Executive Research: Lessons Learned at AESC’s London Forum

“Engaging from start to finish” was how one participant described our AESC Researchers & Associates Forum held in London on March 9.

Attendees traveled from as far as Moscow and Singapore to gain expert insight on key executive research issues and trends.

The forum featured sessions ranging from the EU’s GDPR legislation to innovative techniques for candidate engagement. Clare Mahon, AESC Managing Director of Europe & Africa, kicked off the day with an overview of AESC and the executive search profession.

Learn about your Source

Keynote speaker, Rachel Roche, Founder and President of Smart Search, led an interactive session on sourcing candidates over the phone.  Rachel, who also leads online Forums as part of our Certified Researcher Associate program, stressed the importance of going beyond the transactional by focusing on your source as well as your search.

Learn to Be Brave

Our expert panel, featuring speakers from Korn Ferry, Alderbrooke/TGCL, and Odgers Berndtson, discussed the role of researchers and associates as well as trends in executive search.  An attendee remarked “There’s no better way to understand what the current trends are in the sector than asking top firms. [It’s] also interesting to later think on how to apply their practices to smaller boutique firms.” Panelists emphasized the need for researchers and associates to ask questions and be brave.  

GDPR - What you need to know

Tim Hickman of legal firm White & Case and Karen Greenbaum, President and CEO of AESC led a Q&A session on GDPR and what firms and researchers need to know in order to be compliant. Our AESC members who want to learn more about GDPR are encouraged to log in to the AESC members-only website for FAQs and a Handbook provided by White & Case.

A bit of fun, with a serious lesson

Steve Roe and Katy Schutte from Hoopla livened up the audience after lunch with an interaction session on improvisation. The session focused on tips to make and maintain strong conversations, how to stay present when listening, and how to craft a pitch through improv theories and exercises.

A big thank you to our partners Cluen, Invenias, and Mintz for their support. Their support enables us to deliver quality content and networking opportunities to search firms around the world.