Mark Flaherty, Partner
Mark has 25 years of experience in the industry. He has driven outstanding results because he takes the time to understand what success looks like for both the client and consultant. Mark believes successful hiring is more of an art than a science and is achieved with thorough due diligence and a keen sense of everyone’s motivations.
What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?
Be yourself. I feel most people appreciate sales professionals who are genuine. I believe people see through interactions that are not genuine and real, which makes it unlikely for someone who operates this way to build successful business relationships.
If you could try a different job for a day, what would you choose?
I love sports, especially hockey and always regretted not becoming a goalie. I would love to play goalie for the Minnesota Wild against the Stanley Cup Champs – the Pittsburgh Penguins.
What is your personal mantra?
When you expect the best of people, they often meet or exceed those expectations.
How do you get yourself out of a slump?
I usually find that time away at the lake with family tends to snap me out of any slump or funk that I may find myself in.
What companies or leaders do you admire?
Being a huge sports fan, I would say John Wooden. A revered coach and leader, he won ten college basketball championships as a coach for UCLA. All those winning banners came in a twelve-year period and seven in a row. No other team has won more than two in a row. At one point he won 88 games in a row and won 80% of his games. What made him such a great leader was not just his success on the basketball court, but that he actually cared more about the players winning in life.
What has been the most significant shift you’ve noticed in your industry in the last decade?
I have seen an increase in employee turnover in organizations, especially with workers in their 20’s and 30’s. This can be attributed to being in a cycle of very strong demand for talent. It also seems to be driven by companies moving away from the hire-to-retire model (less loyalty) as well as employees in that age group being less risk averse, more proactive in seeking change and opportunities for growth.
Who has been most instrumental in your career?
I would say my wife, Sheryl. She is like a mirror. She helps me see who I truly am as a person – both the good and the bad. She challenges me when I need challenging, and picks me up when I need support.
What is your go-to celebration meal, drink or tradition?
I personally like to eat, so I would opt for a delicious medium-rare steak and a bottle or two of Silver Oak Cabernet, shared with good friends.
