Empowering Global Collaboration Through Corporate Identity Development

The Challenge

A prominent international network of executive search firms, composed of small and mid-sized businesses from around the world, was facing a fundamental challenge: lack of collaboration. Although the network offered shared branding, marketing, and business development opportunities, many of the firms were operating in silos - or even directly competing with one another.

The missing piece? A clearly defined, unified corporate identity that could align values, mission, and behaviors across all member firms.

My Role

I was delighted to be part of a global team working on this transformative project. Drawing on my experience in recruitment, strategic facilitation, and marketing communications, I contributed to a 6-month initiative aimed at building a cohesive corporate identity - one that could foster trust, clarity, and cooperation across borders.

The Objective

The core goal was to define a corporate identity that resonated with partners in different countries and encouraged a stronger sense of community and collaboration. This included:

• Crafting a shared mission

• Defining core values

• Aligning behavioral expectations

• Building engagement from the ground up

The Process

Over six months, I supported the design and facilitation of a series of virtual workshops with senior leaders from across the network. These included:

• Collaborative work on a clear and relevant mission statement

• Development of an elevator pitch to unify external communication

• Agreement on soft skills and behavioral KPIs to guide internal culture

Working in cross-border groups, the participants contributed their own insights, and progress was regularly reviewed by dedicated internal committees to ensure that the emerging identity reflected the diverse needs of the network.

In-Person Collaboration: The Turning Point

The project culminated in a face-to-face global meeting in Paris, where partners from all member firms gathered to review the outcomes of the initiative. I was honored to attend this meeting and present the results of our six-month journey - alongside an industry trends session that highlighted key developments shaping the future of executive search.

The feedback was extremely positive. Many participants noted that, for the first time, they felt aligned with their global peers. New relationships formed organically, and collaboration began during the event itself.

Impact and Rollout

This initiative set the foundation for a stronger, more connected network. Beyond leadership-level alignment, we also developed recommendations for rolling out the new identity to all team levels: researchers, consultants, and operational staff. These included communication plans, internal training, and activation strategies.

Why It Mattered

This project reinforced the power of intentional corporate identity. It showed that even in decentralized global networks, shared values and a clear mission can bridge gaps, reduce friction, and turn competition into collaboration.