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Client Testimonials
From time to time we interview a client or former client about his or her career transition and their experience with Kelleher Associates.
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May 2004
Bob Pearson is currently the General Manager of Human Resources at Princeton University. As an experienced career coach himself, he knew he needed a supportive partner who could expand his professional network when he began his own search. Kelleher Associates was his partner and Ed Kelleher was his coach.
Tell me a little bit about your career history.
I have experience with human resources at various levels. I started out working with General Motors involved in many aspects of their management, which led to labor relations, which led to personnel, which finally led to human resources. My company and I became involved in doing things in a new way, focusing on team concepts and self-directed work forces. It was a new system, a refreshing way to look at management.
At that time I was working on the team concept on a micro basis at a small plant. Saturn emerged as a new company wanting fresh new concepts and they were focusing on the macro level of management called people systems. I joined Saturn and was there for the first shovel of dirt and the first car to come off the assembly line.
After Saturn I worked with a French chemical company at their giant manufacturing facility in the States. They wanted me to work with union/management groups, “Saturnizing” them. This new team-building initiative led to process improvement that led to re-engineering. I eventually moved with this company to their US headquarters as the head of the corporate re-engineering team.
Following the chemicals company and before my current position with Princeton, I worked for a pharmaceuticals company as their first Vice President of Human Resources, having the great opportunity of building their HR infrastructure.
When did you first approach Kelleher Associates?
I knew Ed Kelleher and Mitch Wienick before I began my search. I had met with them to discuss career counseling and executive coaching ideas to use with my old company. They gave me incredible insight into career counseling methods and executive coaching techniques. We had good chemistry and I was impressed with the high-level advice they gave me.
When I was ready to make my own career move, I went to them for career transition advice. I knew that they had been in my spot before and had similar experiences to my own. I knew they weren’t just offering advice to offer advice. They were able to empathize with my challenges and guide me in a positive direction. The folks at Kelleher are very experienced and have dealt with many different people in many different situations. I felt comfortable that they could give me implicit knowledge, direction and support.
You’re an experienced HR executive, what did you think Kelleher could do for you that you couldn’t do for yourself?
Kelleher’s network was so much bigger than my own. I knew that this would be a huge asset to me during my search. It opened lines of communication with contacts and leads I never would have come across otherwise. The team at Kelleher also looks at situations from many different angles. Ed, in particular, would probe and ask questions that made me really think about my next move, what was important to me and where I saw myself going.
He took a very thoughtful approach to my career search and wasn’t just concerned with placing me in an executive position. He wanted to know what I was interested in, what I wanted to do with my life. Kelleher was able to make me look at my own choices in a different way, applying my experience to my next move.
What was your unique experience at Kelleher?
I think what was most unique about my experience was the opportunity to try three things I was really interested in tackling. Through the discovery phase with Ed, I positioned three opportunities I wanted to approach. First, I really liked the idea of teaching, possibly as an adjunct faculty member. Second, I liked the idea of consulting with an organization where I could add my years of experience and expertise in human resources and management. And finally, I wanted to find the right position for me in corporate America that could rival my days at Saturn, presenting new challenges and opportunities. Ed and I focused on these three opportunities. He encouraged me to approach them from different angels, really digging into the process of hunting down these opportunities.
The Kelleher network came into play and he gave me great leads to make these opportunities come to life. I found a teaching position, had an opportunity to do some management consulting and found a position in higher education that met the criteria I was looking for. Kelleher guided me through a very effective executive transition.
Did the team meet your expectations?
Absolutely. They were excellent. Everyone on the Kelleher team had a defined area of expertise to share. They formed a cohesive support system for me. I appreciated that sometimes Ed exercised tough love -- it was a huge reason why I decided to work with a team like Kelleher. I needed to have someone that could put it all in perspective for me. Kelleher never sent me off in the wrong direction. They know their network inside and out and always have a person for you to call or a connection for you to make. There is always a reference ready.
What particular value-add were they during your transition?
I was particularly impressed with Ed’s process. He made me think about what I really wanted, pushed me to see the opportunities from every side and gave me resources to close on my goals. Obviously the Kelleher network is a huge value-add during this transition time. It gives you a leg up on the competition. Another value-add is the good advice from everyone at Kelleher. Each person brings something to the table – a contact, an expertise, a tip, or a nice human interaction. I also found the roundtable meetings very valuable for me during the networking process. It was an opportunity to keep dialogue going.
Would you recommend Kelleher’s services?
Yes, especially for professionals who are currently doing a good job, but want to do better. The Kelleher team members have the insight of experienced professionals which complements their executive coaching skills. They can see things that you can’t see for yourself when making that career transition. Kelleher is an excellent resource for people who want a different perspective and who want to push their career to the next level.
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