About the Guest(s):

Tom Corbitt, the founder and managing partner of Topline Growth Partners, stands out with over 35 years of extensive experience encompassing leadership coaching and management consulting. Having journeyed from aerospace engineering to becoming a chief human resources officer, his career arcs through diverse roles at notable institutions such as Capital One, S&P Global, Allianz, and SNL Financial. At Topline Growth Partners, located in Richmond, Virginia, he leads in consulting on complex talent projects, designing leadership development programs, and providing C-suite coaching. Beyond his professional endeavors, Tom enjoys fishing, sailing, and cherished moments with his family.

Episode Summary:

In this insightful episode of "Growing Your Business with People," host Jeff Lackey welcomes Tom Corbitt, a seasoned expert in driving business growth through strategic talent optimization. The conversation delves into the symbiotic relationship between thriving employees and accelerating business expansion, illustrating how strategic HR influences can be a potent catalyst for organizational success.

Tom articulates the significance of aligning talent infrastructure with the overarching value creation objectives of private equity sponsors. He underscores the necessity of comprehending and crafting a talent strategy that can endure the pressures and demands of rapid business scaling. With his background in aerospace engineering and various leadership positions, Tom provides a unique perspective on employing analytics to solve talent-related challenges, particularly within people-intensive businesses.

Key Takeaways:

Growing companies and thriving employees are intuitively linked; strategic talent optimization is core to enhancing business growth.

Thoroughly analyzing the talent stack is crucial in private equity hold periods or when aiming for organizational transformation.

Assessing value creation plans against talent analytics identifies gaps and informs sustainable HR investments.

Path to proficiency and first-year retention are pivotal factors influencing EBITDA and should be meticulously measured and optimized.

Coaching, particularly for leaders, is emerging as a key approach to nurture self-sufficient problem solvers within organizations.

Notable Quotes:

"Thrive thriving employees provide exceptional opportunities for companies to grow." - Tom Corbitt

"Every day that you have that person on your payroll that is creating expense but not generating offsetting value, you're going backwards." - Tom Corbitt

"The best strategy for great recruitment starts with reducing attrition." - Jeff Lackey

"If you're not re-recruiting your best people, you're the only one who isn’t." - Tom Corbitt

"Culture is a vehicle with which to tap the intrinsic motivation of your workforce." - Tom Corbitt

Resources:

Topline Growth Partners: https://www.toplinegp.com/

Follow Tom Corbitt on LinkedIn for more insights into talent optimization and leadership coaching.

Gear up for a masterclass in aligning human capital with business growth strategies. Listening to this episode will equip you with the understanding necessary to revolutionize your company's talent approach. Stay tuned for more riveting sessions that promise to illuminate the path of growth for your business and people.