Executive Search – Interview with Don Jaine

What’s been your most rewarding experience as an adviser?
As a director of Seqel Partners, our most rewarding experience is seeing the transformation Chief Executives that we have appointed can achieve in our client organisations.

Most common mistake business owners make with their adviser?
At Seqel we work with a range of corporate and large private companies. In our observation, the most common mistake made by clients is not seeking truly independent advice – seeking advisers who will ask the hard questions and confront the brutal facts. Advisers who are friends of the owner or other board members will generally be reluctant to overtly challenge the views of an owner. A related issue is that business owners will not get senior experienced advice. Owners should seek out people who have ‘done it all before’ on a much larger scale than their own organisations.

What can business owners do to get the most out of their adviser relationship?
In our observation, advisers provide the best advice when they are deeply and strategically involved in all aspects of the organisation – with the Board, the Executive and Management. A meaningful and trusted relationship with a senior business confidant can not be overrated. Above all else – LISTEN to those people that you have involved and be prepared to make and follow through with the tough decisions.

As a business owner, what’s the most valuable advice you ever received?
As a director of Seqel Partners, we have had the luxury of access to truly capable Board members who keep us grounded, and lift you up to ‘look at the real issues and impediments’ to continued successful growth.

If you had to give other business owners one tip, what would it be?
Get truly high calibre, independent thinkers who have large scale experience as Chief Executives or Chief Financial Officers involved in your organisation - at Board or Advisory Board level. Recruit people who are much better and more experienced than you and don’t be limited by the views of the people in your immediate sphere.

About Don Jaine

Don is an Executive Search and Management Consultancy practitioner with more than fifteen years experience in the sector. Don is also a director of several private companies and community organisations.