Chloe Barker brings a unique perspective to BarkerGilmore, drawing on her experience managing high-stakes projects and client relationships in the architectural industry. Her extensive background spans various business sectors, including life sciences, finance, higher education, telecommunications, and broadcast & media, enhancing her ability to understand and meet our clients’ specific needs.
Leveraging her corporate background, Chloe places high-performing talent into key in-house counsel and compliance positions, building lasting relationships with both clients and candidates alike.
Why did you decide to transition from the architectural industry to the executive search world?
In my years in the architectural industry, I’ve been incredibly grateful for the experiences and opportunities I’ve had. Over time, my passion shifted from focusing on design to helping others grow and succeed professionally. The chance to positively influence peoples’ career paths while helping to achieve long-term corporate goals was incredibly appealing. I’m fortunate to do this daily as Senior Director at BarkerGilmore.
What advantages does your background and first-hand understanding of the executive search business give you?
Design is highly subjective. It requires agility to navigate the nuances of corporate clients, particularly when dealing with a range of stakeholders with different goals. My background enables me to apply my creative thinking and problem-solving skills in new ways. Those experiences have honed my ability to quickly adapt and respond to changing client objectives.
In what ways did you make the most significant impact on your previous company?
Visually and verbally, everyone communicates differently. The key is to discover the language each client uses in order to communicate in a manner that’s familiar, and that they can identify with. As lead designer for major clients in the entertainment and finance industries, I’ve stepped in to manage during transitional periods when previous designers had left. Building trust as a new addition to the team, particularly in a leadership role, is challenging. At the outset, I focus on ensuring that the client feels heard and is confident in my abilities. By listening and delivering consistent, high-quality service, I seek to establish long-term partnerships based on trust and mutual success. This approach has fostered meaningful, lasting relationships involving many projects, significantly contributing to my former company’s financial success.
How do you work to cultivate your emotional intelligence?
Developing emotional intelligence has been a journey of self-awareness, growth, and continuous learning. The guidance and support of my mentors throughout my career have been instrumental in my personal journey. The supportive environment they’ve provided has allowed me to experiment and learn from my mistakes, building my confidence and honing my emotional intelligence while positively strengthening my personal and professional relationships.
What are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about helping people. The mentors who provided me with opportunities to succeed sparked my desire to do the same for others. At the outset of my career, someone gave me an opportunity to showcase my talents as an intern, which led to a full-time position. Inspired by that experience, I co-led an overhaul of the company’s internship program to better align with industry talent needs. We aimed to attract top talent, invest in their growth, and retain them as full-time employees after graduation. We hired many of those interns to become full-time employees, most of whom are still working there.
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