The 2026 Top Consultants: Rita Baroody

Rita Baroody is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Selective Insight, a national talent advisory firm that partners with CEOs, founders, and private-equity backed organizations to build high-performance teams. Through her work, Baroody helps organizations approach leadership hiring as a strategic capability that strengthens culture, accelerates growth, and drives long-term enterprise value. Baroody is the creator of the Build–Engage–Close™ framework, a structured methodology that guides leadership teams in building the right cultural foundation, engaging high-performing professionals, and securing leaders capable of driving meaningful business outcomes.

Her approach emphasizes alignment between an organization's values, leadership expectations, and long-term growth strategy. She is also the author of Find Me a Rockstar, a leadership and hiring strategy book that equips executives with a practical framework for attracting and securing exceptional talent in competitive markets. The book has been endorsed by CEOs and industry leaders who recognize the importance of top talent. Baroody's work has been recognized by the Orlando Business Journal, which named her one of its Women Who Mean Business, honoring influential leaders shaping the business community. Through her advisory work and thought leadership, Baroody continues to influence how organizations approach one of the most important drivers of success: building exceptional teams.