Our Work
Most often our clients are in transformation mode with a need to elevate and take operations to the next level. We focus on identifying talent that will help get them there.
We seek out candidates who know how to operate in a fast-paced, lean environment and work well cross-functionally, while also being able to tell a story with numbers.
Head of People
For this PE-backed technology startup with the original founders still in place, we did a thorough scan of the Chicago market for People leaders with broad HR experience, but with an emphasis on finding individuals with experience on high-growth platforms, who understood what it takes to scale an organization and to help professionalize its People operations, including: organizational effectiveness, working with first-time managers and setting the overall HR strategy, in addition to the nuts and bolts of HR. Because this was a lean organization, we also focused on finding candidates who would be comfortable in a hands-on role with a small team.
VP Total Rewards
We were initially referred to this client when she worked at another organization and she’s brought us along with her as she’s moved to two other platforms. For her current organization we initially assisted on finding a Vice President Talent Acquisition, followed by other roles to build out her HR team, including roles in Organization Effectiveness and Learning. For the VP Total Rewards search, we looked both inside and outside the respective industry to identify the best candidate who could be a thought partner to the senior leaders, as well as drive alignment across the broader total rewards philosophy as it relates to non-cash compensation, while also working effectively at the Board level.
PE-Backed Team Building
For an established but recently acquired, PE-backed company that was in need of a turnaround, we worked directly with the CEO and the PE firm to help raise the level of talent within its organization. Searches included: Chief People Officer, General Counsel, SVP Sales, Chief Marketing Officer, as well as other levels and roles within its operating, finance and HR teams. The company grew 5x, was sold to new investors and we've since worked with the former CEO and the former CFO who have moved on to new platforms.
VP Organization Effectiveness
We were referred to this client because of our success in recruiting HR leaders. Our initial search for this PE-backed organization was to find its first Vice President of Organization Effectiveness. Subsequently, we assisted on searches, including: Vice President Total Rewards, Director Communications & Employee Engagement, Senior Director Human Resources, Director Human Resources, Manager Human Resources, Recruiter, as well as the Chief People Officer when our client elected to move on from the organization after the transformation work had been completed.
VP Business Operations
For a long-standing, PE-backed client, we assisted the company to find a business leader with broad experience leading large scale projects and program management and who could work effectively across the organization. For the search, it was imperative that we focus not only on professional accomplishment and proven experience, but also on finding someone who would fit with a team that is highly motivated, determined, performance-driven, but also humble and open to feedback. We surveyed the market for candidates with experience from the top tier consulting firms as well as service industries, given our client's market focus.
PE-Backed Luxury Hospitality Startup
For a long-standing CEO client with whom we worked on his prior platform, we have assisted as he has worked to build out his team, including roles: Head of Human Resources, Head of Finance, VP Sales, Loyalty Marketing and numerous membership and client service roles within this high-end hospitality organization. Some of the searches have been very fuzzy and loosely defined at the start, but as we spend time in the market identifying candidates with fungible skills, we quickly find clarity for the skillset that will best suit that specific need. While we enjoy all of our searches, the fuzzy ones can be the most gratifying to complete.
Business Transformation
For this client, we've conducted several searches for its Operations and Finance teams where we look to identify candidates who have experience with project and program management as well as comfort in financial modeling and analysis to help drive business decisions. Often we look for candidates with experience from top-tier consulting firms or companies known for being progressive and best in class. The client was initially in turnaround mode and has successfully completed its turnaround but continues to raise the level of sophistication with each new hire.
HR Team-Building
For a CHRO client with whom we've worked for seven + years, we've helped build out his HR team, assisting on searches at all levels within his organization. Our first placement on his team almost seven years ago is still in place and is his right hand person. Searches have included: VP Human Resources, Director Human Resources, Manager Human Resources, VP Talent Acquisition, and Recruiter. Because we've worked together so extensively, we've developed institutional knowledge that benefits candidates and leads to a better fit. When this CHRO's responsibilities were expanded to include all of Legal, we also assisted to build out that team, as well.
Sales Team-Building
For a long-standing client we have assisted on several searches for its sales and marketing team, attracting candidates from more sophisticated industries but with fungible skills who could help raise the level of sophistication within the organization. Searches included: SVP Sales & Marketing, VP Sales & Marketing, and Director of Sales. During one of our searches, we identified an additional candidate who was, at the time too junior for the immediate need, but was hired as bench-strength for the team and has since been promoted to a VP.
Chief of Staff
For a healthcare client, we assisted to recruit a Chief of Staff for its CEO. For the search we focused on candidates with experience from the top-tier consulting firms and also investment banking. This search was particularly nuanced as it was confidential with a long-standing model in place that needed a change given where the organization is today. Shortly after, we assisted a technology client to find a Chief of Staff for its CEO & PE Partner; we were able to leverage some of our original research to get a quick start on the search.
Diversity Scan
For a client company with a well-known and highly regarded consumer brand, we assisted the organization in a project to proactively build its pipeline for diverse candidates in some of its higher need areas, particularly Finance and Technology. The intent for the effort was to ensure that when a position opening developed, the hiring team would already have established relationships with diverse candidates so that a truly balanced slate could be considered, while concurrently meeting the business needs for a timely completion.
Founder-Led, PE-backed Service Company
For a very well-regarded high end service business, backed by a blue chip PE firm, we assisted the company to find its first VP Sales & Marketing, Head of Cyber Security, Human Resource Director, Recruiting Director as well as other roles within its finance, HR and operating teams. This client has a unique set of needs that requires additional vetting of candidates to ensure a strong fit, given the confidential nature of their work.