Meet David Pinkley

The best way to describe the process is “professionally intimate”. We create space within conversations for clients to be themselves. When they relax, they can reflect and hear themselves think – without judgment. This is where the magic happens.

I was laid-off from my first job less than 5 years after graduating from the University of Michigan. I was one of 35 people let go that same day. I vowed I would take responsibility for my career and always have a plan B. I’ve been empowering others to do the same since.

I wouldn’t call it work. I am lucky my vocation overlaps with my vacation. I love seeing people reach their fullest potential. Human potential is not static. It’s dynamic. My job is to help clients either expand their capacity, or realize more of their unrealized capacity. That’s what brings me joy.

My three resume pet peeves: 1) Spelling errors 2) Cliches 3) Dashes and gaps between dates that are not uniform. I wince every time I see any of these on a resume, which is almost every day.

I lived in Hong Kong for two years and worked as a headhunter. My boss, John Wright totally changed the way I approached executive search. John was a former journalist at the Wall Street Journal, and taught me the first two rules of journalism: 1) Get facts and 2) Always protect your sources. I’ll never forget that. John was a giant of a man and a giant of an intellect. I can’t believe he’s gone.