Meet the team: Suzie Walker
The Suzie Walker Executive Search team has worked with hundreds of candidates and clients. So, we think it’s time for you to get to know us all a little better, what inspires us and what advice we would offer to clients and candidates in this fast-moving recruitment market.
First up, meet Suzie, our MD & Founder. She established Suzie Walker Executive Search in 2009 and has successfully placed more than five hundred candidates in senior interim and permanent marketing, data, digital and tech roles.
Suzie, what excites you most about your company?
I’m passionate about helping talented people to reach their full potential. I also strongly feel that an inclusive playing field is essential to shape effective senior leadership teams for the future of business. I work closely with clients, and partners like The Pipeline, to ensure that opportunities are available to all.
What do you think will be a priority for clients and candidates over the next few years?
For clients, right now, it’s important to prepare for a swift recruitment process, broaden their shortlists, and prepare for negotiations at late stages – the recruitment market hasn’t moved this quickly in decades.
For candidates, it’s essential to keep learning and developing through professional qualifications. It’s no longer enough for leaders to oversee a team of experts, they really need to understand the detail, especially digital marketing, emerging technologies and changing customer behaviours.
What piece of career advice has stayed with you and could help others just starting out?
My father was a huge inspiration for me growing up. He truly believed in limitless possibility, and this has stuck with me throughout my career – that anything is possible if you work hard enough. I want this limitless possibility available to all, ensuring equality, diversity and inclusivity at the highest levels.
What is the trickiest interview question you have ever been asked?
While I can’t recall a tricky interview question that someone has asked me, one of my favourite interview questions is, “What’s your superpower?”. It’s a question that invites some creative and intriguing responses, and it’s a great one for getting people to think quickly. We wrote about this question recently on the Content Hub [insert link to new content when posted].
Who or what inspires you?
Genuinely, I am inspired every day by the clients and candidates we meet – they are doing some incredible work and I come away from meetings and interviews feeling energised. On a personal level, I absolutely love self-development and read a lot around this topic. A favourite book of mine was, ‘Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead’ by Sheryl Sandberg, how making small changes in my life can effect change on a more universal scale. I also listen to a lot of podcasts, and Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett is a current favourite – his guests offer some valuable insights.
Finally, what would you tell your younger self?
To keep learning. It’s that simple. I have been running my own business for more than a decade, but I still work with an Executive Coach to push myself further. It’s something we offer as a service and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Thank you, Suzie.
If you’re looking to hire or find your next role, please get in touch or connect with us/send a message on LinkedIn.
Suzie Walker Executive Search is a firm of specialist headhunters with an expert team recruiting interim and permanent senior leaders for marketing, data, digital and tech roles in FTSE 350 and private equity-backed companies. Find out how we can support you by connecting with a Consultant below.