Global Leaders from Executive Search, Leadership Consulting and Talent Acquisition Gathered in New York to Discuss the Future of Executive Talent

The annual global conference of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) gathered more than nearly 200 executive search, leadership consulting and talent acquisition professionals from around the world in New York City for a two-day event on April 6th and 7th to explore the theme, “Executive Talent 2020: What’s Next for Executive Search and Leadership Consulting?” In addition, key decision makers from AESC global firms and networks convened for the annual Leadership Roundtable to chart the future of the profession.

Karen Greenbaum, AESC President & CEO, commenced the first day’s program with a session on AESC’s latest research and corresponding report, Executive Talent 2020, which reveals changes in the executive search and leadership consulting profession, as well as in executive talent acquisition, over the last five years with a glimpse into the future. Greenbaum revealed insights based on surveys and structured interviews with nearly 3000 global decision makers, which AESC conducted early this year, all which indicated new opportunities for organizations worldwide to partner with executive search and leadership consulting firms to meet their most important executive talent challenges and business objectives.

Alec Ross, author of the widely acclaimed book, The Industries of the Future, and Former Senior Advisor for Technology and Innovation at the State Department shared with delegates the changes that will impact global industries over the next ten years, highlighting the best opportunities for progress and explaining why organizations will either thrive or sputter amidst these disruptions.

Robin Ferracone, CEO of Farient Advisors led a session on the governance context for executive compensation. She outlined how executive search professionals can play a critical role in helping to best educate candidates on how governance impacts compensation packages, and in turn helping search professionals both cultivate better candidates and distinguish themselves with their clients.

Following Ferracone’s session, Bill Schaninger, Director at McKinsey & Company and expert on the role of culture, values, and leadership in improving business outcomes, shared insights on how to create world-class talent systems and winning workforce dynamics to meet tomorrow’s demands. Schaninger then moderated a panel of talent acquisition heads including Robert J. Crowder, Head of Executive Recruiting at Vanguard; Jean Taylor, Enterprise Head, Executive Talent Acquisition at Novartis; and Deirdre Tully, Global Head of Executive Talent Acquisition at Johnson & Johnson, all of whom provided perspectives on what the future holds in the competition for top talent.

Senior Special Correspondent for Fortune magazine and contributor on PBS-TV’s Nightly Business Report, Susie Gharib, then concluded the days’ sessions with “Insights from the World’s Top CEOs,” where she shared with the audience best practices, management styles, and characteristics that all the successful leaders she has interviewed have in common.

An afternoon networking opportunity was sponsored by AESC partner Invenias and an evening cocktail reception was sponsored by AESC partner The Cluen Corporation.

Day Two’s program began with Jose Ruiz, CEO of Alder Koten, chairing a forum discussion exclusively for executive search and leadership consulting professionals from boutique and independent firms, addressing those shared challenges and opportunities unique to specialty firms.

Andrew Sobel, author of Power Relationships and leading authority on how to develop and institutionalize long-term client relationships, then led a dynamic session on “Millennials, Boomers, and Trusted Relationships,” where he unveiled the relationship-building habits and challenges of the new workforce, including an exclusive preview of his new, original research.

Kevin Hallock, Professor of Economics and Human Resource Studies, Cornell University, concluded the day’s programming with “Executive Compensation and Total Rewards,” which was live-streamed to AESC members around the world as part of AESC’s Advanced Certificate Program in Executive Search and Leadership Consulting in partnership with Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

AESC Board Chair, Thomas T. Daniels commented, “Each year, AESC’s Global Conference presents a unique opportunity for leaders in executive search and leadership consulting to come together in a peer-to-peer environment for an exchange of innovative ideas that shape our profession and how we serve clients. Our program is designed to keep AESC members at the forefront of emerging trends impacting executive talent and leadership advisory. Events like this provide meaning to AESC’s mission to be the voice of excellence for our profession.”

AESC’s two-day program was sponsored by AESC partners The Cluen Corporation, IIPE International Executive Research, Invenias, The McQuaig Institute, Mintz Group and The Wall Street Journal. AESC extends special thanks to conference program supporters Heidrick & Struggles, IIC Partners, IMD International Search Group, Korn Ferry, Odgers Berndtson, Panorama Search, Russell Reynolds Associates, Spencer Stuart, TRANSEARCH and Witt/Kieffer who registered six or more delegates to attend the week’s event.