Diversified Search Group Names Managing Directors in Chicago and Washington D.C.
June 14, 2021 – Diversified Search Group has added three managing directors – Steve Edwards, Robin Goolsbee and David Kuguru – to its burgeoning non-profit, corporate and life sciences practices. Following an accelerated demand for new leadership in the wake of the pandemic, the search firm says it has seen a 30 percent surge in business and market growth in all sectors. “We are pleased that Steve, Robin and David have joined our firm, adding their expertise, ideas and energy as we remain committed to setting the standard for excellence in the executive search industry,” said CEO Dale E. Jones. “By attracting talent from a variety of backgrounds and skill-sets, Diversified Search Group’s growth mirrors that which we deliver to our clients.”
Mr. Edwards joins the firm’s non-profit and connected leadership practices, based in Chicago. Before joining Diversified Search Group, Mr. Edwards served as chief content officer of WBEZ Chicago Public Media, Chicago’s NPR News station. Previously, he spent nearly 20 years as an award-winning journalist, producer, and program host, appearing on the BBC, Bloomberg News, PBS and more.
From 2012 to 2017, Mr. Edwards served as executive director of the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, a non-partisan program devoted to elevating civic discourse and cultivating the next generation of public service leaders. He is also the recipient of numerous journalism honors, including the Grand Award in Radio from the National Headliner Club, the RTNDA’s Edward R. Murrow Award, as well as awards from the Associated Press, NABJ, the Society of Professional Journalists and UPI, among others. Mr. Edwards earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Amherst College and was a Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan.
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Ms. Goolsbee joins the corporate and life sciences practices, also based in Chicago. For the last eight years, Ms. Goolsbee has served as a senior principal with Business Talent Group, the largest network of independent consultants in the U.S., leading key client relationships across Fortune 1000 life sciences clients, major foundations, and professional services firms.
Prior to her time with BTS, Ms. Goolsbee was an independent strategy consultant, an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company, and director of business development at MTV International. She began her career with The Boston Consulting Group in its consumer goods practice. Ms. Goolsbee earned her bachelor’s degree from Yale University and MBA from Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.
Mr. Kuguru joins the corporate practice, based in Washington, D.C. He joins Diversified Search Group following time with T-Mobile/Sprint, serving as director of internet of things sales, where he co-launched the first cohort of “Curiosity University,” a certification for advanced IoT experts; he also co-led the identification of joint IoT, 5G & AR R&D projects and engaged in bridging the digital divide for Native American tribes.
Previously, he served as strategic advisor for International Finance Corporation in Washington, D.C., and as managing executive at Vodafone Business. Mr. Kuguru earned his bachelor’s degree at Messiah College, MBA at Eastern University and MLA at the University of Pennsylvania.
Diversified Search Group is a family of recruiting firms serving specialized sectors. The firm was founded almost five decades ago by Judith M. von Seldeneck for the express purpose of placing diverse candidates in client organizations. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Diversified Search is the largest U.S. female-owned and founded firm in the executive recruitment industry.
A Wealth of Experience
Earlier this year, Diversified added veteran search executive Margaret Resce Milkint as a managing director and leader of its global insurance practice, in Chicago. “Margaret brings not only a wealth of experience, but also so much more,” said Mr. Jones. “Her strategic thinking, unparalleled market knowledge, and emotional intelligence will be invaluable assets as we recruit and place tomorrow’s leaders in healthcare and insurance.”
“As someone who has been a strong advocate for women in business since the founding of the firm, I am always thrilled to welcome an outstanding, accomplished woman into our company,” said Ms. von Seldeneck.
“Margaret’s key leadership abilities and experience – and her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, which mirror our own – will be invaluable.”
Ms. Milkint is a seasoned talent strategist, DEI champion and evangelist for talent innovation, transformation, and excellence, said the firm. She comes to Diversified Search Group with 35 years of experience in the search industry. Her search career has focused on insurance and healthcare in the C-suite, most notably in filling CEO, COO, CFO, chief actuary, CIO, CRO and chief medical officer/physician executive roles. She has also done considerable work in the boardroom. She brings experience in the property and casualty, life, health, and reinsurance sectors, including insurtech, and has successfully conducted searches in actuarial, analytics, underwriting, claims, operations, risk, finance, investment, legal, technology, sales/distribution and marketing.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
