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Spring 2006
Doug Kremer
Ed and Mitch are true believers. They were genuinely interested in me, my background, skills, hopes, aspirations, and frustrations. They provided outstanding counsel. They were good listeners. They were candid when needed, and they helped me stay focused and on track. Because it is important to manage your transition, I pass along their advice:
- Cultivate and nurture your network
- Invest in yourself. Grow and learn.
- Take time to care for yourself
- Believe in yourself – because they do.
Most recently, Doug Kremer was President, Kremer Management Consulting. Prior to starting his own business, he was Senior Vice President, Marketing and Strategy, for the Group Insurance Division of CIGNA, a Fortune 100 company. He was a member of the Senior Management Team and led the creation of the business’s turnaround strategy and plan.
Your employer invited you to work with another outplacement firm. You selected Kelleher Associates. Why did you make that choice?
For a very short time I did use another firm. I quickly discerned that theirs was a “one size fits all”, “cookie cutter” approach. They were poor listeners and their advice in no way reflected the fact that I’d successfully managed my career with a number of sophisticated, world class companies for over 25 years. I demanded a look at some alternatives and vetted two other firms, including Kelleher Associates. Once I’d spent time with Ed and Mitch, my choice was clear…it wasn’t a close contest.
What elements of the program provided the greatest value?
First and foremost, it was my sense that Ed and Mitch were genuinely interested in getting to know ME – my background, skills, hopes, aspirations, frustrations. Secondly, I was extremely impressed with Mitch’s deep marketing and general management background, not to mention his professional demeanor. We truly “spoke the same language.”
What was the biggest challenge in your job search?
The fact that, as I told Ed, Mitch, and others, I was not so much looking for a job as I was looking for a role or situation that offered some pretty specific (and non-negotiable) characteristics in terms of both content and environment. Some people (not Ed or Mitch) told me that I was “looking for a needle in a haystack.” That said, I set a high bar and was very discriminating in looking at opportunities.
What did you do when times were difficult?
Ed and Mitch were and are true believers - - - in me, in the value that I bring, and in my professional objectives. They helped me stay focused on those things and kept me from becoming distracted by and drawn into situations that would have been a less than stellar fit. In other words, they helped me stay “on strategy”.
Are there other aspects of your experience with Kelleher that you found valuable?
Yes. The support that I received from Marcella Carter and Dianne Brady were invaluable. Also, resources like Reference USA were big time savers that enabled me to efficiently research target markets and companies.
Can you be more specific about what you got here that helped you to achieve your goals?
Mitch helped me hone my personal brand positioning and key messages, and provided outstanding counsel with regard to interview strategies and offer negotiations. While he enthusiastically supported me in pursuing a variety of potential opportunities, he was always very candid during our debriefing sessions. I truly value his honesty and directness. It’s the only way I know how to work; this was critical to our trust-based relationship.
If you were to offer advice to others in transition, what would that be?
I would make these four suggestions:
- Cultivate and nurture a robust network.
- Invest in yourself, keep growing and learning.
- Take time to care for your mind, body and soul.
- Be true to yourself and believe in yourself – because they do!
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