John: A Visionary Leader Joining Our Team at Spirit Consulting
We are thrilled to welcome John, a seasoned professional with a remarkable track record, to our Spirit Consulting family. John’s journey extends far beyond the confines of boardrooms and spreadsheets. His commitment to humanitarian causes, faith-centered initiatives, and community service sets him apart as a multifaceted leader. As we embrace the next era of C-suite roles, John’s diverse experiences remind us that true success transcends profit margins—it lies in the impact we create and the lives we touch. Dive deeper into John’s remarkable journey, his insights on leadership, and the secrets behind his success. Discover how his humanitarian spirit and unwavering commitment to community service shape his approach to executive search. To get to know John better, just read the interview below!
Humanitarian Activities in Professional Development
When we learned about your experiences, we realized you have done more than pursue a career and achieve success in your professional life. You have volunteered for the Peace Corps, coordinated ministries, and worked with the YMCA, among other activities. Considering the new generation gradually beginning to take on C-suite roles, how important do you think these humanitarian, faith-centered, and community-oriented activities are in building better professionals?
I believe the experience I have had serving others, whether that be volunteering as a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote town with no running water and limited electricity in Kinida, Guinea, West Africa, continuing to work as an expat there, sitting on various non-profit and other boards, going on short-term mission trips, or leading the recovery ministry at our church, has had a huge influence in shaping the person I am today. All of these experiences have a few things in common. They all pushed me beyond my comfort zone in many different ways, which allowed me to believe more in my ability to try new and different things and be successful, as long as my focus remained on the mission of helping others. These experiences also gave me opportunities to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, helping me understand people more deeply and compassionately. They have helped me become more empathetic as I seek to understand not only how people are thinking but also how they are feeling when I interact with them. I use those skills every single day in all areas of my life, both in business and personally. They have, in large part, made me who I am today. So yes, I would say that having humanitarian, faith-centered, and community-oriented activities builds better, well-rounded professionals.
Adapting to Change: Insights for Tomorrow's Market
You have contributed greatly to different industries, and with this new role at Spirit Consulting, you can continue to interact with any and all of them. Considering the changes in the professional world since you began, is there anything you have done that you would advise against or strongly recommend to succeed in tomorrow's market?
Well, I, just like everyone, have made mistakes in my past. Some big and many not so big. I try to learn from each of those experiences and adapt my approach in the future. In general, I have never been afraid to take risks and fail, and at times I have! I can’t think of any specific examples, but perhaps a common theme is thinking I already know the outcome of something and then being surprised when it doesn’t turn out the way I thought. But in the end, it turned out okay or even better. Over time, those experiences have given me a sense of calmness during change, facing the unknown, or other similar stressful situations. When you go through something difficult, it is not pleasant and at times feels like you may not get through it. But when I face those times, I remember past experiences where things turned out okay, and many times better than before. I have always been willing to try new things, and I think my career progression confirms that as I have done a number of very different things during my career. So one piece of advice I always give to people is to be open to anything and embrace change when it is presented because that is how opportunities and a diversity of experiences are gained.
Qualities of C-Level Leaders of the Future
What characteristics do you believe make someone C-level material nowadays?
In addition to progressive strategic experience and financial acumen, I think a high EQ is the most important trait a C-level executive can have today. It is critical for building strong relationships, managing increasingly diverse teams effectively, and creating a positive organizational culture. This is even more challenging in today’s hybrid and remote work environment. While strategic vision and drive, as well as creativity and innovation, are always going to be important for leaders, empathy, self-awareness, and strong interpersonal skills are essential to being a great C-level leader. People with these skills can adapt to different environments and shifting priorities, understand their teams and customers, and are generally very good communicators who lead with ethics and integrity.
To know more about C-Level readiness, read our article HERE.
The Role of Relationships in Career Success
Throughout one’s career, relationships are developed. How important have the people you met over the years been to your success, and how important will they be for your future endeavors?
I can honestly say that virtually everyone I have worked with and interacted with has contributed to my success and helped me get to where I am today. Of course, some people have had a much greater impact, as I have been blessed with great mentors, colleagues, teammates, and friends along the way. I feel like those will be the first people I reach out to, to help guide me today and in the future because we have mutual trust and respect for one another. I think of many of the people I have worked with and encountered not only as very dear friends, but also as family. I hope that in my new role, I will be able to work with many of them again, helping them in any way I possibly can. So, I’m sure many of them should be expecting me to reach out soon!
New Adventures with Spirit Consulting: What Excites You Most?
What are you most excited about in this new adventure that lies ahead of you?
I am very excited by the challenge of doing something that is very new to me, so that will require some learning and refinement. That challenge is exciting, but in the end, it is all about helping people. This is something I absolutely love. My goal is to help our clients find the right dynamic leaders for their organizations, and to help individuals find roles where they can thrive and contribute on multiple levels. I am also extremely excited about the mission of Spirit Consulting as it aligns so well with my own personal “Why.” It will be great to work with like-minded people at a Christian-based company that gives back to different missions, ministries, and non-profits that are making a huge impact in people’s lives.
Note: This introduction is a testament to John’s unique blend of expertise and heart, and we are honored to have him on board.
