C-level Executive Recruitment from Outside the Industry Can Transform Your Leadership Team

C-level executive recruitment from outside the industry is an increasingly popular option for organizations seeking fresh perspectives and innovative leadership. Bringing in executives with diverse backgrounds helps break the mold, driving creativity and preventing stagnation at the top. While this approach carries certain risks, the potential rewards—such as renewed energy, out-of-the-box thinking, and transformative growth—make it an option worth considering for many companies.

The Rise of Non-Traditional C-Level Hires

“We want someone who can think outside the box.”

As a well-worn business cliché, this phrase elicits groans from hiring executives and recruiters alike. However, considering the competitiveness of the executive talent market, driven by the lowest unemployment rate since 1969—along with increasing awareness of the need for diverse perspectives in the workplace—C-level recruitment from outside the industry is on the rise. A non-traditional hire with different perspectives can inject sorely needed energy and creativity into the mix, and prevent “group think”—one of the root causes of the 2008 financial crisis, according to the International Monetary Fund.

“The upside for an organization can be huge,” says Margaret Neale, a professor of organizational behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business who has studied the effect of diversity on companies. “When you increase the diversity of a group, you increase the probability that the group can have the necessary perspective to create the next big thing. People with different backgrounds ask different sets of questions. You ultimately get more information.”

A non-traditional hire with different perspectives can inject sorely needed energy and creativity into the mix, and prevent ‘group think’

Examples of Successful Cross-Industry C-Level Recruitment Strategy

Top management recruitment from outside your industry, especially at the highest levels, has been a popular way to accomplish thought diversity for a while. In 1983, John Sculley left Pepsi for Apple. As PepsiCo’s youngest-ever President, he’d had considerable success, and Apple had faith that his marketing prowess was just what they needed to sell personal computers.

In 1993, IBM brought in former Nabisco CEO Louis V. Gerstner Jr. as their new CEO. He knew nothing about technology, and though shares in IBM dropped considerably when his appointment was announced, he was a seasoned executive with a strong history of organizational leadership, and he was thus able to successfully deal with the internal problems affecting a company with a solid product.

In 2002, United Airlines recruited a ChevronTexaco and Dynegy executive to be their Chairman, CEO, and President. Though he had little experience outside oil and gas, they believed that someone from outside the industry could revitalize the struggling airline.

Beyond the CEO role

What’s changing about this long-established hiring strategy? Why is C-level recruitment from outside the industry gaining traction? 

Because it’s moving beyond the chief executive role.

As consultants, we’re seeing clients evolve their executive search strategy to consider that the best candidate for many C-suite, VP, and regional positions may not be in the most obvious places. Boards and hiring executives are finding that in senior executive hiring, the most important skills for someone on the front lines of management aren’t necessarily tied to knowledge of the company’s product or sector but require executive search expertise.

In leadership talent acquisition, cultural leadership and functional skills may often be more important than direct industry experience, depending on the role. And, in the C-suite hiring process, “an external hire with experience in different competitive landscapes and unburdened by internal history can often drive major changes more effectively,” according to the Harvard Business Review.

Our Cross-Industry Executive Recruitment Successes

It’s as much about chemistry as credentials.

John Lamar, Managing Director, The Alexander Group

Recently, The Alexander Group conducted a CFO search for a law firm where the successful candidate came not from another law firm, but from Playboy. Similarly, we identified and recruited the CTO for an Am Law 100 firm from a global marketing communications company. In both cases, the successful candidate came from a different industry but with a similarly sophisticated and complex operations environment.

“It’s as much about chemistry as credentials,” says Managing Director John Lamar. “There are times that an outside-the-box, outside-the-industry thinker may better serve the role.”

For example, a manufacturing client looking for a Regional Vice President of Human Resources isn’t nearly as concerned with the candidate’s experience in heavy industry as they are with his or her previous work history with companies known for their outstanding human resources practices. A law firm looking for a Global Operations Director would rather see candidates with strong experience managing multiple global offices in a corporate environment versus those with a direct competitor who may not have the international leadership background.

Leadership Skills that Span Industry Boundaries

We recently looked at the background and careers of Fortune 500 CEOs. We found that, while there is no cookie-cutter pedigree, there are some commonalities in career paths: The typical chief executive holds a general management position that allows her or him to demonstrate measurable success in directly driving top-line and/or bottom-line revenue or profits. In C-level executive recruitment from outside the industry, financial experience is important, but the largest share of Fortune 500 CEOs is selected from the positions of COO or President. These positions give executives a platform to prove their ability to set strategic vision, be effective leaders of people, and interact with the board and key stakeholders. These positions also typically weed out those who are unable to handle the pressure of managing a large organization.

Top- and bottom-line results, strategic vision, leadership of people, and ability to withstand pressure—none of these skills are industry-specific but rather span industries. Successful leaders know how to transfer and apply these core strengths to any new role, organization, or industry.

Benefits of C-Level Recruitment From Outside the Industry

Experienced and savvy leaders also know how to get up to speed quickly and approach a new role with an open mind. We recently interviewed executives who had been in their roles for less than a year for their approach to onboarding. “I spent my first few weeks meeting all of the leaders from the business, asking questions to understand the culture and the history, developing my opinions, and testing my thinking,” said the strategy officer for an Am Law 100 firm. “Because of this, I built credibility as someone who was looking to come in, understand, and ‘get it’—not someone looking to shake things up unnecessarily.”

The Chief Technology Officer for another law firm agrees: “There’s no shortcut for learning and adjusting to a new culture. I spent my first month getting to know people.”

Wharton Management Professor Matthew Bidwell found that external hires who get beyond the two-year milestone often get promoted more quickly (a positive indication). “So hire outsiders as successors in waiting,” recommends Ben Fanning, consultant and bestselling author of “The Quit Alternative“. “Give them time to learn the ropes before they are needed to step up.”

Hiring Executives for Diverse Perspectives

Obviously, hiring outsiders won’t work for all functions, and some companies or sectors haven’t been able to figure out just how to hire a non-traditional C-level executive yet. There are many challenges of C-suite recruitment from outside the industry. In particular, positions in life sciences, energy, and engineering require specific technical knowledge and skills, and the company could actually be hindered by someone without contextual knowledge and an understanding of the industry. 

Coming from outside our industry, he looks at what we do with a different set of eyes.

Moreover, you have to be comfortable with a certain level of risk. It can feel chancy to hire someone who isn’t from a similar environment and you have to know if your company can afford to take that chance. Ultimately, the hiring manager has to make the time commitment to help fill in the gaps for the outsider coming on board.

However, if you’re willing to have a little faith, this strategy can breathe fresh air into a team at every level of management and allow for the best possible candidates to be found by broadening the candidate pool.

As one of our clients said, “Our new VP of HR brought many best practices to us that our industry has not yet embraced. Coming from outside our industry, he looks at what we do with a different set of eyes. We realized it would be a risky move for both him and us, but we have been richly rewarded with a visionary executive who has had [a] significant impact.”

C-level Executive Recruitment from Outside the Industry Can Transform Your Leadership Team

Embracing C-level executive recruitment from outside the industry can be a bold move that revitalizes leadership and drives innovation. While this strategy isn’t without its challenges, the potential benefits—from diverse viewpoints to transformative change—make it a compelling option for many organizations. Ready to explore if an industry outsider could be right for your leadership team? 

Contact The Alexander Group today to learn more about how we can help you find the right executive talent for your company’s future.

Several years ago, we wrote about the importance of morning routines and how successful leaders-both today and from the past-start their day. Now let’s look at the other end of the spectrum: nighttime routines.

Why is it important? Generally speaking, success starts and ends with mental and physical health which is highly dependent upon getting enough sleep. It can be tempting to pour a glass of wine, turn on the TV, and pore over social media or clear your in-box right before bed, but the most successful people recognize that those final hours can be just as crucial as any other.

While everyone is different and has different routines, we find the following practices are common among successful leaders.

Make a to-do list

Clearing the mind for a good night sleep is critical for a lot of successful people,” Michael Kerr says. “Often they will take this time to write down a list of any unattended items to address the following day, so these thoughts don’t end up invading their head space during the night.”

For example, Kenneth Chenault, CEO of American Express, writes down three things he wants to accomplish the next day.

On Sundays, The Alexander Group’s Managing Director Jeff Early looks at his calendar and prepares for the upcoming week. “If any prep can be done Sunday evening, I try to get it done prior to Monday morning so I can hit the ground running.”

Disconnect from work

Studies have found that if you associate your bed with work, it’ll be harder to relax there, so it’s essential you reserve your bed for sleep and, er, other extracurricular activities only. Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author, says that “truly successful people do anything but work right before bed. They don’t obsessively check their email and they try not to dwell on work-related issues.”

Give yourself a buffer period of at least a half hour between the time you read your last email and the time you go to bed.

In fact, unplug completely

You shouldn’t just disconnect from work. You should unplug completely, including social media and phone games. Researchers agree that any kind of screen time before bed does more harm than good.

The blue light from your phone mimics the brightness of the sun, which tells your brain to stop producing melatonin, an essential hormone that regulates your circadian rhythm and tells your body when it’s time to wake and when it’s time to sleep. This could lead not only to poor sleep but also to vision problems, cancer, and depression.

If the research isn’t convincing enough, take it from Arianna Huffington, The Huffington Post’s co-founder, President, and Editor-in-chief. After collapsing from exhaustion, Huffington revamped her approach to sleep. As she details in her book, “Thrive,” she has banned iPads, Kindles, laptops, and any other electronics from the bedroom.

Exercise

While it’s a popular belief that exercise before bed can prevent sleep, the National Sleep Foundation actually found in a 2013 study that exercising at any time of the day, even at night, leads to better sleep. Numerous studies have also found that walking reduces stress and anxiety.

Joel Gascoigne, co-founder and CEO of Buffer, takes a 20-minute walk every evening before bed. “This is a wind-down period, and allows me to evaluate the day’s work, think about the greater challenges, gradually stop thinking about work, and reach a state of tiredness.”

John Lamar, Managing Director, The Alexander Group, says that he usually “hits the elliptical for 30 minutes-a great way to de-stress and wind down.”

Decompress

If exercise doesn’t sound appealing, find another way to unwind and decompress before bed, such as taking a warm bath, listening to calming music, or meditation. Dale Kurow, a New York-based executive coach, says meditation is a great way to relax your body and quiet your mind. Apps like Headspace, Calm, and The Mindfullness App offer guided meditations and reminders to incorporate meditation into your daily routine.

Plan out sleep

Much has been written about the dangers busy people face with chronic sleep deficits. Plan ahead for a good night’s sleep just as you would any other priority. Decide when you want to wake up, count back by the number of hours you need to sleep, and then plan to be in bed, ready to sleep, by that time. iPhone users: Take advantage of your Clock app’s “Bedtime” feature. It allows you to set a bedtime, wake up at the same time and stay consistent with your routine. There’s even an option to set a bedtime reminder.

Skip the wine

When researching her sleep manifesto, “Thrive,” Arianna Huffington consulted a number of sleep specialists for tips. One of her favorites is avoiding alcohol right before bedtime.

While alcohol can certainly help you fall asleep, the National Institute of Health finds that it robs you of quality sleep. Alcohol keeps people in the lighter stages of sleep from which they can be awakened easily and prevents them from falling into deeper, more restorative stages of sleep, the institute finds.

Read

One study by the University of Sussex found that just six minutes of reading a day is enough to reduce stress by 68 percent-“an excellent excuse to start curling up with a good book before you turn in for the evening,” points out Fast Company magazine. And you’d be in good company: Former US President Barack Obama and Microsoft founder Bill Gates are known to read for at least a half hour before bed.

This isn’t reserved just for business reading or inspirational reading. Many successful people find value in information from a variety of sources, believing it helps fuel greater creativity and passion in their lives.

Sarah Mitchell, a Director in our San Francisco office, agrees: “I almost always read for 30 minutes before bed, typically fiction or, if it’s nonfiction, something not related to business. If I’ve got a big day or I’m feeling the stress, I will spend part of my evening preparing for the next day and then, 30 minutes before lights out, I put down my phone, shut down the laptop, and relax my brain with a book. This helps me sleep better and gives my brain a needed timeout so I can wake up fresh in the morning.”

Reflect on the good things from the day

It’s easy to fall into the trap of replaying negative situations that you wish you had handled differently. Instead, take time just before bed to reflect on or write down three good things that happened during the day. Focus on the positive moments and celebrate the successes, even if they were few and far between.

Jennifer Hill, Startup Advisory and Venture Lawyer at Gunderson Dettmer LLP, says she takes “two minutes to stretch, align my posture and think of the three things that I am grateful for and proud of today. (Yes, I really do this.) It sends me off to sleep peacefully and with positive thoughts.”

Benjamin Franklin famously asked himself the same self-improvement question every night: “What good have I done today?”

Regardless of how the day went, successful people avoid that pessimistic spiral of negative self-talk, knowing that it will only create more stress. Taking a few moments to think about what went right over the course of the day can put you in a positive, grateful mood which, leads to better sleep, giving you the energy and clarity to face whatever the next day holds.

In 2019, I wrote about changes in the workplace during the past 20 years. Little did any of us know two years ago of the dramatic changes ahead of us in 2020. I wrote last November of our new normal of no business travel, remote work policies, and how the pandemic widened the gender inequality gap. Now that we are vaccinated (hopefully), my road warrior colleagues and I are gradually traveling and returning to in-person meetings with our clients. We are heeding the awkward cues of individual preferences for shaking hands, waving, fist bumps, masks, or no masks. Thankfully, the humor in the awkwardness is a nice ice breaker.

As John F. Kennedy said, “There is nothing more uncertain and changing than uncertainty and change.” The permanence of the following pandemic-related workplace changes remains uncertain.

Working remotely

As companies continue to bring employees back to the office, permanent workforce policies are taking shape in various formats: employees who will continue to work full-time from home, hybrid in-office and remote work arrangements, and back to the office full-time. Companies continue to grapple with policies that best support their business, culture, and employees.

A 2021 list of remote working statistic reports:

  • 4.3 million people in the U.S. currently work remotely
  • 16% of the world’s companies are 100% remote
  • 44% of companies do not permit remote work
  • 74% of workers say that having the option to work remotely would make them less likely to leave a company

TAG colleague Jean Lenzner recently wrote that many employees working remotely do not want to return to the office, and one-third would look for a new job if they were required to return to the office full-time. While employees will undoubtedly dig in their heels (er slippers) to continue to work from home, many executives are bringing employees back into the office. The Managing Partner of a large Midwest law firm required all of the firm’s attorneys and staff to return to the firm’s offices. He said that his firm’s collaborative, team-oriented culture was bruised by the pandemic and that he considered in-person interaction invaluable to the success and growth of the firm: “we walk the halls, pop in offices when we have thoughts and ideas; the spontaneity and collaboration are not the same when you have to send someone a calendar invite with a Zoom link to talk to them.”

Working nine to five is no longer the way to make a living

Standard office hours may become a thing of the past and, as a recent Robert Half survey reported, nearly 70 percent of professionals who transitioned to remote work because of the pandemic say they now work on the weekends, and 45 percent say they regularly work more hours during the week than they did before. I frequently receive emails from clients and colleagues at all hours who have changed their sleeping and waking hours – some hoot with the owls, and others are soaring with the eagles. I regularly find several emails in my inbox when I get up in the middle of the night and first thing in the morning. The convenience of working from home also makes working convenient at any time. Perhaps it’s a blurring of home and office time, and although I find it essential to be responsive, I try not to respond with an incoherent message while half asleep at three in the morning.

The death of the suit and birth of ‘workleisure.’

When I packed for my first business trip earlier this year, I had to dust off and shine a pair of dress shoes and make sure that my suits still fit – they did, albeit they were snug. At the client’s office, I was overdressed and noted that many in the office were in comfortable casual attire. I would have been better served to take note that popular ‘workleisure’ dress for Zoom meetings is also acceptable in-office attire for many companies. A recent Wall Street Journal article noted that more than two-thirds of American consumers plan to change their wardrobe from pre-pandemic styles as they return to the office to wear more comfortable clothes.

Video killed the radio star and is coming after business travel

As companies adapted to remote working, so did they to virtual meetings and conferences. A Deloitte survey reports that corporate travel is expected to reach 25 to 35 percent of 2019 levels this year but may increase to 65 to 80 percent next year. Although some believe that nothing beats in-person meetings, many companies are eager to reduce their travel expenses, and executives who previously traveled 80 to 100 percent of the time have adjusted to being home more than on the road. My partner John Lamar, who regularly traveled 300,000 miles a year pre-pandemic, is one of those people. He states, “One silver lining of the pandemic is that I realize I can maintain my client relationships by not being on the road four days a week plus I like being at home and the sense of normalcy it offers.”

Those of us in the executive search industry have mostly been strong advocates of in-person client meetings and candidate interviews. With more than a year of quarantine, we too have had to adapt and determine the best way to conduct virtual interviews while achieving the same results our clients expect.

Quite honestly, video meetings are not as effective as in-person meetings, and it is not as easy to form a long-term client relationship by video, but now that our industry has proven it can be done and our clients have a choice—and that is a good thing for everyone. Alex & Red and The Alexander Group will officially return to the office at the first of the year, though some of us are starting to work in the office on a part-time basis. Like many, I have missed seeing my colleagues, many of whom I have worked with for two decades, on a regular basis. I appreciate the routine, comradery, and sense of normalcy our offices offer.

Interviewing is a skill, and not an easy one to master. There’s something new to learn every time you sit down across a desk, share a cup of coffee or connect across an ocean via FaceTime or Skype for an interview.

In my 13 years in TV news, I have had the opportunity to interview thousands of people from all walks of life—politicians, celebrities, criminals, grieving families, heroic first responders—and no two interviews were the same. Even so, there are methods, models, techniques and tips that can be applied to bring out the best, or, in some cases, to (necessarily) discover the worst, in people.

Executive search involves interviewing a different set of people than TV news, of course; and the individuals we interview are generally happy to speak with us, seeing us as the gatekeepers to their next career move. But we still need that focus: bring out the best; weed out the worst.

Here are a few interview techniques I’ve perfected as a journalist:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask offbeat questions and catch your interviewee off guard.

Everyone comes to an interview with a script, rehearsed answers, and a determination to make the interview follow the direction that best suits them. Get them off script.

In my previous life, celebrities were the worst offenders. Having conducted hundreds of red-carpet interviews, every actor or director comes with a handful of sound bites that they’ve been given by their handlers. So instead of starting off with, “Tell me about your role” or “how difficult is it to transform into that kind of monster?” I would often ask something they weren’t expecting driven by the headlines of the day: “Is the #metoo movement changing Hollywood quickly enough?” or “Where do you stand on equal pay?”

In executive search, that translates to questions, such as “What has been the hardest time in your career?” or “What is a lesson you’ve learned in the past year?” I had one client who asked candidates how much sleep they got or the last book they had read.

I had a client who asked candidates how much sleep they got or the last book they had read.

By starting with something completely out of the blue you can shock your interviewee out of the script they have in their minds. Don’t be afraid to throw them off.

2. Be empathetic; realize that your subject is often under stress.

While some people need to be challenged, others need to be drawn out. As a journalist, I would invest more time with families who just lost someone to a terrible accident or crime, or families who’d lost everything in a wildfire or hurricane.

Some candidates also have great potential, but need more time to calm their nerves and reveal their best selves. As an interviewer, it is our job to accurately assess a candidate, even if that requires patience and some extra time.

3. Make it a conversation, not an interrogation.

Early in my news career, I covered the bust of a large marijuana-growing operation in a small town in Arkansas. We knew that the grower had been released on bail, and I wanted to see if we could get him to explain his side of the story. After knocking on dozens of doors in the neighborhood, we found our subject. We approached him conversationally and—to our utter surprise—he invited us to the back yard to show us where the police had been. It was quite the operation: The entire backyard was equipped with rows and rows of planters and hydroponic systems; the scent of marijuana was still in the air. I asked him what he had been growing, and he emphatically replied, “I thought they were tomato plants!” It made for some of the most entertaining TV I have ever produced.

I asked him what he had been growing, and he emphatically replied, “I thought they were tomato plants!”

Had I adopted the more aggressive approach, chasing this man into his home with a camera and a microphone, he would have slammed the door, and we never would have had that exchange (which later helped the police in their investigation).

In the interview process, whether it’s with an alleged illegal drug dealer or an executive, engaging your candidate in conversation and making them feel comfortable from the beginning is crucial. The more at ease your candidate is—even if they’re lying, as I believe my ‘tomato plant’ interviewee was—the more authentic the individual is going to be.

4. Short and to-the-Point.

Long-winded questions, with sub-clauses that meander this way and that, and pose one question while over-riding it with another slightly tangential point (think last week’s Congressional hearing with special counsel Robert Mueller), while trying to circle back to the original thought, leaves everyone confused and muddled. Just ask the question. One at a time.

5. Not everyone wants to tell the truth. We have to find it.

Have you ever met a politician who wanted to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Neither have I. As a TV reporter, I couldn’t call any of the countless politicians I interviewed—Republican or Democrat—a liar on-air. But it was my duty to push them as much as I could, to put them on the spot, to call them out in a polite and probing way. It’s a balance of rephrasing the question and, if the subject tries to divert attention, re-directing the focus back to the initial point (even saying outright ‘that’s not the question I asked’ if necessary).

We all know candidates interviewing for high-level positions sometimes shade the truth, pad a résumé, highlight their strengths while trying to bury their weaknesses, demur over gaps in their resumes, etc. Everyone is a politician, to some extent, in an interview, selling themselves above all else. It’s our job to probe; it’s our job to get to the true character behind the facade.

6. Trust your intuition.

All good reporters have a sixth sense that tells them when something is amiss in a story. Good recruiters are no different. If an answer does not ‘feel correct’, follow your instincts and probe a little more.

From time to time, we interview candidates who have had a short stint in a position. Did the candidate leave because it was an uneasy fit or a bad experience, or was the company in financial trouble?

I follow up with questions, such as ‘What would your manager say about you, given your short tenure?’

My colleague Jane Howze, Managing Director at The Alexander Group, says, “I usually have a sixth sense about whether the person was asked to leave, or whether he or she left on their own accord. I follow up with questions, such as ‘What would your manager say about you, given your short tenure?’”

Her advice? “Follow your gut.”

Many companies today have introduced behavioral interviewing processes where the interviewer asks specific questions that test how a candidate behaves in a certain situation. In our opinion, this process, while beneficial, can rob the interviewer of the opportunity to pop a surprise question (as in tip #1 above) or to rely on the intuition that steers questions in a more relevant way.

Instead, the next time you interview, think like a journalist, and get the full story.

Much has been written lately about emotional intelligence and the role it plays in a successful career. But what is emotional intelligence? I suppose I could take the position that the U.S. Supreme Court took with pornography: “I can’t define what [it] is…but I know it when I see it.”

Let me start by saying what emotional intelligence is NOT.

  • Emotional intelligence has nothing to do with your intellect or IQ. We all have seen many executives who are incredibly intelligent but don’t have a modicum of common sense. Recently, I interviewed one of the top software executives in the country. He arrived at the interview late with no apology and, after ordering a glass of wine at 3 p.m., continued to take call after call. And he really wanted the position for this start-up technology company.
  • Emotional intelligence is not friendliness or empathy. While solid interpersonal skills play a role in emotional intelligence, all recruiters have stories of candidates who overstep boundaries by being overly familiar and talkative. My colleague Bill recalls an executive who sends him birthday and Easter greetings every year despite the fact he met her once eight years ago. While Bill enjoys the shout out and it makes for a good story, he is not sure that the candidate has appropriately sized up their relationship or lack thereof.
  • Emotional intelligence has nothing to do with honesty and integrity. Actually, I believe that some of the best con artists, embezzlers, and self-promoters have a high degree of emotional intelligence, which makes them effective at their dubious profession.
  • Emotional intelligence is not equivalent to good judgment, though they overlap. Good judgment is synonymous with making solid business decisions and choices. While someone who has emotional intelligence often has good judgment, many make sound judgments from facts but miss the unspoken cues that someone with emotional intelligence gets.

There is substantial disagreement over what emotional intelligence is, how it is measured, and whether it can be taught. Emotional intelligence starts with reading the environment, listening to your audience, and assessing the appropriate response based on spoken and unspoken prompts. Here are five ways that it or the lack thereof has played out in the interview process.

  • You have a meeting scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. Evidence of poor emotional intelligence is arriving at 4:10 p.m. or taking 45 minutes to address the first question of “tell me a little about your firm or background.”
  • Your meeting is at a hotel restaurant at 10 a.m. Your host orders black coffee. You, on the other hand, notice there is a lavish breakfast buffet and excuse yourself before it closes, so you order a custom-made omelet and pile your plate with an assortment of pastries.
  • For your meeting with a top recruiter for a CMO position, you think the best way to show why you could work from Frankfurt rather than move to London is by bringing your newest squeeze to the interview. You fail to notice the look of horror on the recruiter’s face as your companion orders snacks for the table and monopolizes the conversation.
  • You are meeting the CEO of a company and, granted, it is a sunny day outside, but did you really have to don a red dress and heels when on your prior meetings you noticed that navy suits were the order of the day?
  • You meet with executives for a company for which you want to work or do work. The executives disagree among themselves about the position or project. While it would be easy to spout off a quick response and jump into the fray, the better tack is to pause, listen and ask more questions so that you are not jumping in on an internal political issue or have not misread the underlying communication that was taking place.

These are obviously blunders that require you to bury your face in your hands. But the news is not all bad. Many executives have highly developed emotional intelligence.

Hats, Horses and Mint Juleps Win the Day

Well, some have the Masters, and others have the Super Bowl but for me, the true bucket list item is the Kentucky Derby.

So, after many years watching the “greatest 2 minutes in the history of sports” on television, and happening to be a third-generation Kentucky boy myself, there I was this past Saturday, up close and in person at Churchill Downs for the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby.

What made it even more surreal, was that I was fortunate enough to be there with the Mayor of Louisville — the honorable, Greg Fischer — in his motorcade and on the red carpet, with the the world’s paparazzi in tow. It was an experience any attention-loving Leo would covet.

We arrived on Thursday to an airport abuzz with live ragtime music, pretty “ladies” dressed in clothes of a bygone era handing out bourbon balls, and enormous urns of long stemmed red roses that lined the walkways for yards. Louisville is not shy about their Derby weekend, the prices are jacked up beyond all recognition. “Thurby” –as they call it– is part of the show, so a brief, 5-minute cab ride can set you back $25.00, with a whiskey-throated, chuckling driver visiting from Ohio, taking your money with guiltless glee.

Swiftly, bourbon becomes the perfect solution to part with pain.

Kentucky folk love their bourbon and supply about 95% percent of the world. The problem is the best labels cannot leave the state. Rather than go to the Kentucky Oaks on Friday-the locals favorite day of racing– we opted to do a little bourbon tasting and found some extremely hard-to-find labels. Now, we had our final challenge…smuggling them home!

After a welcome gala at the Mayor’s building, a gorgeous turn of the century colonial, followed by the Vanity Fair party where we spotted Lindsey Vonn and Bob Baffert, it was time for the Saturday spectacle.

And, spectacle it truly was. A mostly crisp and sunny morning, around 72 degrees, with one hundred and sixty thousand people wearing everything from a double-breasted suit covered in Tito’s Vodka logos, to almost transparent dresses—all with hats to match. TV does not do justice to the famous Twin Spires and perfectly manicured grounds of Churchill Downs. It is an all-day affair. At 8 am the doors open, and the mint juleps start flowing in preparation for the races that start around ten am.

Now, if you have a chance to go, expect the lines to run around 90 minutes to get seated, but you needn’t catch the first race. Thousands of cars are parked on home owners’ front yards, where many of the residents prepare barbecue as an additional income generator to their parking services. Yes, the whole town participates in this Derby Day circus!

Now, luckily for us, we arrived by a police escorted motorcade, whisking by the traffic to the front door, or should I say red carpet, and were requisitely handed a mint julep. That same mint julep was magically full for the entire day. One of the perks of knowing the Mayor.

While everyone else was peering from the outside of the paddock, we were some of the few who walked through the horse’s paddock and into the winner’s circle. An unbelievable experience: the beauty and grace of the horses, the seriousness of the trainers and jockeys, the over hundred years of tradition, the array of colors and hundreds upon hundreds of glorious hats.

The tradition of the Derby really can be summed up in three words: horses, juleps and hats. At times between races, the main event was to roam around, people watch and snap hat shots instead of checking the odds for the next race. Enormous rainbow colored, plumed hats; over-sized floral hats; hats with brims so expansive there was no way you could find a face below; hats that resembled mini movie sets with horses and buildings and dollar bills.

The pride of the spectators is palpable, and the gracious southern manners are never overlooked. Our host family has sat in the same box for 40 years, a little outdoor area with six folding chairs where the family of about 20 ensure that they all have their julep ready to huddle in for the 6:34pm post.

We were fortunate in that we could watch the races from the box, or Turf Club, an indoor area with many screens, open bar, and eye candy galore. Not to mention the likes of Kate Upton, Megyn Kelly and Ted Cruz. Not found all together, of course. (I’m resisting comment on the luminaries.)

When it was time to bet on the big race, my phone started pinging like crazy. Friends from all over the country called and texted wanting to place bets. Exactas, trifectas, win place show. Lucky for me, I travel with my lucky girlfriend who with no homework seems to sniff winning horses by name. We had already banked $750.00 on a $20.00 bet on winning horse Camelot Kitten and were smugly watching the pros feign enthusiasm for our amateur accomplishments.

As the big race neared, people moved into the stands in throngs, the crowds roared, the classic “My Old Kentucky Home” was sung in unison, and with the ring of a bell they were off! The tough part for gamblers was that Nyquist, the favorite by a landslide, had little upside on the odds so we had no option but to bet on Exaggerator to win place and show. We did just fine. Exaggerator came in second. The best two minutes in sports had come to an end.

A beautiful buffet awaited us in a Louisville penthouse with all the trimmings: Smithfield ham and biscuits, mini hot browns – a real family favorite –and classic Derby pie. As we stared out onto the drizzly Louisville skyline, we raised a last glass of bourbon to the evening, toasting a day that neither Nyquist, nor I, will forget.

It’s time to raise the flag and celebrate our country’s independence. Although I write our annual Thanksgiving gratitude column, I also look forward to the Fourth of July. There is no holiday shopping frenzy, no chestnuts roasting on an open fire (seriously, we do need some new Christmas carols) or a mad rush to complete business travel. The Fourth of July has a casual, relaxed vibe. Think bare feet, shorts, burgers, beer and barbecue, warm weather evenings and fireworks. I have a lot of great Fourth of July memories, but will first yield the stage to my colleagues.

Bob Freeman
My favorite July 4th memory is from 1991. My brother was a Marine and was one of the first soldiers deployed to Kuwait for the First Gulf War. He was expected home in August. On the Fourth of July, we answered a knock on our door only to find my brother who was released early and had a friend pick him up at the airport and deliver him to our home in Lake Jackson, Texas. There were so many tears of happiness that day. It was both an emotional and symbolic moment.

Kyle Robinson

My daughter, Isobel, was born on July 4, 2015. The day before, my wife and I had spent the day walking around The Galleria trying to bring on labor. My wife, with her Ph.D. in US History, kept telling our yet-to-be-born child how cool it would be to share a birthday with the country. We decided to head to the hospital to get assessed. After a quick exam, the doctor determined it wouldn’t be long. Sure enough on July 4th at 3:03 am we had our baby girl! Later that evening, in our room on the 14th floor of the hospital, we could see fireworks shows from different areas of the city. Of course, it was in celebration of Independence Day, but I told Isobel it was to celebrate her arrival. We are excited to celebrate our little firecracker’s 2nd birthday, again with fireworks next Tuesday.

Jane Howze
My experience covered last July 4th weekend, and it mostly took place outside of the US. I am a huge concert fan. On a business trip to London last March, I learned that one of my idols, legendary singer/songwriter Carole King would be performing her landmark album “Tapestry” for the first time on July 3rd and that Don Henley would open for her. I quickly snagged front row tickets.

Don Henley gave one of his first performances since Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey died earlier in 2016. He thanked the audience for their cards, calls, and sympathy and talked about how difficult the year had been. With his voice breaking, he dedicated “Desperado” (the first song he and Frey co-wrote) to Glenn. You could hear a pin drop and also more than a few sniffles.

As the sun set and cast a heavenly glow on her baby grand piano, 75-year-old Carole King took the stage. As she started the first track of Tapestry “I Feel The Earth Move Under My Feet.” the cheers of the 90,000 fans did indeed make me feel like the earth was trembling. The audience sang so loudly, passionately that I thought I saw a tear roll down King’s face (and certainly down mine). King had not performed in London for 27 years. Who knows if she will ever perform again? I didn’t want this performance to end. It was an experience for the ages, which I wrote about for Culturemap Houston. The best part – after the concert itself — was that we flew back to the United States on the 4th of July. As we descended into Salt Lake City shortly after sundown, we were treated to dozens of firework displays. Another song came to mind: “and the fireworks bursting in air…..”

Bill Lepiesza
Ten years ago this summer, my wife Claire (originally from England) received her US citizenship. It was a long process, with multiple interviews, a mountain of paperwork, but all worth it when two weeks after raising her right hand and swearing allegiance to the USA, we celebrated her first Fourth of July as an American. We live in San Diego, a Navy town at its core, and the Fourth here is a major patriotic event, replete with marching bands, parades, anthems, flags, and – of course – fireworks lighting up the city as far as the eye can see. While I, and many of my friends and colleagues, have had the good fortune to have been born in this country, those that undertake the process to become a naturalized citizen are even more passionate about the opportunities and values that we hold dear as a nation. I will never forget watching the celebration of our country’s birth through the eyes of a new citizen.

My turn: Uncle Sam speaks and the video that continues to play

I’m not sure I can top those experiences, but I do remember The Alexander Group’s Fourth of July video in 2015. We have always been ahead of the curve – we created holiday videocards before they were a dime a dozen and made donations to charities long before it was de rigeur. Frankly, the genre has gotten too crowded with overly commercial, sappy and well, boring holiday cards. We decided it was time for a change.

Why not focus on our country’s birthday to show our creativity and sense of humor with a video? We hired leading digital media agency, Jaded Palate Productions, who came up with costumes, an old VW bus, and a plan. It was and is (as you will see) a great video that allowed us to take a break from work and be film stars for a day. And for me, a Leo, what could be better than playing Uncle Sam?

However, the best-laid plans started to go wrong when the technology platform sending the video card failed. And I mean failed. Some of our clients got the video four of five times-daily for more than a week. Other clients did not get the video at all. We got responses ranging from “I loved the video on Monday, thought it was great on Tuesday but enough already” to emails from our CIO placements offering to come fix our system.

We compounded the issue by trying to send out individual emails with the video to those who did not get the video, but that resulted in the video being sent to everyone again. One client said it was the best example of Groundhog Day he had ever seen. One email response said only “please….stop.” Another UK client got the card ten times, and I am proud to say they are still a client. I saved all the questioning, frustrated and comical responses which make me hang my head in embarrassment as I reread them. They would, by themselves, make a good video.

But until next year, everyone have a happy Fourth of July, and if you don’t let me know what you think of my Uncle Sam costume, the video will keep coming.

Over the course of our firm’s 35-year history, we have conducted nearly 800 operational, financial and administrative leadership searches for law firms—large and small, regional and global. During this time, law firms’ top business leadership position has become increasingly more strategic and global.

The Chief Operating Officer (or Executive Director, as the firm may title its top business leader) is responsible for managing the business operations of the firm. Interestingly, we have recruited a Chief Operating Officer for the same client three times in the past three decades. While the position description hasn’t changed significantly, the position requirements have changed dramatically.

With that backdrop, I thought it would be interesting to examine the experience and background of the COOs and Executive Directors of Am Law 100 firms. The results of our inquiry were mostly predictable, with a few surprises thrown in.

Does every law firm have a COO or ED?

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the number of Am Law 100 firms that do not have a Chief Operating Officer or Executive Director. Of the 100 top-grossing law firms, 87 have a COO or Executive Director (this is including current vacancies), with the trend decidedly toward calling the position Chief Operating Officer. Conversely, 13 firms do not have a COO/ED position. The largest firms currently not having the title (if not the role) are global giants Kirkland & Ellis (2,300+ lawyers) and Jones Day (2,500+ lawyers), which have long-time, highly respected veterans Brigitte Wooster and Bonnie Shute, respectively, as firmwide Chief Administrative Officers.

Long tenures are common

Of those in the COO or Executive Director role, 49 have been in their role for at least ten years and 35 have been in their role or at their firm for more than 15 years. Chuck Woodhouse at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LeeAnn Black at Latham & Watkins, and Mark Langdon at Ballard Spahr win the prize for the longest tenure at 30+ years, though like many in the top role, all three joined their firm in financial roles. Of the Am Law 20, eight COOs and Executive Directors have been in their role or at their firm longer than 15 years. And let’s face it, no one will probably reach Earle Yaffa’s of Skadden Arps tenure. He joined the firm nearly 40 years ago and is retiring as a senior advisor at year end.

But there is turnover

Currently there are five active COO/Executive Director searches of Am Law 100 firms. Usually vacancies occur when long-standing COO/Executive Directors retire, while occasionally a COO/ED moves to a competitor or out of the industry.

The biggest surprise? Attorneys in the position

Almost one-fourth of all Chief Operating Officers or Executive Directors have law degrees. They fall into two categories: One group is comprised of partners in their firm who have been moved to an administrative leadership role. Others have law degrees, but have never practiced at their current firm.

What is the background of today’s COO?

A large number of Am Law 100 executive leaders hail from accounting or consulting firms. Most typically join law firms in a financial role and are promoted into the COO/ED role. There are at least nine COO/Executive Directors from Bain, Boston Consulting Group and McKinsey. Some were in financial/administrative management but others came from the consulting–specifically the strategy consulting practice of their firms.

There are interesting exceptions to the consulting and public accounting firm backgrounds that we see so often. Barnes & Thornburg’s Steven Merkel was formerly Chief of Operations at United States Military Academy at West Point and Mike Caplan at Goodwin Proctor successfully ran legal departments at Goldman Sachs and Marsh & McLennan. In keeping with its Bay Area roots, ten years ago, Morrison & Forrester tapped Pat Cavaney—who ran business operations at HP—for their COO role. At the time, it was seen as an innovative, out-of-the-box hire, but success and a broadening view of the role has changed that.

Future trends

It is an exciting time to be in law firm management. Global expansion, increasing complexity and, of course, compensation are attracting many non-law firm executives to the industry. At one time, law firms were somewhat reluctant to recruit from outside the legal profession, but no more. The success of those who have made the transition—coupled with the recognition that strategy, leadership and administrative talent are transferrable skills—will continue to broaden the talent pool for this role.

Three professionals collaborate in a law firm office, focusing on a computer screen, symbolizing teamwork and the role of a law firm CMO.

The role of the law firm CMO has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades. Once a position focused on basic promotional activities, it has evolved into a strategic leadership role driving firm growth, client engagement, and innovation. Today’s law firm CMOs are at the forefront of integrating technology, data analytics, and law firm internet marketing strategies to help firms stay competitive in an ever-changing legal landscape.

Law Firm Marketing Officers: Then and Now

In 2016, law firms were navigating a significant period of change, becoming increasingly complex global organizations. They grew through internal expansion and acquisitions, mirroring trends in broader American business. Clients had also evolved; they could no longer be counted on to remain with a law firm for generations. Legal industry marketing, once considered undignified and restricted by professional conduct rules, had already become a critical function—a necessity for firms aiming to survive in a competitive landscape.

Fast forward to 2024, and these dynamics have only accelerated. The competition for corporate clients remains fierce, underpinned by advanced marketing technologies like predictive analytics, AI-driven tools, and digital-first strategies. Firms have shifted from relying on traditional approaches to marketing for law firm success to adopting multi-channel law firm marketing strategies. 

These strategies align with the latest chief marketing officer trends, leveraging technology to deliver personalized client experiences at scale. This transformation is reflected in the evolving role of law firm CMOs. One retired Am Law 100 CMO recalled joining his firm in 1990 when the partners were just beginning to ask what the “World Wide Web” was and whether it had any relevance to their work. Back then, the role was primarily administrative, focused on tasks like creating brochures, operating collating machines, and even preparing seating charts for events. The CMO described how these responsibilities, though necessary, offered little in terms of strategic impact.

Today, that world feels like a distant memory. The responsibilities of CMOs in 2024 have evolved beyond recognition. They are now expected to lead data-driven decision-making, integrate advanced technologies, and play a direct role in shaping firm-wide business strategies. What was once an administrative function has become a cornerstone of law firm competitiveness in the modern era, with CMOs positioned as strategic leaders at the heart of client engagement and innovation.

The Strategic Role of Business Development in Law Firm Marketing in 2024

The role of the law firm CMO has evolved dramatically, becoming increasingly vital as firms navigate a fast-paced, globalized market. In 2024, the CMO is not only a strategic partner in defining and communicating the firm’s brand but also a key driver of innovation, client experience, and firm-wide growth. These leaders oversee complex, data-driven marketing strategies while ensuring alignment with business development goals. CMOs are tasked with recruiting, retaining, and developing cohesive, high-performing teams, often distributed across multiple locations and time zones.

Modern law firm CMOs are also expected to play a direct role in securing and expanding client relationships. Using advanced tools like client relationship management (CRM) platforms, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence, they deliver personalized, data-informed approaches that build trust and deepen client engagement. This shift reflects the industry’s demand for CMOs who can translate data insights into actionable strategies, advancing business development in law firms to drive outcomes.

Additionally, the career trajectory for law firm CMOs has expanded. While some still move into COO or Executive Director roles, many now transition into positions like Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Client Experience Officer, or even CEO roles within related industries. These career paths highlight the growing influence and versatility of CMOs as strategic leaders in law firms and beyond.

Law Firm CMO Compensation in 2024

As the role of the law firm CMO has expanded into a cornerstone of strategic leadership, compensation trends reflect this growing importance. In 2024, CMOs in law firms command competitive salaries that rival those of their counterparts in other professional services industries. On average, law firm CMO salaries range from $250,000 to $500,000 annually, with additional bonuses and incentives often tied to firm performance, business development milestones, or client retention metrics.

Factors influencing compensation include the size of the firm, geographic location, and the complexity of the CMO’s responsibilities. For example, CMOs involved in global law firm marketing with extensive business development functions or technology-driven strategies tend to be on the higher end of the salary spectrum. Additionally, firms increasingly offer comprehensive benefits packages, including equity options, profit-sharing opportunities, and robust professional development programs, to attract and retain top marketing talent.

Beyond base salaries, CMOs often receive additional compensation in the form of signing bonuses, long-term incentive plans, and performance-based bonuses, which can significantly increase their overall earnings. This reflects the critical role CMOs play in driving firm growth and adapting to an ever-changing legal landscape.

As firms continue to prioritize innovation and client engagement, law firm CMO compensation is expected to remain competitive, ensuring that the role attracts dynamic, forward-thinking leaders capable of meeting the demands of the modern legal industry.

Law Firm Marketing and Business Development Continues to Evolve

The role of law firm marketing leaders has continued to evolve, necessitating a broader and more sophisticated skill set. Firms, from global legal law firms to those focusing on small law firm marketing, are increasingly recruiting professionals from diverse industries, including technology, consulting, and financial services, to infuse innovative strategies and perspectives. This trend reflects a commitment to adopting best practices from sectors that have long embraced data-driven marketing and client engagement.

Historically, law firms began this diversification by hiring professionals from public accounting and consulting firms, which had established global brands ahead of the legal industry. Some marketing leaders transitioned from legal practice, seeking roles that better aligned with their talents. Notably, in the early 1990s, Howrey & Simon appointed Mary K Young, a consumer products marketing manager, to lead its global marketing efforts, signaling a shift towards valuing diverse marketing expertise.

By 2016, The Alexander Group’s research indicated that approximately 25% of Am Law 100 firms had hired CMOs from outside the legal industry. This trend has accelerated, with recent external hires including executives from leading firms in various sectors. The expansion of CMO responsibilities to encompass business development is evident in titles such as Chief Business Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief Client Services Officer. Among the Am Law 100 firms that have appointed new CMOs in the past three years, a significant number have incorporated “business development” into the title, underscoring the integrated approach to marketing and client relationship management.

This progression highlights the legal industry’s recognition of the need for marketing leadership in law firms. It emphasizes crafting comprehensive law firm marketing plans capable of driving growth and innovation in a competitive landscape.

The Evolution of Law Firm Marketing Leadership: Trends from 2016 to 2024

In 2016, law firm marketing functions were undergoing rapid evolution, with several notable trends beginning to shape the industry. One significant development at the time was the integration of business development professionals into global practice groups. These professionals worked closely with practice management teams to create tailored strategies that aligned with both client needs and market conditions. Some firms even began consolidating oversight of business development and practice management functions under a single leader, offering career-broadening opportunities for professionals in both fields.

Fast forward to 2024, and these trends have matured and expanded. Today, business development is no longer just embedded in practice groups; it is deeply integrated into firm-wide operations. CMOs and their teams are leveraging cutting-edge tools like artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and client journey mapping to create data-driven strategies that address market shifts in real-time. The roles of marketing, business development, and practice management have blurred, with some firms appointing Chief Growth Officers or Chief Strategy Officers to oversee these interconnected functions.

Additionally, the rise of digital transformation has redefined the skills required of law firm marketing leaders. In 2024, future-ready CMOs must be adept in areas like digital marketing, CRM system optimization, and global client experience management. Firms are also expanding their functions for marketing a law firm to include specialists in data science, content strategy, and even ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) communications, reflecting the broader trends influencing the legal industry’s direction.

As the legal market grows increasingly competitive and globalized, the role of law firm marketing executives will continue to evolve. The next wave of innovation is likely to include even greater reliance on automation, advanced personalization, and AI-powered insights, ensuring that marketing leaders remain central to driving firm growth and client satisfaction.

The Evolving Impact of the Law Firm Chief Marketing Officer

The role of the law firm CMO has transformed into a cornerstone of strategic leadership, driving growth, innovation, and client engagement in an increasingly complex and competitive legal industry. From leveraging advanced technologies and data analytics to integrating business development into firm-wide strategies, CMOs are shaping the future of law firm success. As the demands of the role continue to evolve, law firms are seeking dynamic leaders capable of navigating global challenges while delivering exceptional value to clients.

To learn more about finding or becoming a transformative law firm CMO, contact The Alexander Group today. Our expertise in executive search can help you connect with leaders who will drive your firm’s success.

It wasn’t that long ago when we were contemplating turkey and pumpkin pie in terms of social distance and vaccination status. As we hurtle toward the holiday season, there’s renewed hope—even in uncertain times.

I find there’s a universal truth that everything, including the holidays, is more meaningful when spent with people who add joy and laughter to the everyday, in ways large and small.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to slow down and take stock, so I’ve asked my colleagues for their thoughts on Thanksgiving/holiday season. They offer delicious sentiments and bits of wisdom (especially for those traveling) so take a moment and read what has become my favorite blog of the year.

Lindsay Ames, Research Team

Q: Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it’s also about the food. What’s a beloved family recipe you make every year?

A: This salad is sweet and tart and really hits the spot balancing the sometimes salty nature of the rest of the Thanksgiving/Christmas/Holiday feast sides.

My Favorite Cranberry Salad (from my husband’s great-grandmother)

  • 1 small package of cherry or strawberry Jell-O
  • 8 ounces of fresh cranberries
  • 8 ounces of crushed walnuts
  • ½-1 cup of sugar or Splenda
  • 1 whole orange

Put 8 ounces of the cranberries and the orange, cut into pieces (rind and all) into a food processor and chop to a coarse consistency. Mix chopped cranberries, orange and walnuts with the sugar or Splenda and put into the fridge. Separately, prepare the Jell-O according to package directions. When the Jell-O is set, mix with the cranberry mixture.

We always try to buy two packages of the fresh Ocean Spray cranberries…they come in a 12 ounce package. Depending on how many guests we are planning on for the holidays I might make 1.5x the recipe. It is sometimes challenging to find the cranberries after Thanksgiving and we like to have this on Christmas too (the fresh cranberries freeze well).

Amanda Brady, Managing Director and COO, The Alexander Group

Q: Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it’s also about the food. What’s a beloved family recipe you make every year?

A: Mother’s Cranberry Salad–shredded fresh cranberries, apples, and celery, tossed with freshly squeezed orange juice and chopped walnuts. A perfectly fresh and tart side to other less umami contributions to the dinner table.

Q: What’s one thing you’re thankful for now that you wouldn’t have been pre-Covid?

A: Thankful that Covid caused us to NOT travel for Thanksgiving and instead spend time with new friends that will undoubtedly be lifelong friends.

Abby Buchold, Research Associate, The Alexander Group

Q: Thanksgiving is synonymous with travel. Tell us your best holiday travel tips, horror story or a time when someone made your holiday travel better.

A: We pretty much stopped traveling for the holidays a few years ago and haven’t gone back to it since COVID. Though if we were to start heading out for holidays again, I’d use the same strategy as I did in the past: if you must fly, fly on Thanksgiving Day! Most people have already reached their destinations by then, so the airport may be less busy, and the atmosphere may even feel festive. Once while on a layover I saw that someone had made a Thanksgiving dinner for the gate agents and flight crews. They were enjoying holiday food and were very cheerful even while working on the holiday.

Shana DeLeon, Senior Associate, The Alexander Group

Q: What’s one thing you’re thankful for now that you wouldn’t have been pre-Covid?

A: Companies are finally using technology to make things more efficient. Most importantly, grocery pickup and delivery services. Why didn’t this exist when I had my first child?

Q: Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it’s also about the food. What’s a beloved family recipe you make every year?

A: My parents were born in Jamaica, so growing up my Thanksgiving meals were a fusion of American and Jamaican cuisine. I am and have been obsessed with curry. Our dinners always had at least two curried items (shrimp, chicken, pork) and were usually paired with rice and peas (not to be confused with rice and beans).

Mike Doering, Associate

Q: What’s one thing you’re thankful for now that you wouldn’t have been pre-Covid?

A: This may make me a traitor to my millennial generation, but I found myself truly thankful for the beautiful simplicity and directness of speaking to someone over the phone that I did not have before Covid.

Q: Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it’s also about the food. What’s a beloved family recipe you make every year?

A: All the pies!

Beth Ehrgott, Managing Director, The Alexander Group

Q: Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it’s also about the food. What’s a beloved family recipe you make every year?

A: I wish I had the recipes for my mom’s homemade cranberry/orange relish and pumpkin pie with fresh rum whipped cream! She made everything from scratch with love and used a manual hand grinder to grind the fresh cranberries and oranges with either pecans or walnuts, sugar, and I believe a bit of fresh mint leaves. Family and friends raved over both and my mom always made an entire extra batch of her special relish to jar and give as gifts. As a kid, I just wasn’t interested in paying attention when my mom was cooking and baking. I did help grind the relish but never paid attention to the prep, yet always managed to stay around to whip the cream and lick the beaters.

After college, I learned to cook and enjoyed hosting multi-course dinner parties… before kids! I am most thankful for and cherish family time (which includes extended family and friends who are like family) and have so many wonderful holiday memories as a child and now as a mom, but certainly wish I cared more earlier and paid attention to so many missed opportunities.

Beth Ehrgott and Family
Beth Ehrgott and her family celebrated Thanksgiving in Peru, traveling to the top of Machupicchu.

Bob Freeman, Senior Executive Assistant, The Alexander Group

Q: What’s one thing you’re thankful for now that you wouldn’t have been pre-Covid?

A: At the start of the pandemic, I found myself very happy that all of my colleagues were able to make a rather seamless transition from working in the office to working at home. We just had to. Even though it may not have come easy for some, dismissed were the notions that we simply could not function effectively at home. I felt safe with this concept because I’ve had great success working remotely since 2013. My productivity did not only survive—it thrived. At the start of the pandemic, I was able to express that same confidence to others, and I’m sure a few of my colleagues who have had the same success emboldened others. Now, in a hybrid environment, many now understand that the discipline with which we complete our tasks comes easy because we all know the beneficiary is really the ability to focus on the work—no matter where we are. I’m very thankful for this proven fact.

Q: Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it’s also about the food. What’s a beloved family recipe you make every year?

A: It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without my mom’s English pea salad. Okay, this is probably mostly Southern. I always asked her, “You’re making the pea salad, right?” There’s just something about the finely cubed cheese, onions, and boiled eggs. The right amount of those and other ingredients—and the right amount of stirring—okay, and the right amount of love. That’s what’s missing, but the other ingredients remind me of it.

Jane Howze, Managing Director, The Alexander Group

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. Not only am I celebrating Thanksgiving but my wedding anniversary which occurs on Thanksgiving day or two or three days after. This year will be our 42nd anniversary. We went to Hawaii on our honeymoon and return each Thanksgiving. Just us. Some years we are grateful that we have recovered from health challenges. Some years we celebrate our respective career successes. Every year we feel gratitude for the wonderful family, colleagues and friends that make our lives sparkle. And of course, there is love and gratitude for each other which grows every year and Thanksgiving gives us our own day to celebrate that love.

Jane Howze, John Mann
Jane Howze and John Mann celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in Hawaii.
Jane Howze and John Mann will celebrate their 42 wedding anniversary in Hawaii this Thanksgiving.

Bill Lepiesza, Director, The Alexander Group

Q: Thanksgiving is synonymous with travel. Tell us your best holiday travel tips, horror story or a time when someone made your holiday travel better.

A: I don’t know many people who enjoy the hassles of traveling during the holiday rush, and pre-COVID I certainly didn’t. Though with my wife’s extended family in the UK, and mine in Massachusetts, it was usually a necessity. And while I wouldn’t say I love the idea of a cross-country flight with thousands of other Thanksgiving travelers, I am definitely thankful that we are all able to get together in person again for the holidays. And extra thankful that my daughter is now old enough not to melt down for the entire flight completely.

John Mann, Managing Director

Q: What’s one thing you’re thankful for now that you wouldn’t have been pre-Covid?

A: I missed dining out when the restaurants closed during the pandemic. I enjoy cooking and decided to try my hand with dishes that I probably would not have cooked if my favorite restaurants were open: Gyoza, Gochujang Chicken, Fried Egg Banh Mi’s, Chicken Tchoupitoulas, smoked briskets, to name a few. I’m thankful that I learned so much about cooking and the ingredients that are in some of my favorite dishes but I had never heard of nor had the pleasure of cooking (ie: fish sauce!).

John Mann Cooking
Alex & Red Managing Director John Mann explored his passion for cooking during Covid–but is thankful for the opportunity to dine out again.



Sarah Mitchell, Director, The Alexander Group


Q: Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it’s also about the food. What’s a beloved family recipe you make every year?

A: My very missed and very British father, who passed away in 2018, used Thanksgiving as a test run for the Christmas meal. He had three daughters, two of them vegetarian, and he devised the most delicious vegetarian stuffing and gravy. His secret ingredient was Marmite, the British condiment that looks and tastes like a salty oil spill to most Americans. We love it and try to recreate it when we get together at the holidays.

Q: Thanksgiving is synonymous with travel. Tell us your best holiday travel tips, horror story or a time when someone made your holiday travel better.

A: This isn’t some well-kept secret, but I do prefer to travel on the day of the holiday instead of in the days just before. My family doesn’t tend to be too precious about what specific day we celebrate, and there is something festive and peaceful about taking flight on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day.

Q: What’s one thing you’re thankful for now that you wouldn’t have been pre-Covid?

A: This is niche, but I’m so thankful to be back on stage in a production of CLUE, which closes the weekend before Thanksgiving. It’s my first full production since March 2020, and I never imagined then that I would be away from the theatre for so long. With rigorous Covid testing and precautions, no one in the cast or crew of at least 50 people working closely together every day have gotten sick.

Sarah Mitchell and the Cast of Clue
The Alexander Group’s Sarah Mitchell is thankful to be back on stage in the cast of Clue.

Anthony Ott, Associate, The Alexander Group

Q: What’s one thing you’re thankful for now that you wouldn’t have been pre-Covid?

A: I’ve made self-care more of a priority. I take time to be alone and thankful for what I am blessed with in my life. I’ve become more intentional in making long and short-term goals and find when I embrace stillness I can prepare for the day ahead. When my daily and weekly goals are defined, I am ready for whatever challenges may come. Doing these things fosters a more productive environment for me.

Kyle Robinson, Head of Research, The Alexander Group

Q: Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it’s also about the food. What’s a beloved family recipe you make every year?

Here is a recipe I use every year for Corn Pudding. It’s amazing.

  • Pre-heat oven to 350
  • 4 (15 ½ oz) cans whole kernel corn – drain 1 can of corn & put in a blender
  • Drain the other 3 cans of corn & set aside
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar (I always use Splenda)
  • 6 tablespoons butter – melted
  • 2 tablespoons cornmeal
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Add the above ingredients starting with the flour to the blender – blend until smooth.

Put the 3 cans of drained corn in a greased casserole dish (use a shallower dish 2 quart – it’s hard to get the middle baked through in a deep dish). Pour the blender contents over the corn in the dish & mix . Bake for 35 minutes until set (sometimes I have to stir the dish about 25 mins into baking to make sure the middle sets up).

Kyle's Corn Pudding
It’s not Thanksgiving without Kyle Robinson’s Corn Pudding.

Lyndsey Parker Rosecrans, Associate

Q: Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it’s also about the food. What’s a beloved family recipe you make every year?

A: Our family gave up the traditional Thanksgiving fixins’ long ago. Thanksgiving – and honestly any other holiday, family birthday, or celebration – calls for Hungarian Dumplings and “Cardiff Crack.” My mother and her side of the family are all full Hungarian, and we make huge batches of dumplings and broth any chance we get. Made from scratch stock, flavored with a copious amount of sour cream and paprika, yields the perfect jacuzzi for our simple dumplings, created with a spaetzle-maker. The “traditional” way to make the dumplings is to coat the back of a plate with the dough and aggressively chop off the bit-size pieces with a spoon. It’s why we have such strong arms. We have succumbed to the culinary advancement of a spaetzle-maker.

Now, you’re probably wondering why we eat crack. You might also be wondering if it’s why I’m a little quirky and have so much energy. The crack, “Cardiff Crack” to be exact, is a burgundy pepper marinated and infused tri-tip sold in a small local grocery store in Cardiff-By-The-Sea in north county coastal San Diego. So addicting that is has been lovingly dubbed “Cardiff Crack.” Not by our family, that’s what it’s actually called.

The next steps are to try veganize the dumplings, although I think my Hungarian grandmother will likely come back to haunt me for that.

Heather Staible, Marketing Manager, The Alexander Group

Q: Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it’s also about the food. What’s a beloved family recipe you make every year?

A: There’s nothing that whips me back to childhood quicker than the scent of turkey roasting in the oven and the sound of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on the television. It’s a core memory I looked forward to creating for my own kids, and the first year it was MY turn to roast the turkey it was also my mantra. There was nothing less appealing than reaching into the turkey carcass for that bag of giblets and other assorted parts, but once that maternal instinct kicked in, I conquered my extreme distaste for the less appealing part of the process. Fast forward a decade and it turns out I have acquired a lengthy list of allergies, including one to turkey, so for me, Thanksgiving is all about the sides.

As a person who prefers savory over sweet, I take exception for sweet potato mash, the queen of my Thanksgiving table. Inherently healthy, sweet potatoes (not yams) go glam thanks to the addition of real butter, a splash of half-and-half, vegetable broth (added to the InstaPot when steaming and after for a little liquid) brown sugar, allspice, a dash of cinnamon, marshmallows and candied bacon. Most of the time I eat vegetarian, but crunchy, maple-and-pepper-coated bacon atop a puffy bed of gooey marshmallows, mixed with whipped sweet potatoes is a joy akin to brisket burnt ends—another squarely nonvegetarian indulgence.

I come from a long line of people who cook with “love” i.e., we measure very little, eyeball everything and there are never any leftovers when the meal is done, so there’s no real recipe to follow. But remember, it’s Thanksgiving and more is more, so lean into the bacon and the butter, try to keep up with the Rockettes when they do their amazing kick line in the parade (what? Not everyone does that in their pajamas Thanksgiving morning?) and take a moment to savor all the sweet memories you can make with family and friends this holiday.

Jon Verlander, Managing Director

Q: What’s one thing you’re thankful for now that you wouldn’t have been pre-Covid?

A: Covid vaccinations.

Q: Thanksgiving is synonymous with travel. Tell us your best holiday travel tips, horror story or a time when someone made your holiday travel better.

My top travel tip is to avoid traveling with children, especially your own. Horror story: landing at London City Airport in the winter when it took three attempts for the plane to land, including one attempt when the wheels touched down and then we took off again. The airport is built in the docklands area of the River Thames, and the runways are somewhat short and basically end in the water. There was also the occasion when I almost drove off a mountain road in the Italian Alps in a snowstorm (saved from a very long drop by driving into a large snowdrift), but best not to recount that one.

Q: Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it’s also about the food. What’s a beloved family recipe you make every year?

A: Thanksgiving has introduced me to deep frying, for which I will be eternally grateful. This obviously started with turkey, but I have since perfected fish and chips, Scotch Eggs, onion bhajis, and my personal favorite deep-fried crème eggs.

Jon Verlander Deep Frying a Turkey
Is there anything more Texan than deep-frying a turkey poolside? Alex & Red Managing Director Jon Verlander fully embraces the Thanksgiving tradition.