Borderless Executive Live: The Podcast
Candid conversations with business leaders on a borderless life. Hosted by Andrew Kris, Founding Partner of Borderless.
Borderless Executive Live: The Podcast
The Art of Connection: Iveta's Headhunting Secrets
What makes someone truly exceptional at connecting people? We uncover the fascinating world of elite executive search through the career of Iveta Fleming, whose remarkable ability to match the right talent with the right opportunity has consistently placed her among the top 5% in client satisfaction.
Beyond her impressive statistics lies a philosophy both simple and profound: "When the right candidate meets the right role, great things happen." While many recruiters focus merely on matching keywords and qualifications, Iveta's approach reveals a deeper understanding of human potential—what one client described as her "sixth sense for talent." She doesn't just fill positions; she discovers hidden opportunities and finds the missing pieces that transform organizations.
Her multilingual abilities—fluent in English, Czech, German, and learning Slovenian—provide more than practical advantages; they offer cultural insights that bridge divides in our increasingly global business landscape. This linguistic versatility, combined with unwavering persistence and transparent communication, creates the foundation of trust necessary in high-stakes professional matchmaking.
Perhaps most compelling is Iveta's commitment to creating connections that leave everyone "motivated and fulfilled." Her success story of placing a candidate with an arts background at a tech startup demonstrates the magic that happens when we look beyond conventional thinking. The lessons from her career extend far beyond executive search—they remind us that meaningful connections often emerge from unexpected places, and that approaching each interaction with genuine curiosity and empathy can unlock extraordinary possibilities. What connections might you create today that could transform tomorrow?
Ever feel like I don't know? Like there's this art to connecting with the right people.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Like not just networking but really finding those connections.
Speaker 2:That click Right, right, where something just sparks, exactly.
Speaker 1:So today we're going to well. We're diving deep into the career of Iveta Flying. She's a top executive search consultant.
Speaker 2:Ah, fascinating, world headhunting high stakes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and her work. It kind of reveals a lot about making those high impact connections. But it's relevant even if you know we're not out there placing CEOs.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely. It's about that fundamental human element of connection which transcends any particular field.
Speaker 1:So we've got two main sources for this deep dive Iveda's profile on the borderless firm website they're like an international search firm, very exclusive and then her LinkedIn, which is always interesting to compare right.
Speaker 2:Always clues there, little between the lines, insights.
Speaker 1:Totally and right off the bat. The first thing that struck me maybe you saw this too her motto when the right candidate meets the right role, great things happen.
Speaker 2:It's so simple but like powerful. You know it's that elegant simplicity right, like she's built a whole career, a hugely successful career, on that one core belief. And it's reflected in those stats consistently ranked top 5% for client satisfaction. That's not just luck.
Speaker 1:No, no way. That's a pattern of excellence, year after year, which makes you wonder how does she do it? What's her process?
Speaker 2:Right, because it's clearly more than just you know, matching keywords on a resume to a job description. Aveda's approach it seems much more, I don't know, intuitive.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like she talks about and I wrote this down discovering hidden opportunities and when you look at her track record, wow, some of the placements she's made. It's clear she has a knack for seeing potential where others might not.
Speaker 1:That's the X factor, isn't it that ability to look beyond the obvious, maybe see a spark of something special in a candidate that wouldn't show up on a traditional resume. Ok, so like say, there's this candidate, maybe they don't perfectly check every single box on the job requirements, but they've got this something and Iveta just gets it. But they've got this something and Iveda just gets it Exactly.
Speaker 2:And it's not just a feeling, it's backed up by results. One of her clients even described her as having a sixth sense for talent.
Speaker 1:Ooh, I like that Sixth sense. So it's not just we were saying filling positions, she's finding what the missing piece, completing the puzzle.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's about impact, right, like she says, connecting organizations with quote innovative people capable of transforming organizations, not just maintaining, but actually transforming. That's a high bar, it's a high bar, definitely OK.
Speaker 1:So we're seeing this theme of transformation impact, not just filling a seat, but how? How does she actually do that? What's her secret sauce, do you think?
Speaker 2:Well, one thing that comes across in everything she does is this persistence, like she's relentless. One quote from her profile that really stood out to me. She says I'm not satisfied until I find the right solution.
Speaker 1:Wow, ok, yeah, so she doesn't give up easily Determined.
Speaker 2:Exactly. But it's more than just you know sheer determination. Her profiles highlight adapting to evolving circumstances and guaranteeing regular, open communication as being, like, absolutely crucial to her process. So it's not just about having a brilliant eye for talent, but also being like, incredibly agile and adaptable throughout the whole process.
Speaker 1:Almost like you're navigating this constantly shifting landscape the job market, the companies, the candidates.
Speaker 2:Yes, and you're doing it together because that transparency, that open communication that builds trust Right, which is essential in this field we're talking about people's careers, their livelihoods, the future of companies.
Speaker 1:High stakes. So you've got to have that strong foundation of trust.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And what I find interesting is that for Aveda it's not just about the business side of it. She talks about how this work is personally fulfilling for her. She says it expands my outlook and opens fresh perspectives.
Speaker 1:You can tell there's a real passion there. It's not just a job. It's like she's genuinely invested in the success of the people she works with.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, totally. And speaking of diverse perspectives, can we talk about Aveda's like multilingualism? It's kind of amazing.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, yes, english, czech, german and she's even learning Slovenian, like just for fun, right, it's incredible.
Speaker 2:Right, it's incredible. I mean think about the advantage that gives her just on a practical level. She can connect with people from so many different backgrounds, navigate all sorts of business environments.
Speaker 1:It's like she's got a secret decoder ring for global business or something.
Speaker 2:Uh-huh yeah, Understanding not just the language but the unspoken rules, the cultural nuances.
Speaker 1:The stuff that can make or break a deal. Right, those subtle cues.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and in today's world, which is only becoming more and more interconnected, that ability to bridge those cultural divides.
Speaker 1:It's not just a nice to have, it's essential, it's invaluable. It's like I don't know, her superpower or something, this multilingualism. It lets her connect on a whole other level, you know.
Speaker 2:Totally yeah. And that actually brings us to another really important part of how Evita works, her focus on those win-win situations.
Speaker 1:Right right, it's not just about like you get a job, company's happy done. She says her goal is bigger than that. It's about let me see if I can find the quote- she's got some good ones she does Okay, here it is.
Speaker 2:Creating connections that drive success and leave everyone motivated and fulfilled. I love that because it shows she's not just filling a slot. It's got to be something that ignites both sides right.
Speaker 1:Yes, For the person and the company like lighting that fire.
Speaker 2:It's about finding that alignment right, when someone's skills and personality not only match the job description, but they also gel with the company's culture. You've got to be excited about the opportunity, feel valued.
Speaker 1:It's that sense of belonging right, Like you're not just a cog in the machine.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and that's when you get those amazing results. Actually, it made me think of that one placement Iveta made maybe you read about it too where the candidate initially seemed like kind of a left field choice.
Speaker 1:Oh yes, For that tech startup right when the guy had, like an arts background, not the typical engineer you'd expect.
Speaker 2:Right. But Iveda, she saw something in him, some spark, and it turned out to be a perfect fit. He ended up leading them through like a crazy period of growth, completely exceeded expectations.
Speaker 1:See, that's what I mean about those hidden opportunities. She's got this talent for spotting them. It's like trusting your gut too, right 100%.
Speaker 2:But also backing it up with, like we said before, that clear communication, that dedication to making it work, because even in that case I remember reading there were some bumps in the road cultural differences, communication styles to navigate.
Speaker 1:Oh for sure, Anytime you're dealing with people, there's going to be some of that.
Speaker 2:Exactly, but because Iveda had built that foundation of trust, that open dialogue, they were able to work through it all.
Speaker 1:And that's something we can all learn from. You know, whatever we do building those strong connections, it takes work, communication, a willingness to be open and adapt.
Speaker 2:It's a two-way street, for sure You've got to be willing to meet people where they are.
Speaker 1:And listen, really listen, and try to understand their perspective.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Empathy is key, Otherwise you're just talking at someone, not with them.
Speaker 1:Makes you think right, like how often do we miss out on those kind of hidden opportunities Just because I don't know? We're so stuck in that like conventional way of thinking.
Speaker 2:It's easy to get caught up in the checklist right the resume, the qualifications.
Speaker 1:Exactly, and Aveda's story. It's like this reminder that whoa sometimes those impactful connections, they come from the most unexpected places.
Speaker 2:It's about being open right.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:To the possibilities, to those little what-if moments.
Speaker 1:And trusting your gut. She clearly has this incredible intuition, like we were saying, but then she backs it up with the work, the communication, that desire to see everyone win.
Speaker 2:That's the big takeaway. I think it's not just about you know your own individual success, it's about lifting others up along the way. Aveda's career it really shows the power of connection, like how it can create this ripple effect of positive change.
Speaker 1:It's inspiring, honestly. So, as we kind of wrap up our deep dive here into Aveda's world, the art of connection. What's the one thing you hope our listeners, what do you want them to take away from all of this?
Speaker 2:Hmm, that's a good one. I think it's this. Every interaction, even the small ones, those quick encounters, they have the potential to spark something amazing.
Speaker 1:It's about being present, right, approaching each conversation, each meeting, with this sense of curiosity, empathy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that genuine human connection.
Speaker 1:Exactly. Who knows right, Maybe that next Iveda moment, that opportunity, it's just around the corner.
Speaker 2:Waiting for you to create it.
Speaker 1:Love that. All right, everyone. That's a wrap on this deep dive. Go out there, make those connections and see what incredible things you can build together.