Deb Howard helped PAI find the right person for a new, nontraditional COO job. Deb helped us translate our job description into the abilities and behaviors that would make a good fit, such as having good influence skills, being a good negotiator, being a good listener, and thinking before taking action. Then she helped us find the person who had those skills. We selected someone from an organization very different from ours—someone we probably wouldn’t have hired if Deb hadn’t been involved.
The finalist succeeded in every way. Even though she came from a very different environment, she adapted to our culture so well that you would think she had been here for years.
Deb’s helped us with other things, too. She listens to us, she helps us figure out what we’re trying to solve or do, she gets to the root of the problem, and then she gives us really wise counsel. If I have a problem, I feel I can pick up the phone any time and call her about it. She allows people to get to know her on a personal level, which makes working with her much easier because she knows us. She can walk into my office and ask, “Are you having a bad day, Rachael?” because she can tell, she can read people so well. That’s made it very easy to work with her. And we’ll keep doing it.
Rachael Murray Rakestraw
Director of Finance and Administration
Population Action International
Washington, DC
