things you don't know - so your hiring decisions advance your career as well as your organization.

Coaching, Not Training

Consider a coach of a professional athlete.  They assess the strengths and weaknesses of a player.  Then, they design a development plan to improve the player’s results.

Did you catch that?

The focus is not the player.  It’s what’s the path to improving results.  This is what we do with you.

We Work on Your Actual Hiring Decisions

We don't bury you in written materials, videos, and classes that by themselves don't address your specific needs.

You'll learn:

▣  Why top talent gravitates to one opportunity over another.

▣  FBI and pro sports interview tactics and the strategy behind them.

▣  Red flag detection techniques.

▣  Player assessment frameworks.

By doing it in real time with real candidates for your open positions.

We coach you through interviews, help you evaluate what you heard, discuss how to fine-tune your behaviors in player interactions, and guide your decisions until you've advanced toward hiring mastery and can fly solo.

Your hiring coaching and Hire the Best Development Plan is customized to:

▣  Your company

▣  Your culture

▣  Your roles

▣  Your industry

▣  Your timeline

You will gain confidence as you notice improvement in your hiring decisions.

This is how David has coached thousands of managers at organizations like Microsoft and Cisco and their partners.  It's one-on-one, practical, and built around the hiring challenges you're facing right now.

It worked for Tiger.  So, we take this approach with you.

When Tiger Woods first entered professional golf, he stunned everyone with his early dominance.  His strengths were already extraordinary and were the foundation of his success.  

However, he later hit a slump. What did he do?

Tiger made a rare choice for an elite athlete.  He stepped back from competition and worked closely with his coach, Butch Harmon, to rebuild with intention.  Tiger was a driver with a strong ego.  But he realized that to be his best, pushing forward without focused development wouldn't achieve the results he wanted.

Advancing Strengths to Mastery

Tiger and Harmon focused first on protecting and advancing the strengths that made him exceptional.  For instance, one of Tiger's greatest strengths was his long game.  He could drive the ball farther and more accurately than most of the field, often putting him in scoring position while others played for safety.

To advance this strength, he and his coach refined his swing to produce even more consistency, especially under pressure.  They worked on timing, balance, and power transfer so he could hit long, controlled drives without sacrificing accuracy.

Neutralizing Weaknesses

At the same time, they identified weaknesses creating drag on his performance.  The goal wasn't to transform these weaknesses into new strengths.  The goal was simply to lift them to a level where they would no longer interfere with his game.

For example, one weakness was his inconsistent putting from mid-range distances.  He could make brilliant putts, but he could also lose strokes in moments when reliability mattered most.

Harmon worked with Tiger on practiced repeatable putting routines, refined alignment habits, and focused on pace control.  This work stabilized his putting enough to support his long game rather than undermine it.

The Result

By refining a powerful strength and raising a limiting weakness to a neutral, dependable level, Tiger returned to the tour with a more complete game.  His peak years followed.

This proves a timeless lesson

Great performers win by developing strengths to an uncommon level (mastery) and improving weaknesses only to the point where they no longer hold those strengths back.

This is the focus of our hiring coaching with you.

NOTE:  Tiger Woods and Butch Harmon have not endorsed Hire the Best (at least, not yet).  :)

Ready to Learn More?

Every hiring decision you make impacts your team, your bottom line, and your company's future.

Want to see if hiring coaching is right for your organization?

We'll discuss your current hiring challenges, review your team's capabilities, and consider how coaching could help - with no pressure and no sales pitch.

Or explore more:

▣  Our Hiring System - Consider our 7-stage framework.

▣  Client Testimonials - Hear from leaders we've coached..

▣  Resources - Free guides, sample documents, and podcasts