Executive search

Safeguard the future success of your organization with a fulsome and intentional search to recruit and retain the right executive.

Establish effective hiring practices

Hire the most effective executive using sound judgment and a rigorous process rooted in a deep understanding of the essential qualities needed for the role, open-mindedness, and allowances for a candidate’s authenticity and imperfection.

Understand your potential new leader

Recruit an executive that will lead by example in alignment with your organization’s values and purpose while exercising sound strategic and operational decision-making.

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New
Course!

Realize Solutions teaches

Talent Edge: Essential Hiring and Retention Tactics

8 Hours • 4 Modules • 44 Lessons
Learn proven strategies to elevate your employer brand and recruitment and retention practices, making your company the top choice for high-performers and innovators.

Recruited and developed an executive director for QMUNITY

"We need more than just a solid resume, we need a leader who represents our community and lives our mission and values.”

-Board chair, QMUNITY

Read the case study

Expert opinion

"Executive search is a highly important undertaking with many moving parts. It not only identifies the next leader of your organization, it’s also an opportunity to build your organization’s reputation. We can ensure a thorough process, while also managing the expectations and experiences of the many stakeholders involved."

Michael Cook

Client solutions in technology and product innovation

The 6 phases of Executive search

Phase 1

Create an engaging job ad that accurately conveys the key parameters of the role.

Phase 2

Source and engage prospective executive candidates.

Phase 3

Conduct pre-screening and interview preparation.

Phase 4

Host candidate interviews and evaluate the merits of your prospects.

Phase 5

Select the right candidate and begin the hiring process.

Phase 6

Prepare to onboard your chosen executive team member.

Our team

Meet your team of Client Solutions specialists.

Who we are

Alison Marshall

Principal

Alison Marshall

Client solutions in strategy and leadership / MBA

Alison Marshall has over twenty years of consulting experience supporting public-sector and nonprofit organizations in strategic planning, organizational design, and change management. With both an MBA and a BA in Psychology informing her approach, Alison is uniquely skilled at helping institutions identify opportunities, navigate challenges, and optimize strategies to support their mission. She has worked at Realize Solutions for nineteen years and is an expert in facilitating in-person and virtual sessions with Boards, leadership teams, and management groups. Alison’s people-centred method to strategy and development ensures that the most valuable resources of an organization, its employees, are considered throughout the process.

Thought leadership

Harvard Business Review Says Corporate Leaders Should “Stop Softening Tough Feedback.” But What About Non-Profits?

Brad Boyce

Director

Brad Boyce

Client solutions in finance and accounting

With more than twenty years of experience in finance and procurement behind him, Brad’s expertise lies in his holistic understanding of the financial ecosystem of community-based organizations. He is able to interpret financials while maintaining a focus on the larger goals, values, and purpose of an institution. Brad has a keen eye for efficiencies, making him an expert in building sound organizational foundations and finding creative solutions to financial issues.

Being Financially Prepared for the “New Normal”: Back to the Basics

John Kay

CEO

John Kay

Client solutions in strategy, governance, leadership, and finance / CPA, CMA, MBA

Over the last twenty years, John Kay has held senior and executive positions in both the private and public sectors, and supported projects spanning social services, real estate, insurance, finance, food and beverage, education, arts, tourism, and more. As a Principal Consultant at Realize Solutions, John assists executive clients in driving sustainable, transformative organizational change through strategy, governance, culture, and business model innovation. As CEO of Realize Solutions, he supports and empowers his team in unlocking their potential and creativity to strengthen and support their clients. John serves as chair on several nonprofit and co-op boards across the country, and seeks inspiration in people-centred businesses locally and abroad.

Thought leadership

Laurie Wilson

Advisor

Laurie Wilson

Client solutions in culture and risk management / MA Risk

A social scientist, Laurie Wilson takes a people-centric lens and uses organizational psychology to design resilient and adaptive organizational frameworks. Applying her expertise in risk and resilience, Laurie partners with organizations to assess and manage risk, develop people systems and behaviours that foster long-term growth and resilience, and cultivate powerful employee experiences. As a consultant with Realize Solutions, Laurie helps clients to enhance their organizational capabilities and adaptive capacity; identify strategically-aligned leadership candidates; augment their knowledge management; and optimize their organizational structure.

Lisa Zentner

Director

Lisa Zentner

Client solutions in business development and marketing

Lisa is a bilingual professional with multinational experience in business development, brand building, strategic marketing, and digital communications. She has worked with nonprofits and corporations across multiple industries and sectors including international development, ethical trade, environment, SaaS, aerospace, and consumer products. Her varied background gives her a unique vantage point to build impactful strategies into customer-focused campaigns that support business opportunities and drive action. Lisa is exceptionally skilled in global stakeholder engagement, cross-functional management, and new business creation.

Maintained market share and stakeholder relevance for Recycle BC

Mark Roseland

Senior Associate

Mark Roseland

Client solutions in sustainability, climate, and development / Ph.D., MCIP, RPP

Dr. Mark Roseland is a groundbreaking sustainability leader innovating solutions for communities, governments, and organizations. As a professor of planning and development at Arizona State University and Simon Fraser University, he has advised a range of organizations including governments, state/provincial and federal agencies, foundations, developers and media organizations. He has produced sustainability plans, performance assessments, policy documents, communications strategies, and tools for monitoring, decision-support and implementation. In addition to his field-defining research, teaching and publications, Dr. Roseland helps produce practical innovations in areas such as mobility, food, housing, energy, climate, planning and economic development.

Michael Cook

Senior Advisor

Michael Cook

Client solutions in technology and product innovation

Michael has decades of experience leading digital innovation, strategic growth, and people-centred change management at all scales from international enterprises to small startups. Along with holding senior and executive positions, Michael has supported projects across a variety of industries including technology, digital media, and online marketplaces and platforms. At Realize, Michael partners with clients to create transformative success through governance, strategy, and operational excellence, employing a blend of collaborative innovation, insightful data analysis, and agile leadership to navigate and thrive in dynamic market conditions.

Maintained market share and stakeholder relevance for Recycle BC

Samantha Lee

Manager

Samantha Lee

Client solutions in communications and content

Samantha is an experienced marketing professional who supports organizations in finding, clarifying, and boosting their voices and brands. Her expertise allows her to quickly distill and capture the essence of your organization by identifying core values which resonate with stakeholders, and helping to align internal and external brand identities. As she crafts content for Realize Solutions and our clients, Samantha maintains focus on creating a consistent user experience so that the final product is clear, articulate and aligned with the larger vision. She has worked on projects across North America spanning a variety of private and public sector organizations including healthcare, government, technology, advocacy, and consumer goods.

Can't find what you're looking for?

Access free resources and insights to solve your challenge.

Establish effective hiring practices

Understand your potential new leader

Realize Solutions teaches

Talent Edge: Essential Hiring and Retention Tactics

Recruited and developed an executive director for QMUNITY

"We need more than just a solid resume, we need a leader who represents our community and lives our mission and values.”

Expert opinion

The 6 phases of Executive search

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Phase 6

Our team

Alison Marshall

Alison Marshall

Projects involved in

Thought leadership

Brad Boyce

Brad Boyce

Thought leadership

John Kay

John Kay

Projects involved in

Thought leadership

Laurie Wilson

Laurie Wilson

Projects involved in

Lisa Zentner

Lisa Zentner

Projects involved in

Mark Roseland

Mark Roseland

Michael Cook

Michael Cook

Projects involved in

Samantha Lee

Samantha Lee

Thought leadership

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