Diversified Search Group: Pioneering Leadership Solutions for 50 Years

January 10, 2025 – Judee, DSG just celebrated its 50th year in business. To what do you credit your firm’s longevity?
Judee: Our longevity comes down to one simple truth: we understand people—our clients, our candidates, and each other— and we deliver what we promise. From day one, we’ve been about building genuine relationships, setting the bar high for excellence, and rolling with the punches as the market evolves. I’ve always believed that a company thrives when it feels like a family—where folks have each other’s backs and treat one another with kindness and respect. We work hard, and we have a little fun along the way, too. That sense of camaraderie isn’t just internal; our clients see it, feel it, and trust us because of it. At the end of the day, people want to do business with people they like and trust, and I think that’s been our secret sauce for 50 years.
“Acquisitions have played an important role in DSG’s growth, but we have always prioritized thoughtful, strategic partnerships that enhance our ability to serve clients.”
Aileen, you were appointed CEO of DSG in 2021. What has become your primary mandate to expand the firm?
Aileen: My primary mandate has been to accelerate DSG’s evolution from an executive search firm into a broader leadership solutions provider. This includes not only identifying and recruiting transformative leaders but also offering services like consulting and convening leaders to help our clients address their most pressing business and organizational challenges. We’ve worked hard to expand our industry expertise and leverage our global reach while focusing on being innovative and nimble to ensure we deliver exceptional value at every stage of our clients’ leadership needs.
ShoreView Equity, DSG’s PE partner, has made some key acquisitions in recent years but this has slowed of late. Do you think the firm will re-engage in 2025 and look at some new acquisition targets?
Aileen/Judee: Acquisitions have played an important role in DSG’s growth, but we have always prioritized thoughtful, strategic partnerships that enhance our ability to serve clients. Consulting is an area we are focused on growing further. We remain focused on opportunities that align with our vision and strengthen our service offerings. Any future acquisitions will be driven by our commitment to delivering tailored solutions and impactful client outcomes.
Executive search activity was in a decline in 2023 and in 2024. Do you feel more bullish about business in 2025? If so, what might be the reasons for a recovery?
Aileen/Judee: We are optimistic about 2025. The landscape of leadership is shifting rapidly, driven by significant CEO turnover, ongoing digital and technological disruptions, evolving regulatory and policy environments, and broader cultural and transformational shifts. These dynamics create a wealth of opportunity for organizations to rethink and reshape their leadership strategies. While the past few years have been challenging, the demand for solutions to address complex leadership needs—particularly in transformation, technology, and adaptive culture—continues to grow. Companies are increasingly seeking integrated approaches, from strategic consulting to convening, to navigate these challenges effectively. With our expanded suite of services and deep expertise, DSG is uniquely positioned to support our clients in meeting these demands and seizing opportunities for growth and impact in the year ahead.
“At DSG, we’ve always believed in the power of fresh perspectives and forward-thinking leadership, and we think that belief has been a big part of what’s made us successful all these years.”
DSG is the only Top 10 search firm that has been led by a female CEO (by both of you over 50 years) and the first firm to appoint a person of color as CEO (Dale Jones). Despite advancements for both people of color and women in the industry, why do you think the other Top 10 search firms have not elected a female CEO?
Aileen/Judee: Well, leadership succession tends to follow old habits and deep-rooted traditions and change in this area often takes longer than we’d like. While we’ve certainly seen progress, many organizations—including search firms—are still catching up when it comes to rethinking how they select their leaders. At DSG, we’ve always believed in the power of fresh perspectives and forward-thinking leadership, and we think that belief has been a big part of what’s made us successful all these years. We like to think that as the world keeps shifting and the pace of change speeds up, other firms will come around to seeing the real value in broadening their leadership pipeline. It’s not just good business—it’s the way forward. DSG’s leadership story is unique, reflecting our commitment to driving innovation and creating solutions that meet our clients’ needs. As we’ve evolved, we’ve prioritized the kind of leadership that positions us for long-term success—leadership that understands our clients and can adapt to the complexities of today’s marketplace. The broader industry has been slower to follow this approach, but we believe it’s only a matter of time before we see more diverse and dynamic leadership at the helm of top firms.
Executive search is not only expanding upwardly but also outwardly by developing new verticals such as interim, training, coaching, and so on. Which ancillary services look to be the best fit for DSG going forward?
Aileen/Judee: Diversified Search Group has already expanded its offerings to include consulting, leadership assessment, and high impact convening services alongside our core executive search capabilities. Moving forward, we see tremendous potential in these areas, as well as in providing solutions that help organizations tackle broader leadership challenges. Our goal is to deliver comprehensive services that empower our clients to build effective, future-ready leadership teams and achieve their strategic objectives.