Ninety percent of all work related problems stem from not having the right talent on your team, and by the right talent we mean diverse talent. By ensuring that your team is well equipped to handle any situation that may arise, you are saving yourself from hours of wasted time in the office. However, we get it, hiring the right team is a lot easier said than done, but as recruiters we know a thing or two about the type of employees every executive team needs. Whether you are VP of Operational Marketing or an Advertising Director, you need to find employees with these individual skills in addition to the skills already necessary to get the job done.

The Qualitative Pioneer
Background: Anthropology, Sociology, Strategic Planning, Consumer Insights

Why? That should be the first sound out of this person’s mouth when searching for a solution. Seeing the quantitative data is not enough for your qualitative pioneer. They want to know why the numbers are as they are. Using their anthropological or sociological background they seek the truth via ethnography, focus groups, and interviews to understand the motives behind human decisions. Their qualitative processes may take longer than typical data collection, but the information they receive will be much richer in guiding business decisions. Brands like Adidas, Under Armour, L’Oréal, and Microsoft use anthropological methods and ethnography to understand the motivations of their customers and how their consumers use their products.

The Digital Dweller
Background: Marketing, Social Media, Advertising, Digital

Websites, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, Google, Blogs, LinkedIn. Who has time to keep up with all the new digital platforms consumers are using now a-days? Your digital dweller does. Your online presence is just as important as your offline product or services. After all, brands are built online, but they are also destroyed. Your digital dweller has the ability to integrate all communications platforms, design your digital presence, and implement online strategy at the click of a button. Need to run an impromptu a/b test, debug a landing page, or diffuse a social media meltdown? No problem, the digital dweller is always online.

The Impromptu Creative
Background: Copy Writer, Graphic Design, Art Design, Website Design

Most companies already have an in house team of designers to handle all graphic design and artistic needs. If not, many utilize outside agencies. However, the process of submitting a design request, back and forth communication, and the final result can often take days if not weeks. For those last minute requests for presentation decks, website hero images, and displays, the impromptu designer on your team will be able to handle the requests that agencies and in house teams cannot get to fast enough.

The Numerical Genius
Background: Actuary Science, Math, Finance, Accounting, Math Professor

You are in a meeting and the CEO asks you for your new ROI and KPI based on the new marketing numbers you are presenting. You look down at your notepad realizing you left that information in your office when suddenly the numerical genius hands you a slip of paper with the information freshly solved for. They have equations flowing around their heads 24/7 and are just waiting to plug numbers to give you the results. They are book smart, and have a math background or have taught the subject in question. That would explain their ability to fill in a marketing or accounting formula in less than 5 seconds flat.

The Data Disciple
Background: Computer Science, Software Engineer, Marketing Analytics

Today the business world runs on data, and you need someone who can understand it. Whether you are asking to back up your claims, find trends, analyze performance your data disciple is always there with their excel spreadsheets open and tableau charts ready. The data disciple is logical and always backs up their claims with real time data. If buying patterns change they will know immediately. Google analytics, social media, SPSS, Tableau, you name it they have it loaded on their computer constantly analyzing the data and ready to give you real time stats.

The Smooth Talker
Background: Communications, Advertising, Public Relations, Theater

Yes, they probably did somehow talk you into giving them extra vacation time, but that simply proves their ability to talk their way out of anything. Your smooth talker is your secret weapon to woo potential clients and win accounts that you were entirely unprepared for. Networking seems to be one of their favorite activities and they always have a way of getting what they want. The truth is, when you have a smooth talker on your team words really are mightier than the sword. Just make sure they don’t use those words to get you to give them that pay raise… again.

The Social Influencer
Background: Event Planning, Social Media, Digital Influencer
While the smooth talker may know how to talk the talk, your social influencer walks the walk. The social influencer is likely to already have thousands of followers on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. They know how to make a moment memorable. Need to plan a showcase for SXSW? Your social influencer will create magic. Want to invite influencers to get the word out? Your influencer has them on speed dial. Looking to create a social media moment? They are more than happy to do it for the Insta. Best of all, the social influencer is likely to plan one heck of an office Christmas party!

​The right team has the power to make even the most trying week a walk in the park. Investing in a team with diverse skills is essential to maintaining a smooth operation. Leave it to an executive recruiter that gives you the Distinctive Client Advantage through our proven recruiting process. Submit a talent search or talk with our lead recruiter to learn how you can build up your power team. 

When you set your goals for the year, you likely have two goals in mind. The first goal is what is expected of you and your team to reach. This is usually a safe and very realistic goal. The second goal is your Reach Goal. Your reach goal is the goal you were really hoping for in order to go above and beyond. In many cases achieving your reach goal results in bigger bonuses, a promotion, and maybe even that corner office.

Your reach goal is what you know is achievable with a lot of hard work, a few risks, and most importantly, the right team. The people you work with are an extension of your ability. In other words, hiring a diverse set of employees will allow you to reach new a new potential. A 2015 McKinsey report found that companies with higher racial and ethnic diversity were 35% more likely to have financial returns above their industry mean. Here are only a few ways in which diversifying your team will allow you to achieve the reach goals you have been striving for.

1) Their Strengths Become your Strengths

Imagine being a carpenter and your only goal is to build a house. Sure, you can build the frame of the house all by yourself, but what about the plumbing, electrical work, and interior design? You don’t have the tools in your tool bag to do those tasks, but your team does. Their tools quickly become your tools. Similarly, filling your team with diverse employees who each have different thought processes and backgrounds gives you access to their various strengths and abilities you did not have before.

2) Understand Other Points of View

As marketers, we have all seen our fair share of cringe-worthy ads. Marketing blunders like the Chevy Nova (Laughs in Spanish), Lady Friendly Doritos, or Pepsi’s Kendall Jenner ad could all have been avoided if there had been a Spanish speaker, woman, or African American present in the meeting. By maintaining  diversity in the office, companies can go from making marketing blunders to creating meaningful brands that will be remembered for years for their clever solutions.

3) Improve Existing Techniques

Would you recreate the wheel if you believe you could make a faster wheel? Of course you would! However, our corporations today are plagued by uniformity:  the belief that there is only one way to be, one way to do things, and one way to achieve. However, any company who has invested in inclusion and diversity will argue uniformity is constraining. By investing in the diversity of your employees, you are also investing in the diversity of thought within your office. You will quickly realize there are a hundred and one ways to reinvent the wheel, each one better than the one before. Diversity inspires creativity and will serve as a catalyst for efficiency and improvement.

4) Cultural Relevancy

An article by Forbes recently stated, “If you want black audiences, give them a seat at the table.” Well it might not be a surprise that this is the case for every demographic: women, Hispanic, LGBT, Asian, you name it. In today’s market, consumers value diversity and will reward brands that are transparent and champion diversity in the office, while punishing brands that don’t. Therefore, diversity has become a principle that any ethical brand should promote because consumers know.

Diversity within the office place is not only an asset to improve diversity of thought, it is a demand that consumers are requiring now before engaging with a brand. By championing diversity and hiring diverse employees, companies are finding new ways to achieve their goals through practices introduced through new diverse ideas.  Ready to take diversity initiatives to a whole new level? Give us a call and we would be happy to share how diversifying your office might help you reach your highest potential.