Being in the lower age bracket of OP, I have to agree with OPs point. There is quite a considerable pool of experienced, motivated and not career, and no longer really money motivated, people out there. We can be had by all OP said. I'll add an incomplete, and highly personal, points: 1, give us hard problems to solve with smart people 2, spare us corporate BS, careerists and all that 3, listen to us and give us aithority to decide things 4, don't have us report to some people who's only professional experience is in your young start-up

Good news, we are avaiable on all levels in the hierachy. Less on C-level, or even just VP, but we are there. And to be honest, to get your company of the ground the last thing you want is an accomplished VP from big corp in your industry. Those career politicians are best suited for your board.