Community

ghSMART makes a positive impact in our broader community. Below are examples of some of the philanthropic contributions that ghSMART team members have made while at the firm.  
   

Congressional Management Foundation

 
Description: Helping bring management best practices to government  
Problem: Need to learn how to hire better for legislative staff roles  
Action: Delivered multiple workshops to House Chiefs of Staff and Senate Legislative Directors  
Outcome: Multiple US Representative offices have used the techniques to hire A Players for their legislative staff
 
   

Entrepreneurs' Organization

 
Description: Global network of more than 7,300 business owners in 42 countries  
Problem: Selecting CEO for global organization  
Actions: 1. Listened to board of directors' wishes and goals
2. Designed CEO selection process and trained board
3. Conducted SmartAssessment® on finalist candidate
 
Outcome: CEO selection was considered a success and is still in place after three-plus year tenure
 
   

Non-Profit Foundation to Prevent Genocide

 
Description: Helping draw awareness to and stopping genocide across the globe  
Problem: Providing feedback and coaching to the founding executive director to enable him to be more effective  
Actions: 1. Built scorecard for role, gaining buy-in of entire board
2. Conducted SmartFeedback®
3. Coached the executive director for six months including advising him on organizational changes
 
Outcomes: 1. Helped him see how a new org structure would enable the organization to function more effectively
2. Improved his focus on key areas enabling him to manage more efficiently and with greater impact
 
   

Harlem Success Academy

 
Description: Growing charter school network in New York City  
Problem: Hiring 100+ top educational and administrative staff with limited time and resources  
Actions: 1. Advised senior management on teacher and principal selection
2. Trained selection team on best practices in interviewing
 
Outcome: Selection process is more efficient and producing better candidates  
   

KIPP - Knowledge is Power Program

 
Description: Largest charter school operator in U.S. profiled in Outliers and BusinessWeek as a successful model for educating at-risk children  
Problem: #1 problem to successful growth was hiring principals and teachers  
Actions: 1. Donated Who books to senior decision makers
2. Designed training program for principal and teacher selection
3. Providing people strategy sessions and follow-up consultations to aid in implementation
 
Outcome: Selection process is more efficient and producing better candidates  
   

Murphy-Harpst Children's Centers

 
Description: Residential foster care home for children with severe emotional or behavioral disorders  
Problem: CEO Succession –select replacement for CEO who is retiring after 20 years of service  
Actions: 1. Recommended full end-to-end succession process to board (approved)
2. Worked with management and board to develop Scorecard for CEO role (in process)
3. Sourced candidates (upcoming)
4. Screened candidates to generate list of finalists (upcoming)
5. Interviewed finalists (upcoming)
6. Recommended CEO hire to board (upcoming)
 
Outcome: Selection process is ongoing  
   

Sewickley Academy

 
Description: Pre-K through grade 12 independent school located in Western Pennsylvania
 
Problem: Selecting a new principal  
Actions: 1. Advised board of trustees on principal selection process
2. Conducted SmartAssessments® on finalist candidates
3. Helped Board select a candidate that was not a clear choice
 
Outcomes: 1. Record endowment revenue raised by new principal
2. Curriculum was improved and staff was upgraded with key new hires
3. Principal received A+ performance reviews for five-plus year tenure
 
   

The Global Fund for Children

 
Description: Provides capital to strengthen innovative community-based organization serving the most vulnerable
 
Problems: Setting up new hiring process tied to strategy. Preparing for growth.  
Actions: 1. Facilitated organization Scorecard discussion
2. Helped create the employee hiring guide
3. Coached CEO / founder on a number of topics
 
Outcome: Organization better prepared to grow by hiring and leveraging strategic talent