Hiring: Raw Ironies at Paul, Weiss, Goldman Sachs and More

Hiring is a high-risk decision. 

Part of that is this: Almost 50 percent will fail within 18 months in succeeding at what they were onboarded to accomplish. 

But there are plenty of other risks, as former chair of Paul, Weiss Brad Karp found out this week. A "prize" hire back in 2016 - Scott Barshay - participated in the internal coup. Barshay now has Karp's job.

The Wall Street Journal sizes up that hire a decade ago as among Karp's leadership milestone achievements:

"Key to Karp’s success as a firm leader was bringing in Barshay. Karp had spent years publicly retelling the story of how he fought to poach Barshay in 2016 from rival firm Key Cravath to build Paul Weiss’s then-fledging mergers and acquisitions practice." 

The WSJ adds that Barshay had told partners over and over again that he had no desire to be chair. Should that the "lady does protest too much, methinks" have been a red flag about ambition?

Obviously leaders have to factor in the potential of such a strong hire threatening their own careers. In fact, many leaders are aware of just that. As a coach I hear credible stories of those quite qualified to do the actual work not getting hired. They sense and I have concluded likely rightly that they have been perceived as capable of pushing out current leadership. 

But, there is also another risk in hiring what seems like a stellar find. That's to the organizational brand. That seems to be the situation at Goldman Sachs as its top lawyer Kathy Ruemmler's close relationship with late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein continues to be detailed. 

Sure, in financial performance and other metrics, Goldman is going gangbusters. CEO David Solomon has recovered from a barrage of criticism. But, externally and internally the continued employment of this hire is being questioned. The longer Ruemmler is at Goldman the more possible brand erosion. Is the organization's vetting process heavily flawed? 

Meanwhile, one wonders if Bari Weiss at CBS will fall into that category: the celebrated hire who could wind up a liability. That is, she could go down in business history as "Another Marissa Mayer" who failed to turn around Yahoo. 

 So, as Karp goes about rebuilding a platform for extreme accomplishment he might be more circumspect about who he brings into that force field. One ally he can count on is Patriots owner and Paul, Weiss client Robert Kraft. Tomorrow Karp will be highly visible at the Super Bowl in Kraft's box. That's how opportunity comes. That is, being there. His contract at Paul, Weiss ends in May 2028. Shaking off that institutional identity could constitute a new edge.

Success is a mental game. Failure comes from being done in by the “committee” in your head.

Together, we liberate your thinking. Then we change your story. And, unleash success. Meanwhile, we focus on bringing in income. That puts you in a position of strength.

Intuitive Coaching. Special expertise with transitions, becoming a solopreneur and aging. Psychic/tarot readings, upon request. Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova (Text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com). Yes, test out the chemistry. Zero risk.

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