Managing Director
Jane S. Howze, J.D.
Jane Howze, a founder and one of the principals of The Alexander Group, has more than 30 years of experience in executive search. She has successfully recruited executives worldwide in every industry and for every leadership position. Ms. Howze leads The Alexander Group’s board searches and diversity practice, and our clients look to her as a valued, pragmatic business advisor. She is a certified Personalysis trainer, sharing her expertise in this innovative assessment tool to help clients build stronger teams. Ms. Howze is also a regular columnist for Paper City and the author of “Best Practices for Executive Search Firms” for the “Inside the Minds” book series, and she is frequently quoted in major national publications.
Prior to founding The Alexander Group, Ms. Howze recruited for Korn Ferry. She began her career as a commercial loan officer for a leading Texas bank, practiced business law with a Houston law firm, and served as Associate General Counsel for a California-based, multi-national financial institution. She is a member of the State Bars of California and Texas.
“We never quit. If a search can be done, we can do it. Even if a search can’t be done, we will figure out a way to do it.”
Education
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University of Houston
Juris Doctor
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Rhodes College
Bachelor of Arts, Economics
Industry Experience
Not-for-profit
Energy
Manufacturing
Legal and Professional Services
Life Sciences and Healthcare
Professional Services
What do you think differentiates The Alexander Group from other executive search firms?
We are client-focused more than we are bottom-line focused. We want to build long-term relationships with our clients, and our 35 years in business reflect that we are meeting that goal.
What’s the highest compliment a client can give you?
“You have saved our organization.” “How do we decide between two outstanding candidates?” “You are more than a recruiter—you are an important part of our team.”
What do you think is the most difficult part of executive search, and how do you respond to it?
In starting a search, you don’t know if you will have to make 30 calls or 300 calls to identify the perfect candidate. By the time companies call us, they are in a hurry. We must be strategic and innovative while being nimble and moving with alacrity.
What do you love about your work?
I love the variety of my practice, including learning about new industries, new clients and the management teams that make our clients special. I also like the travel, which is good because I flew 225,000 miles last year.
Recent Articles
Six Things To Consider When Contemplating a Board Seat
One of the most frequently asked questions we get is “How do I get on a corporate board if I’m not already on a board?” The hardest board will be your first board. Here is what you need to know. 1) The Process Is Different than Applying for a Full Time Position A board seat
Is an Industry Outsider Right for your Organization?
Looking Outside the Box for Your Inner Circle “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. But considering the competitiveness of the executive talent market, driven by the lowest unemployment rate since 1969—along with increasing awareness of the need for
Hello, I’m the Internal Candidate…Remember Me?
A few years ago, we received an email from an internal candidate we’d interviewed for a client: “John, you and I met over a year ago during the course of my firm’s Chief Financial Officer search, where I was the internal candidate. While I was not chosen for the position, you communicated often during the
THE MOST ASKED QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Questions, we get questions. “What should I do?” “Who should our company hire?” “How should our company structure this position?” The most important question of the week is not any of the above. Not surprisingly the question is “How can I help my son or daughter who is a recent college graduate get a job?”