Was reading a fascinating Harvard Business School case study on Egon Zehnder International, the executive search consultant. The firm has a very distinct culture that is worth emulating. The case study describes the history of the firm and its focus on partnership and collaboration. I pulled out a few quotes from the founder, Mr. Egon Zehnder, that particularly resonate.
“It is well and good to change our daily practices but never our principles, our fundamentals, which have made this firm so successful!”
“The second inner strength of this firm is our reputation for quality. This reputation has been steadily built, stone upon stone, over many demanding years. Few assets are worth more, and few assets are more fragile, than reputation.”
“Partnership consists in forgetting what one gives and remembering what one receives.”
“A commercial enterprise, like a human life, is a fragile entity.”
Egon Zehnder has lived by these values for decades (since 1964). His eloquent and heartfelt statements on partnership are worth considering in these times of uncertainty. Good to hear about firms such as this that are deeply grounded in team relationships, client focus and quality.
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Egon Zehnder, executive search, reputation, quality, partnership, fragile reputation, Harvard Business School case study
