Knightsbridge in the News

How to Find the "Hidden Job Market"

May 14, 2013

Knightsbridge Senior Consultant Patricia Polischuk provides helpful job searching tips for recent graduates

CTV News Kitchener - Provincewide

The prospect of finding work can be daunting for recent graduates, especially in an era of online databases.

In an interview with CTV News' Provincewide, Knightsbridge Human Capital's Patricia Polischuk provides helpful insights into how job searching has changed, the importance of networking, and finding the "hidden job market".

Click below to watch the interview.

Tim Hortons Inc. appoints a new CEO: Marc Caira

May 09, 2013

Five years after a failed attempt to find a CEO to replace Paul House began, Tim Hortons picks a new leader: Nestle Professional executive Marc Caira

Francine Kopun - The Star

Marc Caira, the newly appointed president and CEO of Tim Hortons Inc., has proven he can perform in a business crisis of the worst kind.

In 2003, as the newly minted CEO of Parmalat Dairy & Bakery Canada, he increased the company’s profitability while the parent company – Italian food giant Parmalat Finanziaria SpA – melted down under the heat of an accounting scandal that was compared to Enron.

Caira hired forensic accountants to ensure the Canadian books were clean, reorganized and streamlined operations to improve profitability, and led the company to a banner 2004, according to a news report at the time.

Tips For Staff Retention, Scaling Small Business: Wave, Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions, Klass Capital

May 02, 2013

Star Business Club - Toronto Star

As startups evolve and grow, Canadian entrepreneurs need to be mindful of the fact that rapid changes in culture, management structure, and communication can put them at risk for losing top talent.

This means that in today’s rapidly evolving, highly competitive startup landscape, small business owners must find innovative strategies to retain valuable employees.

Syncrude President and CEO to chair the Canadian Chamber's new Human Resources Policy Committee

April 17, 2013

Canada Newswire

Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, announced today that Scott Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Syncrude Canada Ltd., will Chair the new Human Resources Policy Committee of the Canadian Chamber.

"There is hardly a more urgent issue for Canadian business than skills and human resources," said Mr. Beatty. "The Canadian Chamber has been front and centre on the skills shortages that are threatening Canada's economic growth and competitiveness. By lending his name and talents to our new committee, Mr. Sullivan brings significant credibility to our efforts to confront this issue."

Mr. Sullivan oversees the operations of Syncrude, which has more than 5,000 employees and is one of Canada's largest producers of crude oil from the Alberta oil sands. Mr. Sullivan joined Syncrude in July 2012, and brought 32 years of experience from working in executive, managerial and technical roles for a global energy company.

Charity Begins at Home

February 14, 2013

So does corporate responsibility. Values-based community engagement boosts employee retention by adding meaning

Camille N. Isaacs-Morell - Your Workplace - Volume 15 Issue 1

The proverb "charity begins at home" tells us that in order to extend a helping hand, we need to make sure that our own house is in order first. That inherent wisdom is valuable in the corporate world, too.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has evolved from charitable contributions and philanthropy to the expectation that corporations are obligated to act responsibly in support of society's well-being. CST reports offer the public some proof that corporations are acting responsibly and are continuing to earn the right to exist in the society that support their business.

Canada AM: Mental health and cultural differences

February 07, 2013

CTV Canada am

Liane Davey, member of the Board of Trustees of the Psychology Foundation of Canada and the Program Chair of Diversity in action, Julia Ghani, and Vishvak Suthakar discuss educating new Canadians about mental health issues and connecting them to services.

Master soft skills in the modern market

January 21, 2013

Ylva Van Buuren - Metro News

OK, you know there are certain tangible skills — called hard skills — you need to do any job.

But there’s also a huge need today for soft skills, says Sandra Boyd, principal of career solutions with Knightsbridge, a human capital solutions firm. She says everyone needs to engage effectively with customers, clients or colleagues across an organization.

Soft skills refer to the personal qualities, habits, attitudes and even manners that you bring to the workplace. Companies value soft skills and often see them as just as important to job performance as hard skills.

Employees get creative in how they give back

January 09, 2013

Derek Sankey - Ottawa Citizen

Employees are getting creative in their approach to philanthropy. Giving strategies are adapting to social media and are no longer seen as a matter of simply writing a cheque - not that charities would refuse that, either.

Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions launched its Gift of Advice campaign earlier this month as a "pay-it-forward" program that uses social media to solicit advice from its vast network of clients and senior executives to raise $20,000 for the United Way over the holiday.

Instead of lending its in-house expertise to not-for-profits, Knightsbridge is donating $25 for each piece of advice given using LinkedIn on how to be a better business leader through inspiring stories to promote strong leadership development - a resource charities can benefit from.

680 News - Interview about Gift of Advice

December 18, 2012

Mike Eppel - 680 News

Click below to hear Mike Eppel of 680 News Toronto interview Sandra Boyd about the Knightsbridge Gift of Advice Campaign.

Knightsbridge and Isobar give “The Gift Of Advice” this holiday season

December 18, 2012

Carly Lewis - Marketing Mag

Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions‘s new holiday campaign is asking donors to help raise $20,000 for the United Way – with no donation required.

Instead of having people open their wallets for the fundraiser, Knightsbridge, alongside communications agency Isobar, has requested that they join The Gift of Advice discussion group on LinkedIn and leave a piece of advice for others to read. In return, Knightsbridge will donate $25 for each gem of wisdom.

Gift of Advice

December 18, 2012

Dear Editor Section

Jaymes H Beatty - The Montreal Tribune

Each of us can remember the one piece of game-changing advice; whether it was for a job interview, our career direction or a business strategy. This is the type of peer-to-peer advice that a creative holiday and charity-benefiting campaign is aiming to collect from people across the country as an alternative to sending out a traditional holiday card. The Gift of Advice is a pay-it-forward campaign where Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions will contribute up to $20,000 to United Way; $25 for each piece of business advice shared. Interviews are available with Knightsbridge experts to talk about this campaign as well as provide general tips for putting your best professional step forward in the new year.

Give Advice, Not Cash

December 18, 2012

Don McCracken - High River Online

A national career development company has come up with a different way of helping out the United Way.

Richard Whaley, the Vice-President of Career Solutions with Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions says they're not looking for financial donations. "We've asked people to share advice on being a better leader in today's challenging business world, and each piece of advice we receive Knightsbridge will donate $25.. to the United Way with a goal of raising $25,000.00."

He says the idea is to simply gather as much good advice on leadership from as many people as possible and it will be published on their website December 18th. Whaley says they're looking for input from just about anyone, "Everybody can be a leader, you don't have to be someone who quote, manages people, we're looking for a very broad spectrum of advice and we're going to sort of look at the trends and then publish them."

Leaders who don’t play nice get kicked out of the sandbox

November 22, 2012

Gillian Livingston - Globe and Mail

In this age of collaboration, senior executives are learning that if they don’t follow the simple lessons they learned in kindergarten they risk getting thrown out of the sandbox.

Share everything. Play fair. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. The advice in Robert Fulghum’s popular book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, has more resonance than ever in the working world.

And executives who can’t master the skills of the sandbox may see their career aspirations buried in the dirt.

2013 Canadian Business Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

November 19, 2012

Canadian Business Hall of Fame

In preparation for the Gala Dinner and Induction Ceremony on May 1, 2013, the Canadian Business Hall of Fame today announced its 35th Class of Inductees:

– Mr. Peter Gilgan, Founder and CEO, Mattamy Homes
– Mr. Ian Greenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, Astral
– Mr. David Mirvish, President, Ed Mirvish Enterprises
– Mr. Joseph Shannon, President, Atlantic Corporation

Each year, the Canadian Business Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates the lifetime accomplishments of Canada’s business leaders. These four business leaders are being recognized for their business excellence and outstanding professional achievements and enduring contributions to Canadian society.

“These inductees and the companions of the past represent and showcase the power of knowledge, entrepreneurship and drive to succeed,” said Mr. Tom O'Neill, Chair of the Board of BCE and Bell, and Chancellor, Order of the Business Hall of Fame. “The inductees have been chosen for the significant contributions they have made to Canada's economy, its citizens and the examples they have set for others.”

Learning curve: Hire power

October 03, 2012

By: Tracy Clayson - Materials Management and Distribution

When thinking about leadership, we often focus on the skills and abilities that make leaders strong: their vision, their ability to think strategically, their strength as communicators and negotiators.

When thinking about a successful company, we often focus on how it managed to create and grow its business: by gaining market dominance, by exceeding clients’ expectations, by designing and creating products and services, and by tapping the strength and talent pool of the company’s leaders.

This last item is the most crucial. Companies are built by their leadership teams, so it is paramount that organizations select and retain top industry performers. This is where HR comes in. CEOs and other senior executives need to rely on human resources departments to find and keep strong leaders and top players, and this is especially true now in this tough economic market.

A recent study conducted by the Human Resource Professional Association (HRPA) and Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions examined the CEO’s perspective of the human resources department and the work it does.

Next >>