Q1 2019

A Message from Keith Pearson, President & CEO

The future is fascinating, and it will be here sooner than you think. At our March 2019 Spotlight Series^SM breakfast, many audience members were astonished when John Terrell, M.B.A., vice president of commercial development for DFW International Airport, casually announced that the airport will introduce “flying car” taxi service by 2025. Yes, flying cars! And no, this isn’t the Jetsons.

DFW International Airport aims to be the first to market with this disruptive technology, which will eventually change the way people and cargo move from the airport to their destinations. By aggressively implementing a technology that once seemed impossibly futuristic, but will one day become commonplace, the airport is firmly positioning itself at the head of the pack.

Many businesses in other industries are similarly embracing disruptive technology, from “digital twinning” of facilities and logistics operations—and even people—to remote healthcare, virtual teams and blockchain transactions. Consumer demand is driving some of the shift, but increasing efficiency and security are also key influences behind these trends.

The fascinating discussion at our recent Spotlight Series breakfast covered not just the exciting developments at the airport, but also the ways that disruptors are changing the fields of financial services, transportation and logistics, healthcare and outsourcing. If you missed it, you won’t want to miss the summary in this issue.

Here at Pearson Partners, our firm and our team continue to be hard at work in our professional, philanthropic and civic endeavors. Be sure to check out our News section below for some highlights. I am particularly proud to announce Stephen Konstans’ promotion to Finance Officers Practice Leader and Renee Arrington’s award as an HMG Strategy Technology Executive to Watch. Both honors are well-deserved, and I am very proud of both Stephen and Renee and their contributions to our team.

In This Issue

Quarterly Spotlight Series^SM Breakfast:
Disruptive Business Models: Innovative Ideas Transforming Industries

From flying cars to blockchain to virtual remote teams, disruptive technology is changing our world—and the global business landscape—faster than you might expect. Much of the change that’s coming in our near future is driven by consumer demand for services that meet them where they are and fulfill today’s “instant-gratification” expectations. Businesses that accurately anticipate disruptive trends, and proactively work to stay ahead of them, will gain a competitive edge. At our recent Spotlight Series^SM event, we invited four forward-thinking business leaders to talk about the impact of disruptors within the industries they know best: financial services, transportation, healthcare and outsourcing.

White Paper:
Traits and Characteristics of a Successful CHRO

Today’s Chief Human Resource Officers (CHROs) are challenged to meet organizational talent demands within a digitally interconnected, global business landscape. In a series of candid conversations with several global HR resource leaders, Pearson Partners International and our global partnership, IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide, explored their roles and what skills are needed to succeed. The insight of these top HR executives into the world of the CHRO ranged from the background and experience required to succeed in the job to the most urgent challenges CHROs face and the characteristics necessary to meet future business challenges. We summarized the findings in a new white paper, which will serve as a helpful resource for any organization seeking to more deeply engage its HR leaders in shaping future growth.

Case Study:
Passion and Experience Bring a Perfect Match to Renowned Dallas Nonprofit

As one of Dallas’ most highly regarded nonprofit organizations, Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support is typically flooded with resumes whenever it has a job opening. But in early 2019, the organization had a new and extremely important position to fill: a senior director of major gifts. This role would be responsible for an ongoing $30 million capital campaign, demanding a unique set of skills and talents as well as a passion for ending violence against women and children. Genesis’ leader, Jan Edgar Langbein, enlisted Pearson Partners International to locate the ideal person to take on the new role, and an ideally qualified senior director was on the job less than two months later. Read our case study to learn more about this fast-turnaround, highly successful search.

Tips from the Leadership Coach:
Invest in Your Management Skills

A good manager is worth his or her weight in gold at any organization, yet management-level employees typically aren’t the main focus of training efforts. So how can managers move up in their careers and increase their positive impact within the workplace? The answer to becoming a highly valued, high-impact manager may be as simple as a shift in attitude and intention. In this issue’s Tips from the Leadership Coach, we offer tips from human resources leader and author David Deacon for managers who want to create environments where people thrive. Read Deacon’s nine suggestions to boost your management skills.

Pearson Partners Profile:
Scott Robson, Search Consultant

Scott Robson joined the executive search industry in 1986, when he was recruited into the business by the recruiters he met with during a job search. In the more than 30 years since, he has witnessed everything from an office visit by the FBI to a challenging executive job market in a thriving American economy. A dedicated mentor and servant in his church and community, Scott is always ready with a helping hand for those in need, and is eager to share his wealth of experience to help our clients fulfill their leadership goals. Get to know Scott by reading his Q&A in this issue.

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