Member Spotlight

Points of Inflection

Jim has been helping others navigate their career transitions for decades. He learned from six of his own career transitions and has been sharing his insights ever since. In April 2019, Jim joined EF, and eventually became a steward of the career reset process – a very useful examination of career goals and parameters for new members and anyone in the EF.

He has been a Chief HR Officer for multiple companies and has held human resources leadership positions for several Fortune 500 corporations including Standard & Poor’s, Kraft General Foods, and News Corporation. He became a Certified Executive Coach with Columbia University after leaving the corporate world. Jim has brought his experience to bear by becoming an executive coach and human capital consultant, founding Janus Coaching. His clients include the entire ecosystem of private equity – sponsors, portfolio companies and advisory firms as well as individuals in career transition.

Be Out to Be In

Jim had known about the Executive Forum for 12 years before he found himself in transition and could join. He had been part of other networks and had led a senior human resources transition group that he co-founded. He understood the benefits of these organizations. EF stood out for Jim because of the diversity of its functions, its approachable size, its proud heritage, and its give-back model.

Jim recommends that those in transition join one or two networking groups. Social interaction is key when in transition - it’s too easy to become withdrawn. These groups help battle isolation. Another key benefit is the leads and ideas can be sourced from these groups. And it’s a good idea to measure how you’re doing compared with others in the same position. The pay it forward mentality of the members of EF is an advantage in that folks in transition can call upon those who’ve landed and they will take their call. Jim intends to continue to support the ethos of the EF, helping those in transition feel connected and embraced in a vulnerable part of their lives.

Boston is a Hub

While most EF members are concentrated in the tri-state area (NY, CT, NJ), about one-fifth of our members reside elsewhere in the United States and abroad. EF has expanded its geographical focus in recent years to include the best-in-class talent who embody our values and ideals. Our members in Boston are a perfect example.

Feel the Momentum

Bostom EF members are a small but mighty group of engaged professionals, who meet in Boston for lunch every month. On occasion, guest drop-ins from CT and NYC join. Most are in transition, as is common in the EF, though it’s not a requirement to join. All are welcome to pop in from time to time or become part of the core group. If simply being on the membership list is enough, own it. Or make it bigger. Bring more to it.

Fall Forward

Another useful self-reflective framework is to honestly assess whether an intrinsic vs. an extrinsic orientation drives our behavior to find happiness. Many find happiness and fulfillment during their career by achieving the goals and expectations determined for us. That is an extrinsic orientation. As one moves away from a full-time career, and the extrinsically derived expectations, we have the opportunity to turn inward and pinpoint for ourselves the intrinsic things we want for happiness and fulfillment. Paul decided he wants fulfillment by being valued for his wisdom and using it to help others. He’s created a process and a curriculum to help others transition from the end of their career down a path to happiness, as he continues to strive toward that for himself. Through his leadership of EF’s New Horizons Work Group and his coaching at Resonance, he’s merging his own path to fulfillment with help for others seeking the same

The Boston EF group’s focus for fall is to foster an atmosphere of support, be a sounding board for each member, and to help expand their professional networks in the greater Boston area. They will accomplish this by making connections across the EF community (beyond Boston), attending EF-sponsored events, and finding C-level events and networking opportunities in the Boston area.

The EF is always evolving. Together, we are a highly engaged community of executives who share a singular passion for "what's next" - look no further than Boston to witness that.

The Resonator

Paul was a marketing executive who successfully increased sales and profit growth for consumer-packaged goods, financial services, and marketing technology companies over 43 years. Typical of most EF members, his career held tremendous importance, providing him with an identity, sources of self-esteem, relationships, and routine. When he began the process of moving away from full-time work, he was surprised and disoriented to find it was not as straightforward as he thought it would be. What made him feel good from his marketing executive career was no longer there. He felt a sense of weightlessness and loss.

Paul did a lot of self-reflection about the self-esteem he derived from his full-time working life and used the insight to consider new sources of fulfillment, how to actually use his new post career freedom, and how to develop a new purpose for the upcoming chapter of his life. Paul researched the best thinking on new concepts of “retirement” and decided part of his new purpose would be to help others through the transition he found so complicated. He became a Certified Professional Retirement Coach, creating his new company - Resonance Retirement Coaching - where he helps people through the non-financial aspects of the transition from full time work. He is also a co-chair of EF’s New Horizons Work Group along with EF member Jim Forbes. This group is focused on assisting EF’rs who see “retirement” on the horizon and helping them through their transition into meaningful pre-retirement and retirement activities.

Our North Star

As we move into this transition, with the “time affluence” it affords, Paul advises that homing in on one’s purpose will be important to guiding the choices for your new “portfolio.” Purpose can be a North Star for your post career life. Paul suggests that to clarify purpose going forward, one must look backward first. One of the exercises Paul helps executives through is to review past personal and professional life – in ten years increments - to find those situations when self-esteem was highest. These situations shed light on an individual’s formula for fulfillment, which in turn is used to craft a personal purpose statement. It helps immensely to have this new “personal GPS” guidance.

Happiness Orientation

Another useful self-reflective framework is to honestly assess whether an intrinsic vs. an extrinsic orientation drives our behavior to find happiness. Many find happiness and fulfillment during their career by achieving the goals and expectations determined for us. That is an extrinsic orientation. As one moves away from a full-time career, and the extrinsically derived expectations, we have the opportunity to turn inward and pinpoint for ourselves the intrinsic things we want for happiness and fulfillment. Paul decided he wants fulfillment by being valued for his wisdom and using it to help others. He’s created a process and a curriculum to help others transition from the end of their career down a path to happiness, as he continues to strive toward that for himself. Through his leadership of EF’s New Horizons Work Group and his coaching at Resonance, he’s merging his own path to fulfillment with help for others seeking the same

Engagement

Kevin is an organization builder who creates engagement. He’ll come into a challenged organization, stabilize it, find a positive trajectory, and build it. The most exciting part of it all is the engagement. Kevin believes that engaged people can positively impact their organization, especially when they treat an organization as their own. Kevin accomplishes this by working together with people, sharing financials and metrics, and relating to them with transparency. It’s not just about numbers for them or even job security and raises, but also enlistment in a common purpose.

Develop People to Develop People

Kevin trains managers and leaders. The stronger a leader is, the stronger everyone is. It’s important to meet managers where they are and instill a culture of “there’s always more to learn.” They shouldn’t be self-conscious about what they don’t know. They should understand that we are all looking to fill the knowledge gap. Lead by example. Managers and leaders influence the behavior and performance of their people. And the more senior the leaders are, the more impactful their behaviors will be on the rest of the organization. So, if you want to nurture curiosity or unlock learning, train the management leadership to unlock their own curiosity.

A Giver

Kevin joined the Executive Forum in 2015, but he’d known of it for 10 years prior from his former boss, mentor, and EF member Mark Pettie, and was dismayed that he couldn’t join until he was in transition. Kevin had missed having peers and comrades to discuss any issues at hand. He knew EF could provide this, and when his company was sold, he had the opportunity to join. He found comfort in the commonality of the challenges members faced and the chance to talk things out. Even if problems weren’t solved, interaction with others was valuable.

Kevin recalls the EF founders’ story of the “entrance fee” to the original meetings at the Greenwich library - a job-lead to share with others. If everybody gives, everybody wins. That “giver” attitude resonated with Kevin. And he embodies that underlying spirit of giving and sharing, both in the EF, and in every aspect of his life. During the pandemic Kevin was recruited by another EFer, Dave Lampert, to volunteer for HOPE Community Services. Many of their volunteers were retirees, and when the pandemic hit, they stopped working. So, Kevin joined their food pantry and ended up staying for a year and a half.

The exposure to the non-profit world paved the path to Kevin’s current position with Greyston Bakery, a social enterprise that employs individuals who face barriers to meaningful employment, delivering millions of dollars in economic impact through job placements. Kevin has addressed challenges at Greyston and is stabilizing the organization, engaging the people, and educating the leaders. As for what’s next, Kevin’s background in both for-profit and non-profit organizations may lead him down a path creating more hybrid models that provide social good and are also self-sustaining.

The Puzzle Master

For most, June is known as the Puzzle Master for her growth mindset and ability to unravel complexity. And she does it well! An Executive Forum member only since the end of 2021, June built and launched EF's "Board Journey" microsite as a member of the New Products Committee. She now serves as the Board Journey Team Leader and an Accountability Group Leader. In 2022 she joined a team of six to plan and build EF's "Board Journey" content hub. It was one of the hardest things she'd ever done. And she is (and should be) very proud of this accomplishment. It was a technical endeavor involving developing an assessment, programming, algorithms, rollouts, and other complexities that required a Puzzle Master's talent and drive.

Why EF?

June did her homework. She looked at many organizations intending to find one that aligned with her goals and interests. She's been a member of several, but in the last year, she's withdrawn from many, choosing to focus on EF and those devoted to career development. She enjoys that EF attracts people of the same mindset. All new members of the EF are in transition, sharing similar life-changing circumstances. Each has an attitude of excellence and appreciates that other members share expectations. June seeks and thrives in that milieu. Members landing new positions have shared that they maintain EF membership because it helps them develop "relationship currency." And they want to be around people who "unconditionally open themselves to help.

Here and Now

The New Products Committee's goal to build and launch something new was appealing. The Board Journey microsite was a big deliverable. When it rolled out and committee Chairs moved on June stayed into 2023, retaining one member and recruiting a new team. In the new member realm, she recently became an Accountability Group Leader. Her group's purpose statement is "We engage each other in the possibilities of our professional careers, expand content exposure and challenge our growth in a supportive, encouraging environment." Members rotate facilitating meetings and use a content calendar to schedule discussion topics, including job flow, transforming resumes, and pivoting to a new industry.

There and Beyond

June remains interested in expanding her horizons and appreciates that EF strategically pursues new products and services for members. In particular, she understands that membership groups build sustainable futures through partnerships and collaborations. She is involved with one of the New Jersey Princeton University Alumni Associations, and recent experience shows it works.

Make Your Mark

June imparts a message to new and existing members. To new members, she advises you to know who you are in the context of what EF is all about. Learn about the EF – look at its website and engage members. Acquire the information you need to understand EF and who you are in it. Be thoughtful – bring the possibility of who you want to be in the EF. Maybe you want to become involved and sit on the Board; perhaps you want to be a member and attend events. Whomever it is that you envision yourself to be in the EF, embrace it. To current members, June advises you to ask what you want the EF to gain from you. You are already comfortable with and knowledgeable about the EF. What matters over time? If simply being on the membership list is enough, own it. Or make it bigger. Bring more to it. Knowing June, she’ll always go for bigger.