The Howard-Sloan-Koller Group Launches The HSK/JFA Digital Advisory Board. We Zero-In on Tomorrow’s Talent Now!

Year: 
2009
Month: 
July

Hiring for tomorrow? This may seem counterintuitive in a tight economy, when most media executives are focused on having just enough staff to meet today’s critical needs.

While our clients focus on building and motivating staff for today’s priorities, The Howard-Sloan-Koller Group (HSK) is working to look around corners to determine the talent and skills companies will need to succeed in these transformative times in digital media. Along these lines, we have created our Digital Advisory Board: a team of prominent digital professionals whose leadership and on-the-ground experience enhance our vision in this dynamic media landscape. We believe the need to understand “talent for tomorrow” has never been greater; if history is any guide, before we know it, companies will be scrambling to hire specific types of individuals who will invariably be in short supply.
 
HSK is regularly identifying new digital job functions and emerging roles that will align with growing market demand. We are building our pipeline of “tomorrow’s talent” for our clients.
 
Fact: Talent needs will change dramatically, and functions and organizations will look different in the next 12-24 months. Digital executives with unconventional combinations of skills and new models of leadership and collaboration will be increasingly sought.
 
Fact: Companies need to prepare their strategies now to find special talent that can rapidly pivot to new technologies and new advertising standards — individuals who can lead companies toward profitability in the fast-changing digital environment.  
 
 
HSK/JFA DIGITAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
 
HSK held its first Digital Advisory Board in June. During this provocative conversation, moderated by Dave Kansas, many topics emerged. A few discussion points follow:
  • The emerging profile of what makes effective digital leaders across all function areas at cross-platform and pure-play digital media companies, and interactive agencies;
  • Case studies that focus on the invaluable pairing of tech staff with individuals in other job functions, intended to enhance digital competency within a media organization;
  • The power that hybridization of competencies brings to certain positions; and
  • Improved interview techniques to ensure that new hires are solid culture fits, and can be effective in their respective roles.
Below are the Digital Advisory Board Members:
Craig Bagno, Executive Vice President, Worldwide, MRM Worldwide
Vernon Church, former Chief Content Officer and Vice President, Operations, UGO Networks
Denise Favorule, Senior Vice President, Group Publishing Director, The Knot
Dave Kansas, former President of IAC’s FiLife, and previously at the Wall Street Journal and TheStreet.com
Sasha Koren, former Senior Vice President, Interactive Creative Director, Arnold Worldwide
Rich Kronengold, Chief Marketing Officer, @radical.media
Paulo Lemgruber, former Senior Vice President, Digital, FEARnet, Comcast
Josh Macht, Group Publisher, Harvard Business Review Group
Steven Marrs, Chief Executive Officer of Branded Pictures, and former President and Chief Operating Officer and founding Partner, Tribal DDB
Jeanniey Mullen, Global Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Zinio Systems
Brian Silver, President and Acting Chief Executive Officer, Travel Ad Network (TAN)
James Smith, Chief Revenue Officer, Huffington Post 
 (The Board meeting was hosted by Jon Kamen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, @radical.media)

The HSK/JFA Digital Advisory Board will meet bi-annually, and HSK will develop guidelines with actionable information for our clients. We will also incorporate the findings into our practice.