The Talent Business Promotes Olivia Skone to UK Managing Director, Business and Marketing Leadership

Since joining The Talent Business in 2013, Olivia Skone has partnered the world’s leading creative businesses; helping them to identify and secure senior talent across agencies and brand owners, with a focus on business leaders and marketers. Following a recent promotion to managing director, she now heads up The Talent Business’ UK Business & Marketing practice out of the Group’s London office. She talks to Patrick Burgoyne about what she’s learnt in her 10 years at the leading headhunter.

Patrick> Why did you become a head hunter? 

Olivia> I see it as a purpose-driven role. We help people find their super power. This is the one thing that truly defines them and is the lens through which they can tell the story. I find it exhilarating to listen to peoples’ stories and find the thread that truly makes a candidate stand out, that links all their successes. Because we aren’t on commission at TTB, we are able to properly partner with our candidates and help them find their True North  - and that can be to stick in their current role as much as it is finding their perfect next step. We are able to give them objective advice on their careers which I think candidates really value. Our role is like being on First Dates – you have to be great with people and establish a connection quickly. Maybe that’s our superpower. 

Patrick> Why TTB?

Olivia> I joined TTB specifically because we are all ex-industry. Most of us have been at TTB for over 10 years– that speaks to our strong culture and collective wealth of experience.  They were my head hunter throughout my 16 year career, which spanned agency and brand-side and I always had such a positive, strategic experience. Clients also appreciate our industry backgrounds – it’s an invaluable shortcut. 

Patrick> You’re now heading up the Business Leadership team at The Talent Business: in order to inspire those people who are looking for purpose in their career, what qualities do modern leaders need to have?

Olivia> Creative businesses are our speciality, it’s what we do.  High performing leaders in these organisations nurture an environment of psychological safety, allowing their people to challenge the status quo and bring fresh ideas to the table. They need to be open to collaboration, being brave enough to admit fallibility. Progressive leadership is a dialogue not a dictatorship.  

Patrick> We’ve had a hugely disruptive few years in terms of the world of work – what are the major changes that you are seeing?

Olivia> Covid, hybrid working, and the focus on DEI and purpose have brought a whole new level of complexity to employer brands in the creative space. What makes an employer stand out in a competitive market for senior talent is one that rises to the challenge, recognising the new normal of flexibility and diversity and that people are seeking meaning from their roles more and more. 

These are the businesses attracting the best talent. This is true from the scale ups we work with through to the larger corporates. It’s finding a common ground between the needs of the business and its employees.

Match-making at its best is where culture meets desire. 

Patrick> Businesses might say they want modern, progressive, transformational leadership but how do you ensure they are really prepared for what that means? 

Olivia> Most of the searches we handle are for leaders with a hybrid skillset who can evidence driving some kind of business transformation. We’ve learnt from experience what it takes for these hires to be successful.  These leaders are agents of change. That’s why we ask our client partners some tough questions about what is needed - structurally and culturally - to set everyone up for success.