Opportunities for success can come in some unusual and unique places. I found one of the most rewarding opportunities in a Wednesday-evening Bible study in early 2004, when I met a gentleman who, like me, professed to have strong faith and conservative values. It turns out we had more than that in common.
 
First, a disclaimer: I have changed some of the details of this story to ensure I protect the confidentiality of the company with whom I formed a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship. The relationship began in that Wednesday-evening Bible study class.
 
The gentleman, Robert, and I struck up a friendly conversation about where we were from. I grew up in a small mountain town in central Virginia and he completed his undergraduate degree at a university in that small town. Also, it turns out he just had purchased a home in my neighborhood and we soon became good friends. He learned of my corporate HR experience as I had been recruited for numerous leadership positions in my career. Throughout this experience I gained expertise in areas such as corporate strategy; leadership development; talent acquisition, engagement and development; and continuous process improvement, along with multinational and multicultural support.
 
Robert urged me to throw my hat into the ring for a confidential position at the international health care company for which he worked. Since I had already committed to launching Human Capital Solutions, Inc. I thanked him for the offer, but declined it. When I told him more about my new venture and the services it provided, he suggested I meet with James, the president of his company, to determine if Human Capital Solutions could perform the executive search for a very senior, confidential and mission-critical position within the company.
 
Often these searches are conducted “behind the scenes,” or very privately, for a variety of reasons. For instance, perhaps the organization’s leader doesn’t want competitors to know it has a vacancy or is adding a position at the company. Sometimes an incumbent executive’s contract will not be renewed or the company is reorganizing its senior leadership for various reasons.
 
I met with the James, the president, and I explained that Human Capital Solutions is well-versed, well-credentialed and quite qualified at recruiting top executives who often aren’t looking for a new position. Due to our vast experience and familiarity with the sectors for which we recruit – health care, the industrials, life sciences and technology – we have relationships with hundreds of people around the world in these industries.
 
I also explained by hiring a retained executive search firm like Human Capital Solutions, he would receive our full attention and that we would take the necessary time to get to know his organization and what it was precisely looking for. This process ensures that the candidates we present to the client are an excellent fit for the client’s strategic plan and direction, its unique culture, and the organization drivers or key performance metrics the shareholders, managers or owners are seeking.
 
James immediately saw the benefit of what Human Capital Solutions could do for his organization and engaged us to conduct this international search.
 
Using our global network of connections and our rigorous discovery work leveraging our proprietary business platform (learn about it here), Human Capital Solutions found a vice president working for one of the client’s competitors who was interested in learning more about this attractive corporate position. The candidate and his wife accepted the position and moved to our lovely Port City from the Midwest.
 
That person was a solid fit for the company and has been with it for more than a decade. He has made a significant, financially favorable impact on the company, its shareholders, the C-suite, the employees, the culture and the community.
 
Based on that very special Bible study class, my newly found friend, and the success of that first game-changing opportunity, Human Capital Solutions has continued to be selected and engaged for executive searches for this company and its industry worldwide. Our first international placement soon came as we found a global thought leader in Geneva to move to the Midwest to become president of this company’s growing global laboratory business.
 
Opportunities manifest themselves all the time, although they may be disguised as a casual meeting or a happenstance introduction. When opportunities arrive, you need to be able to leverage your key assets – your experience, your relationships, your expertise, your tools and your network of professionals across a number of industries. This, along with a proven track record of trust, an effective methodology and a keen focus on results will help you take your organization or career to the next level.
 
Remember, there is nothing more valuable to your company than top-performing human capital.
 
Bo Burch is the founder and CEO of Human Capital Solutions, Inc. with corporate offices in Wilmington, N.C. Human Capital Solutions is striving to be the preferred global leader in retained executive search and professional recruiting services with industry veterans and subject matter experts in: life sciences, health care, the industrials and technology. HCS represents companies, recruits and assesses and places key talent in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Western Europe.