Jeremy D. Rackley, MD – Not That Kind of MD – on Hiring With Surgical Precision
- Brainz Magazine
- Oct 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 4
A leadership guide by Jeremy D. Rackley. MD (Managing Director) selection process mastery.
Hiring an MD (Managing Director) is one of the most consequential decisions an organization can make. The right MD defines vision, drives execution, and amplifies culture. The wrong one can quietly derail progress.
According to Jeremy D. Rackley, MD selection is one of the most impactful decisions a company makes. Get it wrong, and everything slows. Get it right, and everything scales.
1. Define what success looks like for your MD
Before contacting recruiters, define success clearly and completely.
Ask yourself:
• What must this MD accomplish in the next 12–36 months?
• Are you hiring for growth, transformation, or stability?
• Which leadership traits align with your culture?
Per Jeremy D. Rackley, MD selection clarity precedes success:
"You can’t hire for what you haven’t defined. A great MD selection process begins with
measurable expectations."
2. Prioritize leadership over experience
Experience builds credibility. Leadership builds momentum.
The best MDs:
• Inspire trust and accountability
• Communicate vision with empathy and focus
• Bridge long-term strategy with day-to-day discipline
• Develop others to lead independently
As Rackley notes:
"You’re not hiring a title — you’re hiring influence. Leadership without empathy can’t sustain
growth."
3. Build a structured hiring process
At this level, instinct is risky. Structure ensures fairness and consistency.
A strong MD selection process includes:
Cultural alignment – Do they reflect your company’s values?
Strategic challenge – Watch how they think and decide.
Peer and board interviews – Assess how they communicate and collaborate.
360° references – Talk to those who worked under them.
Rackley advocates for transparency and rigor:
"The right process doesn’t just reveal skill – it reveals character."
4. Align compensation with accountability
A great MD hire should have genuine ownership in the company’s success.
Design compensation around shared outcomes:
• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based incentives tied to results
• Long-term equity or profit participation
As Rackley puts it:
"When your MD’s rewards align with company outcomes, you turn accountability into
motivation."
5. Make onboarding a leadership investment
Even ideal hires can fail without structure. Onboarding determines whether momentum continues or stalls.
To set up your MD for success:
• Map out a clear 90-day action plan
• Define authority, communication, and reporting lines
• Encourage early relationship building
• Celebrate quick wins to establish credibility
Rackley reminds leaders:
"The first 90 days define whether an MD becomes an asset or an observer."
6. Red flags that signal the wrong MD
Certain behaviors predict future misalignment:
• Overconfidence or “savior” mentality
• Dismissiveness toward feedback
• Lack of curiosity or adaptability
• Overemphasis on personal prestige
The right MD listens, learns, and leads with composure.
The bottom line
States Rackley, MD selection demands focus, structure, and human-centered leadership. A great MD multiplies capability, strengthens culture, and accelerates progress.
Hire with clarity. Evaluate with structure. Lead with purpose.
About the author – Jeremy D. Rackley
Jeremy D. Rackley is the owner of JC Marketing, a Brooklyn-based creative agency specializing in branding, UX strategy, and content development.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jeremy graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School, earned his Bachelor’s degree in Design and Applied Arts from the University of Michigan, and completed his Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction (HCIM) at the University of Maryland.
After more than a decade leading UX and visual design initiatives at Google, he founded JC Marketing, partnering with organizations nationwide to create human-centered digital experiences that connect brands with people.
Beyond the agency, Jeremy D. Rackley is a mentor, speaker, and mental health advocate known for promoting empathy, authenticity, and creative leadership.
