The Choice To Be Part Of Something Great.
If someone were to ask me what Redmond’s vision is, I can honestly say that it hasn’t altered from day one. It’s fairly simple. We want to help companies be competitive on a global scale by uniting them with elite talent. From Boomers to Gen Z, across six continents, and from the founding of the Internet to IoT and AI, that vision has served us and our clients well. I think what is equally, if not more important however, is what drives that vision.
Going into business for yourself is not for the faint of heart. You have to be prepared to stumble, fall, even hit a wall or two and be able to bounce back, and believe me, we’ve had our share. For me, when I made the decision, there were a few contributing factors. On a personal note, for as long as I can remember I stood out in my family, with an unrelentingly need to question everything, which actually ended up serving me well later on in life and throughout my career. I continuously found myself explaining why my perspective was different, why I saw things the way that I did. I relate it to being a member of a team when you’re surrounded by uncomplimentary pieces. Today however, it has allowed me to dig deep beyond simply the surface level of a process, and enables me to forge through an illusive market to discover the talented needles hiding in the haystack, much to the pleasure of my clients.
Another contributing factor, which is unfortunately far more common, is that I worked for a company who didn’t appreciate my value, minimized my contributions and attempted to compensate me accordingly. At a point, you come to realize that you can do it better, and you make a decision hell-bent on making a difference – and use those experiences as fuel, when needed, to overcome virtually any obstacle.
Last but not least, was a pestering entrepreneurial spirit; that itch that just needed to be scratched. It was always lingering there just around the corner, but just like many things in life, it needed a slight push in order for me to get out of my own way.
Looking back, I could have never envisioned the journey this company has taken over the past 28 years. Heck, the Internet wasn’t even around then. It was a good ol’ boy network, old school, get your hands dirty kinda business. Today it’s extremely fast-paced, sleek and constantly evolving. Back then, industries and specialties were defined. Today… not so much.
However, the experience gained by thriving during those times, in hindsight, has given us a tremendous amount of strength and wisdom that we can unfairly deploy to our advantage in today’s global market.
Back then you had to be resourceful, savvy, ruthless. And when it came to competing with your peers for business, it took on the persona of an unrelenting game of survival of the fittest, with nothing more than a fax machine as the latest high-tech device at your side.
Leap forward 26 years, the market has undoubtedly changed considerably, and a shift has taken place. Where once skillsets reigned supreme, soft-skills, thought-leadership and EQ have taken their place. An industrial age has given way to a knowledge-based economy; and quite often the ability to connect the dots is simply just not as easy as it used to be.
In the beginning we wanted to make our mark, carve out our niche, work with the biggest brands in the world and build a reputation for excellence. With that in hand, three years ago we decided to step back to review the landscape, reassess the market, analyze the data and listen to what it was telling us.
During the process, we were able to isolate the path we had unknowingly chosen that paired with our strengths and business objectives. We recognized where a shortage in talent existed, as well as a profound lack of understanding within corporate leadership. An obvious unspoken divide between elite talent that represented less than 1% of the market, and the companies who so desperately needed them was evident, and proved-out, based on the data, to be our niche.
Around the table, questions were raised. How could we continue to represent and address the needs of both sides in-light of a market that was constantly in flux? Why is there a disconnect? Could we give this talent a voice? Does one party understand the other or, do they even realize that there is a problem or resistance that exists within their co-dependent relationship? And could we actually make a difference at scale by trying to provide some kind of common ground, all while doing what we do best, pairing innovative companies with elite talent, our initial and continuous vision? These are but a few of the questions, looking back, that immediately come to mind.
You know I mentioned earlier that what’s more important than one’s vision, is what drives it, and I sincerely believe that to be true. For me, being the founder, that drive stems from the life experiences that I mentioned, being extremely competitive, and quite honestly - I hate to lose. From the onset, you have to make a conscious choice – do you want to build a great company or not? To do that, you have to hand select a team of uniquely talented people who genuinely care, because what we do is personal. You have to care about outcomes, value, the day-to-day, the needs, wants and desires of those who you represent on both sides and so much more. In the end this creates a company with a genuine spirit – and purpose.
So, there I sat, analyzing the data, seeing the trees through the forest as questions swirled around a room that was waiting for answers. From this point on, a single decision would define an intentional direction that would move us forward. It would also require a reorganization, a shift in responsibilities and a considerable investment in resources... Which brings us to present day.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but after a considerable amount of effort, things have begun to take shape. A groundswell of elite talent (Renegades) have taken steps to make their voices heard, they’ve contributed their thoughts in eye-opening conversations and dedicated time to expressing themselves, their views and experiences in articles. They have also enlightened many of us as to the challenges and shortcomings they struggle with, embedded within the corporate environment.
With each passing week, the heartbeat of our community grows stronger and the obvious need for elite talent has become increasingly evident. As organizations focus on "crafting their culture" and strive not only to become great, but to separate themselves from others within their space, Redmond’s vision and what we originally set out to do 28 years ago is more necessary today than it was even back then.
So, how does our vision impact the corporate community we all share? For HR Professionals and Hiring Leaders, we hope it raises the bar as to what they should expect from a search firm. Is their relationship transaction-based or is it personal? Do they have their finger on the pulse of elite talent? Do they understand them? Can they bring them to the table? And… are they part of their community?
For the immensely talented professionals among us, the Renegades – the elite. We hope we offer a united front, a partner-in-arms and a dedicated advocate who understands your needs. We’ve been around for quite a while, and all things considered, we believe that what made us Redmond then and, what makes us Redmond now has remained fairly consistent. It’s a commitment to making companies competitive by uniting them with elite talent. Only now, we have 28 years under our belt consistently making it happen.
Email me at: [email protected] or Text me at: 947.222.9200 and let's discuss how Redmond can help you.
About Steve Diedrick...
Steve is the founder of Redmond, a global executive search firm whose clients include world renowned brands and start-ups that are shaping tomorrow's world. As a highly respected authority and pioneer in the field of human capital with close to three decades in the space, his progressive ideas on search-excellence reflect a profound understanding/passion for the global economy and the ever-evolving mindset of the unique talent that propels companies forward. He has personally reached out to more than 100,000 professionals and interviewed over 35,000 potential candidates throughout his career. His personal drive, perspective, discipline and focus is a culmination of his life experience living abroad and the 27 years spent mastering the Martial Art of Qi Gong. His Mantra: There is nothing like direct experience that takes you from knowledge - to knowing.
Email me at: [email protected] or Text me at: 947.222.9200 and let's discuss how Redmond can help you.
? Redmond Research, Inc. 2019