Our Blog

Insights, tidbits, musings, and hard-learned lessons during my years in business and recruiting all written and cataloged to hopefully, provide assistance.

  • October 17, 2023
    Meeting the Wizard of Oz

    The Wizard of Oz: That's what I call a prospective candidate who's impossible to pin down for a meeting.

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  • October 3, 2023
    Recruiting for Enron

    Approach the problem like a good salesperson.

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  • September 12, 2023
    Old School and New School Management

    Where would you want to work?

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  • September 5, 2023
    Make Incentives Do Their Job

    How should an annual bonus be set up?

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  • August 29, 2023
    Getting Repotted

    Houseplants stop growing when they reach the limits of the pots in which they are planted.

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  • August 22, 2023
    Mistakes Will Be Made

    Recruiting can be a psychological minefield.

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  • August 15, 2023
    Would You Hire a Psychologist to Assess Candidates?

    A psychology degree does not guarantee its holder has any special insight into people.

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  • August 8, 2023
    Trust Your Gut

    What goes wrong when a company makes a bad hire?

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  • August 1, 2023
    A Simple Rule for Diagnosing High Executive Turnover

    Leaders who churn employees are chaos agents

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  • July 25, 2023
    Should You Join an Owner-Led Company?

    Owners who focus on control always hit a ceiling

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  • July 18, 2023
    Back to the Office: Boiling the Frog

    Without exception, the CEOs expressed deep dissatisfaction with hybrid work 

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  • July 11, 2023
    A Tale of Two Markets for Medical Device Executives

    One sector continues to thrive, while another is severely depressed

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  • August 17, 2022
    Young Office Workers Are in for a Rude Awakening

    Sooner or later, we are going to have a recession. When that happens, young office workers will be in for a very rude awakening indeed. 

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  • June 7, 2022
    EPISODE 12

    There are several paths to the top job. I outline them in this 1.5 minute video.

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  • May 7, 2022
    EPISODE 11

    This short video offers thoughts on how to break the ice.

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  • April 7, 2022
    EPISODE 10

    When it comes to offers, high touch matters.

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  • March 7, 2022
    EPISODE 9

    Hiint: Be careful with expectations.

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  • February 7, 2022
    EPISODE 8

    Remote work won't put you on the fast track. In this 90 second video, I explain why.

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  • January 14, 2022
    To Recruit in This Market, Move Fast or Don’t Bother Trying

    If you are dragging your feet, you will lose most of your candidates.

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  • January 13, 2022
    EPISODE 7

    Poor retention means you're always playing catch up.

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  • October 5, 2021
    EPISODE 6

    Finding people with the right resume is easy. Identifying those with the right intangibles is hard.

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  • August 24, 2021
    EPISODE 5

    Hint: It's more than money.

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  • August 23, 2021
    EPISODE 4

    Skimping on referencing is a huge mistake. Here's why.

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  • April 12, 2021
    EPISODE 3

    Mom’s advice still matters. In this 2 minute video, I explain why the Golden Rule should guide your interactions with candidates.

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  • April 1, 2021
    The HR Market is Hot. Thank the Pandemic

    We’re in the early stages of a historic change in how work gets done.

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  • March 25, 2021
    So You Think You Want to Work in a Startup?

    Many people think they want to work in a startup. Most of them are wrong.

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  • February 25, 2021
    EPISODE 2

    If you want to hire a rockstar, you’re already in trouble. In this 2 minute video I explain why.

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  • February 8, 2021
    Video Series

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  • January 29, 2021
    How to Land Your First Board of Directors Seat

    How can you land that first board seat? It’s a lot more difficult than it looks.

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  • January 29, 2021
    Predictions for the 2021 Executive Employment Market

    Starting at the beginning of the second quarter, however, I foresee a rapid acceleration of executive hiring as the coronavirus is brought under control and companies dial up spending.

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  • January 14, 2021
    “Ghosting” Candidates? You’re Committing Reputational Suicide

    Companies that don’t treat candidates well eventually earn a reputation that repels talent. 

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  • January 1, 2021
    EPISODE 1

    The misconception is that recruiting is finding people. There’s so much more involved. In this 2.5 minute video I debunk the myth and explain what’s involved in finding the perfect candidate.

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  • November 30, 2020
    The Curse of the Superstar

    When it comes to teams, superstars aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.

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  • November 19, 2020
    Light at the End of the Tunnel

    With the end of the pandemic in sight, businesses will spend more freely in order to position themselves for the recovery.

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  • October 30, 2020
    Where Should European Startups Place the US Office?

    All of my European clients wrestle with that question. Usually it becomes a question of East versus West.

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  • October 8, 2020
    Will Remote Work Go Mainstream After the Pandemic? Don’t Count On It

    Yes, remote work brings some advantages, but they are far outweighed by the downsides.

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  • August 20, 2020
    Starting a New Job When You Can’t Go to the Office

    How do you come up to speed when you can’t meet colleagues in-person or go to the office? 

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  • June 25, 2020
    Executive Hiring is Picking Up Steam

    Executive hiring is bouncing back.

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  • June 17, 2020
    Now is the Best Time in Years to Upgrade Your Team

    Look at your own executive team. Is this the group you need to lead your company through the coming years? 

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  • May 8, 2020
    What has COVID-19 Done to the Market for Executive Talent?

    Not long ago, the market for medical device executives was red hot. Things have changed a lot in the last 8 weeks. 

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  • October 16, 2019
    How to Conduct a Great Interview

    Why have so many managers failed to master this fundamental skill? It's simple: they're never taught how to do it. Most companies don't realize their employees need help. On the surface, interviewing looks like a simple skill that doesn't…

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  • October 16, 2019
    The Art of Referencing

    There's universal agreement that diet and exercise are the key to good health, but few people have the discipline to change their habits. Similarlt, everyone agrees that references are critically important to the hiring process, yet very few people…

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  • October 16, 2019
    Recruiting for the Board of Directors

    In today's challenging business environment companies must exploit every competitive advantage. One of the most important is having a skilled and engaged board of directors.

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  • October 16, 2019
    A Guide to Identifying, Assessing & Contracting with Executive Search Firms

    Hiring them, however, is easier said than done. The best are rare, difficult to find and hard to attract. Competition for them is intense. When companies need to recruit the best executive talent, they retain an executive search consultant. Executive…

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  • October 16, 2019
    Our resources

    We hope you find these tools helpful in your search.

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  • October 26, 2017
    Moving Target Syndrome

    Everyone knows it’s hard to hit a moving target. In the world of recruiting, there’s a common problem I call Moving Target Syndrome (let’s call it MTS). In the classic presentation of MTS, the hiring company keeps changing…

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  • October 18, 2017
    Video Conferencing

    Videoconference is great for a call with your mom. But it’s not great for judging candidates, or for convincing them to join your company. I understand why Skype and its peers are increasingly popular for interviewing. Everyone wants to…

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  • October 5, 2017
    Theranos: When Smart People do Stupid Things

    The Wall Street Journal continues to report on the saga of Theranos, the former Silicon Valley darling that continues its epic self-immolation. On March 24, Christopher Weaver and John Carreyrou reported that Theranos is offering investors…

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  • April 20, 2017
    The Job Market Is Hot. What Does That Mean for Employers?

    If you’re a hiring manager, you know the job market is as hot as it’s been in years. Competition for talent is intense. That means it’s harder to attract great new employees, and harder to keep the ones you already have. What…

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  • April 19, 2017
    When Should You Share Personal Information in an Interview?

    The candidate had a solid background, but there were some strange transitions on his resume. He’d landed a big overseas posting with a prestigious company, then abruptly left a year later for a lesser position back in the US. It didn’t…

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  • April 13, 2017
    It's all About People

    Back in September, I attended MassDevice DeviceTalks Boston. As usual, the MassDevice folks put on a terrific program. One of the featured speakers was Jeff Burbank, Founder and CEO of NxStage Medical, the dialysis company. In…

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  • April 4, 2017
    Interviewing for the CEO Job? Think Like an Owner

    I’m recruiting a CEO for a medical device company that’s owned by a private equity firm. Last week, I was talking with one of the partners about his phone call with one of the candidates. He said, “The thing that distinguished…

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  • October 19, 2016
    How not to Network

    Networking is easy — except when you make it hard on yourself. Last month I ran into a medical device executive I’ve known for a couple of years (let’s call him Peter). He’s considering a job change and a couple months…

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  • October 13, 2016
    Is this the Way to Remove Bias in Hiring?

    Business Insider reported on a presentation by Kennedy School Professor Iris Bohnet at the Financial Times Women at the Top Conference in London. She spoke about decreasing bias in hiring. Bias is a real problem, and not just for candidates…

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  • September 20, 2016
    Newsflash: Soft Skills in Short Supply

    The Wall Street Journal published an interesting piece on the challenge of finding job candidates who have soft skills. The author, Kate Davidson, writes: “Companies across the U.S. say it is becoming increasingly difficult to…

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  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    Landing the First CEO Job

    Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone…

    Read More
  • September 6, 2016
    What Does It Take To Run A Subsidiary?

    In the last several years I’ve done a number of searches for presidents of the US subsidiaries of foreign companies. These jobs present several special challenges. In no particular order, here they are:

    Read More
  • September 6, 2016
    What Does It Take To Run A Subsidiary?

    In the last several years I’ve done a number of searches for presidents of the US subsidiaries of foreign companies. These jobs present several special challenges. In no particular order, here they are:

    Read More
  • September 6, 2016
    What Does It Take To Run A Subsidiary?

    In the last several years I’ve done a number of searches for presidents of the US subsidiaries of foreign companies. These jobs present several special challenges. In no particular order, here they are:

    Read More
  • September 6, 2016
    What Does It Take To Run A Subsidiary?

    In the last several years I’ve done a number of searches for presidents of the US subsidiaries of foreign companies. These jobs present several special challenges. In no particular order, here they are:

    Read More
  • September 6, 2016
    What Does It Take To Run A Subsidiary?

    In the last several years I’ve done a number of searches for presidents of the US subsidiaries of foreign companies. These jobs present several special challenges. In no particular order, here they are:

    Read More
  • September 6, 2016
    What Does It Take To Run A Subsidiary?

    In the last several years I’ve done a number of searches for presidents of the US subsidiaries of foreign companies. These jobs present several special challenges. In no particular order, here they are:

    Read More
  • September 6, 2016
    What Does It Take To Run A Subsidiary?

    In the last several years I’ve done a number of searches for presidents of the US subsidiaries of foreign companies. These jobs present several special challenges. In no particular order, here they are:

    Read More

Words
of Praise

Mike Travis invested time to understand our business. He was efficient, proactive in keeping us informed of progress, and highly attuned to cultural fit.  We were thrilled with the process and the outcome — thank you Travis & Company!

— Francois Michelon, CEO, ENDRA Life Sciences