How to Find and Attract Unicorns

Cheryl Ragland, Forbes Councils Member has it right. During these challenging times, it is even more crucial for employers to find and recruit unicorns to lead their businesses in new directions. "They shatter expectations and raise the bar for everyone...and they are hard to find." As Unicorn Hunters, my team and I can attest to how tricky a search for these special types of hires can be. We immediately know it when we see them - they have a variety of skills that one doesn't typically find in a single individual, and they inspire everyone around them to become better at everything they do. They live the 'do as I do' adage. Stay tuned for more on this topic as I create my video series Nourish your Inner Unicorn so we can learn from the impressive unicorns we have encountered. 

Read Cheryl's article on Forbes.

Visit my website or my Signitt for more.

Testimonials

Tammy is unlike any recruiter I've ever worked with; she is one of the best. While most search firms focus on the client, Tammy understands that for the client to succeed in its search goals, she needs to equally represent the candidate. She works tirelessly to help the candidate evaluate the opportunity to determine whether it's right for them. Her authentic desire is to help the candidate make the right decision.

— Alexandra Aleskovsky, President & CEO

We hire TKJ Executive Search because they introduce highly qualified candidates in a quick timeframe and we always feel like true partners in their process. They take the time to understand our business so they can really pinpoint the need, and they are invaluable for broadening our talent ranks with hires from new industries. Their approach is creative and out of the box. They can meet the demands of any search we put before them, regardless of function.

— Lori Massad, SVP Human Resources and Chief Talent Officer, Alliance Bernstein

TKJ Executive Search gets the job done every time in an efficient manner. They quickly understand the nuance of situations, and they get the chemistry fit. Their team has open and honest styles and they connect well with candidates, making them great ambassadors for our company.

— Ellen Shedlarz, Former SVP HR Ziff Brothers Investments and Former Chief Operations Officer, Global Talent Management Group, Morgan Stanley

TKJ Executive Search takes a uniquely thoughtful approach to finding the best person, not only for a position but also as a match for our organization and culture. To be able to collaborate on the important nuances makes all the difference. They are highly intuitive, deliberative and thorough, and they are authentic partners with their clients.

— Sarah Cox, Manager, Talent Management, L.L. Bean

Tammy understands me in a way I never would have expected from a search partner. She helped me hire a Head of HR years ago when I ran a media business and that hire was such a perfect fit as my business partner that I have taken her with me to several new businesses. Creating a match like this is a rare feat for a recruiter.

— Kerry Hatch, Former COO, Global Client Services, Axciom

I have hired Tammy many times as a recruiter and as a coach. As a recruiter, she is thoughtful, creative, and delivers results quickly. As a coach, she helped the CEO in one of my previous companies become aware of the consequences of his behavior — and, together, they made some critical and high impact adjustments. Tammy is the real deal and a great partner.

— Michael Bruno, former CHRO Muscular Dystrophy Association, IAC and Rodale

TKJ Executive Search exceeded our expectations, a rarity from an executive search firm. We met our first CHRO candidates in week three and selected our finalists in week six. The quality and caliber of each candidate made the vetting process positively challenging; fortunately, the TKJ team’s candid and collaborative input helped make this easier. A pleasant surprise was the unsolicited positive feedback from the candidates about their experience with TKJ — a positive reflection on our company. I would partner with TKJ again in a heartbeat.

— Kevin Doran, Senior HR and Communications Leader, PQ Corporation

TKJ Executive Search is our recruiter of choice. They find solutions to some of our more complex hiring needs, and their placements deliver high impact. What I most value is their approach as thoughtful partners — we always know the search progress, what makes each candidate compelling, and what we need to explore and emphasize in each interview conversation. I have complete trust in Tammy’s instincts and counsel.

— Susan Grimbilas, Partner and Managing Director, Head Of HR And Operations for North America, The Boston Consulting Group

I selected TKJ Executive Search as a search partner after a thorough comparison with other firms, and I was delighted with my choice for our Head of Talent. I have high expectations and they exceeded them because they made a challenging search seem easy. A key to their approach was the extensive amount of time they invested up front to understand me and my drivers, our Firm and our culture, and the reasons and motivations for our hiring decision. Then Tammy guided me in custom questions to ask each candidate, and she observed my interviews which helped me refine my approach and confirm my selection. She redefined for me the concept of partnership.

— Jennifer Stier, COO, Highfields Capital Management

There is a boundary-less aspect to Tammy's work. It's integrated and she goes deep. She understands that a hire is a reflection of the leader, so she puts herself in my shoes. Her coaching experience makes her a forward-looking search partner; beyond searching for a fit for the role, she works to understand and anticipate how the role might change over time. And now that I have used Tammy in multiple capacities and in multiple organizations, I can attest to how powerful that is.

— Hy Pomerance, Chief Talent Officer, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP