Trying to keep up with the technology of the modern world can be difficult, especially as it becomes more and more vital to the success of any business. Being social media savvy doesn’t come naturally to most CEOs and business executives, but should it be taken more seriously when trying to build your presence?

In this episode I talk all things LinkedIn with Adam Houlahan, Social Media Strategist and Consultant, who shares his secret sauce for bolstering the social media presence of executives worldwide.

Adam’s days of social media consulting began while he was working in the retail industry. He has since gone on to be an Amazon Best Selling Author of social media books and runs a team of over 20, teaching business owners, CEOs and executives to leverage social media. While the company covers all social media platforms, it predominantly focuses on LinkedIn.

The team develops LinkedIn strategies for lead generation, for CEOs and executives to have a high level presence on the platform and for businesses to help them stand out. This is generally done through the key stakeholders of the business, making sure their presence is as high as it can be and is in alignment with the core values of the business.

In addition, Adam runs group-based 12-week programs that help people to position themselves as influencers in any industry. He also offers profile writing services and manages profiles for executives, helping them create content and connect with like-minded people.

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richard's book on Amazon: www.amazon.com.au/Uncover-Hidden-J…idden+job+market

Adam Houlahan's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhoulahan/

Adam Houlahan Website: https://www.adamhoulahan.com/

Diversity among executive ranks is important and comes up for discussion regularly in our field. Most often it’s in relation to gender but also in the context of sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious orientation, age, disability, and so on.

As someone who literally sits between the job market and the employers, and who has done so for the past 17 years, I’ve had plenty of first hand experience in understanding the agendas of employers and the dynamic of the market applying for the roles. And while there have definitely been problems with diversity at the executive and board level in the past, I’m pretty optimistic about the changes that are happening and the trends we can expect in the coming years.

Episode Highlights:

Breaking the glass ceiling for women

The changing working life span

Proven performers

Breaking the bamboo ceiling

Male, pale and stale

Getting a jump on the market

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richard's book on Amazon: areteexecutive.com.au/free-book/

As a candidate looking for a new executive role, it’s incredibly important for you to be able to articulate your key achievements and transferable skills.

Having worked in the recruiting industry for many years and having interviewed and coached thousands of candidates and senior executives through their job search, this is something I’ve seen people do very well. But for whatever reason, I don’t think Australians are natural self-promoters.

I can’t speak about candidates in the American or English markets, but certainly in Australia, people don't want to blow their own trumpet.

Nevertheless, being able to clearly highlight your key achievements and transferable skills is of paramount importance when taking yourself to the job market. If you don't do that, the likelihood is you're not going to get the job that you want. I discuss this in detail on this Arete Executive Podcast episode and below.

Episode Highlights:

Sell the sizzle, not the steak

The recruitment process - get more bang for your buck

The four quadrants of the job market

Frame your CV with your STAR achievements

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richard's book on Amazon: https://areteexecutive.com.au/free-book/

How do you constantly improve the business and be of service to the community? That’s the question that drove Glenn Vassallo to build a law firm and a charitable foundation that demonstrate how social entrepreneurship can be used to the benefit of all. His success with the ventures led to an invitation to speak on the subject at New York University (NYU).

As the founder managing director of GRT Lawyers and the founder and chair of the GRT Foundation, Glenn has significant experience in formulating and executing complex corporate transactions (including IPOs, takeovers and other equity capital market transactions) with a particular focus on national and international stock and security exchanges.

Glenn is a member of the Law Council of Australia Company Law Committee and the Queensland Law Society Company Law Committee. Due to his experience on the boards of ASX listed businesses, he is regularly invited to discuss and formulate new laws regulating listed companies.

Glenn keeps himself at the leading edge of technology in business and spearheaded the development of an app for shareholder meetings to be held over a smartphone. This was back in 2011, long before apps were an everyday thing for most of us. He is also a high achiever on the sports field, having played Rugby for the Queensland Reds.

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richard's book on Amazon: www.amazon.com.au/Uncover-Hidden-J…idden+job+market

Glenn Vassallo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-vassallo-2768304a/

GRT Lawyers Website: https://www.grtlawyers.com/

GRT Foundation: https://www.grtlawyers.com/foundation/

I’ve been asked by a few people lately how our headhunting process works and for a peek behind the curtains so to speak. The best way to describe the process is with a case study…

Project Background

Intact Group is a property services business, supplying trades services and tradespeople to portfolio property businesses and building owners nationwide. They provide reactive and preventative maintenance for high profile commercial organisations such as ANZ, Macquarie Bank, Apple, QBE, Colliers, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, CBA and CBRE.

The rapid growth of their Melbourne operations required the recruitment of a new Regional Operations Manager, taking over from the incumbent previously based in Perth.

Episode Highlights:

Preparation. Performance. Profiling

Phase 1. Research and Market Mapping

Phase 2. Approach and Present the Opportunity

Phase 3. Telephone Interview

Pulling It All Together

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richard's book on Amazon: https://areteexecutive.com.au/free-book/

Intact Group -http://intactgroupau.com/

I had a fascinating discussion recently with Nigel Harris, CEO of Mater Foundation, the fundraising and community relations division of Mater Misericordiae, a not-for-profit Catholic health care organisation with interests in hospitals, medical research, health education and laundry services in Brisbane.

When Nigel started with the organisation back in 1996, total revenue was only $2 million. They have since grown to annual revenues of $70 million and with only 85 full-time equivalent staff - an average revenue of over $820,000 per employee.

Most of this income is from fund-raising efforts and is a testament to how strong the 200 year-old brand is in Queensland and Nigel’s mastery of the art of philanthropy, not to mention the business acumen it must take to manage such an organisation.

Nigel’s employment history includes sales in refrigeration and heating and since 1988 he has been in the not-for-profit sector, including stints with organisations such as the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation and the Arthritis Foundation of South Australia. He has been a fellow of Fundraising Institute Australia since 1984.

Whether you are in a not-for-profit or not, I can promise you there are some valuable lessons to pick up from this discussion.

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richard's book on Amazon: www.amazon.com.au/Uncover-Hidden-J…idden+job+market

Mater Foundation: https://www.materfoundation.org.au/

Nigel Harris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-harris-66a71914/

A detailed brief is a critical element when recruiting for a new role. This doesn't just include executive roles, it's pertinent to every role in a business, including junior positions.

Having worked in the executive recruitment industry for about 17 years now, this is something I’ve rarely seen done well. In most instances, the person who is recruiting a role, whether they are a third party recruiter, an internal human resources professional, or even an executive leader charged with the task, they will often produce a position description, a brief overview of the role and the reason for it becoming available, etc., but rarely do they actually get in and thoroughly explore what the actual key deliverables of the role are.

I discuss this in the podcast episode.

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richard's book on Amazon: www.amazon.com.au/Uncover-Hidden-J…idden+job+market

Arete Executive Podcast hosted by Managing Partner Richard Triggs.

Interview with Trevor Jackson - Journalist, Content Editor - Study Gold Coast

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Trevor Jackson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevorjacksonmedia/

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Study Gold Coast: https://www.studygoldcoast.org.au/

Richard's book on Amazon: www.amazon.com.au/Uncover-Hidden-J…idden+job+market

Theme music by Simon Gardner "Sunny" from the album "Choose Your Own Adventure": simongardnerguitarist.com

Arete Executive Podcast hosted by Managing Partner Richard Triggs.

Interview with Francesca Webster, CEO & Founder, Brazilian Beauty.

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Francesca Webster LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-webster-23728124/

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Brazilian Beauty website: https://brazilianbeauty.com.au/

Richard's book on Amazon: www.amazon.com.au/Uncover-Hidden-J…idden+job+market

LinkedIn CEO Incubator Group: www.linkedin.com/grps/CEO-Incubator-6948255/about?

Theme music by Simon Gardner "Sunny" from the album "Choose Your Own Adventure": simongardnerguitarist.com

Arete Executive Podcast hosted by Managing Partner Richard Triggs.

Interview with Cherie Curtis, CEO, Revelian.

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Cherie Curtis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriecurtis/

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Revelian website: www.revelian.com

Richard's book on Amazon: www.amazon.com.au/Uncover-Hidden-J…idden+job+market

LinkedIn CEO Incubator Group: www.linkedin.com/grps/CEO-Incubator-6948255/about?

Theme music by Simon Gardner "Sunny" from the album "Choose Your Own Adventure": simongardnerguitarist.com