Perspectives

---

A mini-video series sharing insights and perspectives from more than 30 years in executive search, corporate talent leadership and executive coaching. 

Episode 1: Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall

An introduction to Secrets... of a Search Consultant

Podcasts and conversations exploring leadership, careers, personal growth and the experiences that shape who we become.

Books that have influenced my thinking about leadership, growth and what it means to be human.

Flow - Mihály Csikszentimihalyi 

One of my favorites.  Becoming so absorbed in something that we lose our sense of time reveals a lot about where we find energy, joy and meaning in life.  

Positive Intelligence- Shirzad Chamine

This works for me because Chamine provides a wonderfully simple way of understanding the voices and patterns that drive our behavior - and some very practical tools for dealing with those that get in the way.

No Bad Parts - Richard Schwartz

The idea that we have no bad parts really resonates with me.  Even the behaviors we wish we could change are often trying to protect us in some way.  What happens when, instead of judging them, we get curious?

Immunity to Change - Robert Kegan & Lisa Lahey

A great exploration of the beliefs and assumptions sitting beneath our behaviors that prevent us changing, even when we really want to.  

Your Body is Your Brain - Amanda Blake

Amanda's work on somatics is core to my own thinking.  What happens if we pay attention to the signals and information our body is providing before our conscious brain gets involved?

Unbound - Kasia Urbaniak

Written primarily for women, but with universal appeal.  It made me think differently about attention, power, asking for what we want and what it really means to hold our space.

Designing Your Life - Bill Burnett & Dave Evans

I love the idea that we don't need everything figured out before moving forward.  By staying curious, experimenting and trying things out, we can discover possibilities we might never have found through planning alone.

The First 90 Days - Michael D. Watkins

Transitions matter.  This is a highly practical guide to understanding a new environment, building credibility and creating momentum - without rushing to prove ourselves before we have taken the time to listen and learn.

High TQ - Kirkland Tibbels & John Patterson

The newest edition to my list.  TQ is about our ability to get things done through other people - and why expertise and intelligence alone aren't enough.   

Humankind - Rutger Bregman

A hopeful and thought-provoking exploration of human nature.  It challenges the assumption that people are fundamentally self-interested and reinforces my belief that trust, empathy and our capacity for connection matter.  

The Velveteen Rabbit - Margery Williams

A children's book with a timeless truth at its heart: becoming real happens through experience, vulnerability and love.  For me, it's a beautiful reminder that authenticity isn't about perfection - it's about becoming more fully ourselves.