She’s the one. Just when I thought I’ve talked to every HR leader in this city … and you found her? Unbelievable job. She’s the one. You watch. Those were my exact words when I walked into the office of my Director of Executive Recruiting after I interviewed an HR executive for one of our […]
cornerstone kansas city
Shooting 3s in March: A Lesson from March Madness & Executive Search
Three-point shooting changes games in March Madness. Recently, we came close to hitting three of our own in a single executive search, and it was a powerful reminder of why the strength of a candidate slate matters so much. Every March, like millions of people across the country, I find myself drawn into the chaos […]
The Offer Is the First Act of Leadership
In executive search, most of the attention goes to sourcing the right candidate and guiding organizations through the interview process. Those steps matter, of course. But in many leadership searches, the most sensitive moment comes at the very end. The offer stage. After weeks or months of conversations, alignment, and evaluation, the organization and the […]
AI at Work: What I Recently Learned from HR Leaders
I was recently invited to participate in an AI Roundtable with my peers from Cornerstone International Group. We had participation from four continents to discuss the question, “How are organizations using AI beyond the headlines?” To be clear, I live somewhere between experimental and operational AI user today. On one hand, I die a little […]
Search Stories: Who Will You Impact This Year?
Just before Christmas, our team gathered for our 2026 annual meeting. Our owners finalized the 10-year vision for the firm and there was a lot of excitement in the room, especially coming off consecutive record growth years. Before sharing our collective goals, growth plans and team presentations for year one of this vision, our owners […]
Gratitude, Growth, & the Gifts of a Full Year
As we approach the end of another remarkable year at Cornerstone Executive Search, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary mix of blessings, challenges, relationships, and moments of clarity that have shaped us. Some years arrive gently. Others arrive like a storm. This one brought a bit of both. But as I look back, I’m […]
Coaching Series Part 1: Trends in Executive Coaching
Dan Heiman: What trends are you currently seeing in the field of executive coaching? Jeremy Foster: Coaching as a whole is exploding. The market has doubled in the last eight years, with growing adoption across nearly every sector. One reason for this growth is an increasing number of studies showing that coaching impacts the performance […]
A Brave New World Without Non-Compete?
So, for some, this may not be a big deal; however, this is a BIG deal for many! I signed my first noncompete many years ago as a medical device rep and really had no idea what it was all about. As things progressed, I had to sign additional non-compete agreements, and the timing of […]
So What’s Your Story?
Recently, I was helping a candidate prepare for a final job interview with one of our client companies. The process was very thorough and competitive over three months. I had spent a considerable amount of time with this particular candidate. We were down to two finalists.
This Holiday Season, Give Your Team the Gift to Discover Their Gifts
Need a gift idea for your team that will last well beyond the holiday season? We may have the right gift for you. This past year, our Cornerstone Kansas City team added some new faces (including me) to our growing firm. One of our team goals was to better understand each of our unique gifts as we […]
Time-Tested Secrets from 14 Years in the Hiring Business
Hiring an executive is expensive. But the leadership impact of C-suite positions will make or break a company’s success. That’s why finding, interviewing, and hiring the right top-level candidate—the first time—is so important. Over my 14 years as an executive recruiter and business owner, I’ve had my share of wins, and my share of slip-ups. […]
