Everyone Wants to Hire a Unicorn – So Let’s Be One

The subject line in Ben Pearce’s newsletter a couple of weeks ago caught our attention:
“Everyone Wants to Hire a Unicorn. So Be One.”

It’s a phrase we hear more and more in hiring conversations, particularly in fast-paced sectors like tech, consulting, and creative industries. But what exactly does it mean?
Ben shared a chat he’d had with a Senior VP at a tech company who said, quite directly:
“We need unicorns.”

Not the mythical kind, but people who combine strong technical skills and strong communication skills. Individuals who can code and collaborate. Build and explain. Deliver work and build relationships while doing it.

Ben offered a clear and practical takeaway: if communication skills are just as important as technical ones, then we should treat them the same way. His approach was simple:

🦄 Set aside time – Like any technical skill, communication takes practice. We need to make time for it.
🦄 Learn the theory – There’s plenty to explore: emotional intelligence, storytelling, feedback frameworks, listening skills. The knowledge is out there.
🦄 Practice and get feedback – Trying new techniques and asking for constructive input helps us grow.
🦄 Apply it in real-world situations – Meetings, emails, one-to-ones – every interaction is an opportunity to improve.

Ben summed it up well:
“Everyone can be a unicorn. Just believe you can. Spend some time on it. Learn some techniques. Simple.”

It’s a reminder that these skills aren’t out of reach. We don’t need to be natural public speakers or extroverts. We just need to be willing to improve, to be more intentional, and to see communication as part of the work, not separate from it.

So, what does this mean for us?
As we think about our own growth, and the kind of teams we want to be part of, it’s worth asking:
• Are we giving as much attention to how we communicate as we are to what we deliver?
• Are we encouraging feedback, listening deeply, and sharing our ideas in ways that connect?
• Are we creating cultures where both competence and clarity are valued?

In a world that’s increasingly fast-paced, remote, and tech-driven, communication is becoming a differentiator. Not just a “nice to have,” but a core strength. It’s what helps us build trust, solve problems collaboratively, and move forward with clarity.

So maybe we don't need to be mythical creatures, just thoughtful, committed professionals who take communication seriously. If we all invest in building these skills, we can bridge gaps, lead better, and collaborate more meaningfully.

And who knows, if we start showing up with both expertise and empathy, maybe we’re closer to unicorn status than we think.