Executive Search Academy
Founded 2004 26th Session
The Edgewater Hotel
Sept 7-8, 2017
The Executive Search Academy addresses best practices in managing executive recruiting, based on 20+ years of research among leading corporations. In each segment, we draw on this research, participants discuss their challenges, and in some cases we include discussion with an authority on the topic.
Thursday, September 7th
8.00am Continental breakfast
8:30am How to Manage Search Activity & Improve Executive Hiring Effectiveness
We explore the evolution of executive recruiting, the challenges of competing for leadership talent and what kinds of corporate initiatives have been successful in managing search activity and improving hiring effectiveness. This includes the business case for an executive recruiting program and how to educate key players in your organization on their roles in making it work.
Presenter: Simon Mullins, Partner, ESIX, with some ‘virtual assistance’ from David Lord, Founder, ESIX
10.00am Break
10:15am The Search Process
Anatomy of an executive search engagement - what really happens - and what hiring organizations need to know to make searches succeed. Here we take a detailed look at recruiting tactics and processes: a fundamental overview of how talent is identified and reeled in at search firms and by in-house search teams.
Presenter: Simon Mullins, Partner, ESIX
12.00pm Lunch & Discussion
1.00pm Candidate Assessment
We discuss tactics and resources for the all-important task of evaluating executive candidates: what works and what is practical, and engage in an interactive learning session with an expert who draws on his exceptional experience both in academia and in the corporate world, including at Microsoft, Allstate, Seattle Pacific University, and PDRI.
Guest: Jeff McHenry, Principal, Rainier Leadership Solutions
2:15pm Break
2:30pm Client Management
Managing the client, the hiring team, and the interview team takes some courage and ideally some experience – after all, these are very senior executives that we are dealing with. However, there are some skills and tools that one can use to make sure that we’re in control of the situation, and to make sure this delicate process goes as smoothly as possible.
Presenter: Simon Mullins, Partner, ESIX
4.00pm Adjourn for the day … and join us for a social hour
Connect with your peers in a social setting - where some of the best conversations among participants take place.
Friday, September 8th
8.00am Continental breakfast
8:30am Participant Roundtable
In this segment, we delve into any questions brought to the table from the prior day’s discussions, as well as collectively dig into challenges that participants are currently having and upon which they would like some group insight.
9:30am Case Study in Direct Executive Search: Building a World-Class Function at Starbucks
Daniel Whitney describes his journey of building Starbucks’ in-house function from a small operation to a multi-function team, while simultaneously building the internal brand with his company’s executive leadership. He will share the lessons learned along the way and the plans to further evolve the function as part of his expanded remit, in an ever-changing and high-growth organization.
Guest: Daniel Whitney, Director of Global Talent Acquisition, Starbucks
10:45am Break
11.00am Case Study in Direct Executive Search: Going Global with Microsoft
Over a relatively short time, Microsoft has built an extensive global executive recruiting capability that is a leading example of how to not only deliver a consistent service in multiple regions, but also how to collaborate effectively across all levels of the recruiting function to deliver greater impact. Nina describes how to create an agile organization which is able to adapt as the company continues to grow globally, in a super-competitive talent market.
Guest: Nina Johal, Senior Director of Executive Recruiting, Microsoft
12:30pm Lunch and Discussion
1:30pm What’s Next for The Function?
We discuss a few ideas that are already out there, or maybe just ‘out there’, and participants will share what innovations they are seeing – or would like to see – as the function grows in maturity and responds to changes in the talent market.
Presenter: Simon Mullins, Partner, ESIX
2:30pm Adjourn
Note: This agenda and the speakers could potentially change due to circumstances outside of our control.
