Company Spotlight: PeopleFirm

Ivy Exec recently interviewed Todd Vician, Talent Management and Recruiting Leader at PeopleFirm.  PeopleFirm is a People Strategy and Implementation firm headquartered in Seattle, WA, serving Fortune 500 and Midmarket clients locally and throughout the US.  They have been recognized as the #9 Best Small Firm to Work For by Consulting Magazine and the #3 Fastest-Growing Private Company in the State of Washington by the Puget Sound Business Journal. 

Ivy Exec: In which area of your company do you expect the most growth over the next 12 to 18 months?

Todd Vician: We expect both our Talent Management solution and our Organizational Change Management solution to grow most in the next year-plus.  In terms of location, we will continue to add team members to our office locations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, but also expect to open a third office location during this time-frame; likely on the West Coast.

Ivy: What attracted you to PeopleFirm?

Todd: The high-performing and extremely collaborative culture within PeopleFirm was a draw for me and also is an essential element that attracts others to join as well.  This is a place where you can surround yourself with super-smart colleagues from whom you can learn, even if you are a 20-year consulting veteran.

Ivy: What three words best describe your culture?

Todd: Collaborative, transparent and flat; no hierarchy.

Ivy: What are the two best perks that employees get at your company?

Todd: Unlimited personal time off; take what you need.  An entrepreneurial culture.

Ivy: Which leadership qualities best insure success at PeopleFirm?

Todd:  Empathy, Active Listening, Leadership by Example, Trailblazing, Leaders who can get’r’done.

Ivy: What gets you excited about going to work each day?

Todd: Knowing that opportunities to grow our firm, and ourselves, lie in front of us waiting to be realized and driven forward.

Ivy: What is the biggest misconception that you encounter about the consulting industry?

Todd: Many candidates think consulting is all just the sexy strategy work that takes place entirely at the C-level in cool places like NYC and Paris where it’s super-easy to convince your client of what to do because you’re the expert as the consultant.  It’s not – a lot of it is roll-up-your-sleeves tactical work alongside all levels in the client organization and sometimes in locations that aren’t easy to get to; being successful in consulting requires that knowledge and the ability to be strategic while also being execution-focused.  And having the ability to build and articulate a business case for a change, to show real ROI, and to persuade and establish client buy-in by using a variety of approaches – those are the skills that differentiate consultants who are successful.

 

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