Businesses use their talents to help Calgary thrive

Some of the team at Boyden’s Calgary office, including, front row, from left, Kevin Gregor, Jodie Scott, Morgan Campbell and Fay Quon. Back row, from left, Jackie Gruber, Nathan Berko, Nicole King, Mikyla Hall, Meghan Kotowich, Jelena Marjanovic, Robert Travis and Kenny Gregor.

This article was originally published by Calgary Herald and Calgary Economic Development. 

Boyden is more than a leading Calgary executive search firm with global reach.

It’s a community builder.

“Our business is placing executives into leading companies and organizations, but our broader value proposition is that we are a very community-minded firm,” says Morgan Campbell, a managing partner of Boyden Canada’s Calgary office that opened more than 20 years ago.

“We call it Leading with Purpose. In other words, we’re not all about the almighty dollar; we care about giving back and being an integral part of Calgary’s social fabric.”

Founded in 1946 in the United States, Boyden has 65 offices in 42 countries and employs more than 130 people across Canada, including more than 20 full-time staff in Calgary.

“Our success is founded on becoming partners with our clients on their journey to find the best leaders for their organization,” says Kevin Gregor, another partner at Boyden’s Calgary office. “But we’re also partners in the communities in which we work, with many of our team taking lead roles on community and non-profit boards.”

As well, Boyden hosts regular events throughout the year to help charitable causes, including its popular Guinness and Green, a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Petroleum Club.

“It’s an annual tradition in Calgary that we celebrate with between 400 and 600 people,” says managing partner Robert Travis.

“It’s quite a big event,” he adds, with Guinness and Green raising tens of thousands of dollars each year for local charities.

Of course, the March campaign is one among many community initiatives at Boyden.

While Boyden’s primary practice is supporting a diverse set of small, mid and large-cap private sector organizations, one of the more unique ways the firm gives back is by using its expertise to support impactful non-profit organizations find board members and executives.

“We have helped the Calgary Drop-in and Rehab Centre find its executive director, and found leaders for United Way, just to name a couple of examples,” Campbell says.

Attracting top talent to clients in Calgary, across all sectors, is also a key stimulus for the city.

“We have a collective desire to match organizations with the right talent to meet their business objectives. Calgary plays a big role in Canada’s economy and we are proud to continuously partner with locally-based organizations in their executive talent needs,” Travis explains.

Another recent initiative for the firm is its involvement with Calgary Economic Development to promote the city.

“When we get asked to have a meeting with a new company trying to decide on Calgary as its head office, we do it for the betterment of Calgary, not because there is potential benefit of our firm,” Gregor says. “That really speaks to our overall community-mindedness.

“When it comes to serving the community, we walk the talk.”