Testimonials
I worked with Marilyn to recruit a new development director for my organization, which focuses on education and advocacy. Mission accomplished!
She met with and listened closely to board members, senior managers and me as we worked to define both the position and, especially, the kind of leader we wanted to bring onboard. Communication between us was clear, constant and candid as we worked together to identify candidates and then move ahead to making an offer to our lead candidate.
I would recommend Marilyn to other nonprofits and would, without question, engage her firm again.
James H. Wendorf, Executive Director, National Center for Learning Disabilities
I am a board member of Urban Pathways, Inc. Urban Pathways works with homeless adults, many of whom are mentally ill, in New York City. I was the head of the search committee that last month hired a new executive director for our agency. We chose Marilyn Machlowitz from among four search firms that we interviewed to assist in our effort. Her background and interpersonal skills, as well as the recommendations that we received from her prior clients, made her the unanimous choice for my committee of seven board members.
We charged Marilyn with the task of finding highly qualified candidates with appropriate connections to the homeless field. We told Marilyn that one objective was to increase the diversity among our senior staff. Although Marilyn had not worked with a homeless organization before, she quickly found her way to all of the right people in our “industry”. She has an uncanny ability to draw out information from some of the most prominent people in our field, learning from them who might be an eligible candidate and why. She presented a slate of eight highly qualified candidates for interviews. They included two who were, at our request, “outside the box” (i.e., not working in the homeless field). The pool of candidates reflected the diversity we requested. We eventually hired one of these candidates, and we are very pleased with our final choice.
Marilyn was a wonderful resource throughout this process. She quickly mastered the dynamics of our organization, and reflected this understanding in the advice she gave us. She helped us evaluate each of the candidates and was particularly responsive to the reactions of the committee members. Marilyn expertly balanced the competing goals of guiding us and adapting to our sometimes changing goals, a balance that is essential to providing recruitment services.
Gerald W. Blume, Board Member, Urban Pathways
I have called on Marilyn Machlowitz over the span of ten years to help recruit top talent in the areas of training and development, human resources leadership, finance, communications and program leadership. Marilyn brings to her search work tremendous enthusiasm, commitment and a network rare to find in the search arena. Marilyn takes the time to learn about the role and culture of the organization and then moves quickly to put into place top quality candidates. Marilyn is second to none in her assessment skills, speed and engagement. A successful placement does not end at the signing of an employment contract. Marilyn offers her time and attention after an appointment has been made, aiding the on-boarding process through follow up with hiring managers and the newly appointed employee. Marilyn is always top of my list of people to call when I am looking for hard to find talent.
Samantha Gilbert, Chief Human Resources Officer, Rockefeller Foundation
Marilyn personally guided us through a tightly-timed search for an Executive Director. She listened and was always available to members of the search committee. She adhered to a structured and organized process. Her follow through was great.
Marilyn brought us a wide range of talented candidates and led us to the selection of an Executive Director, who hit the ground running and has tackled challenging issues head on in these difficult economic times.
Marilyn came highly recommended by the chairman of the board of another not for profit on whose board I served. Our experience was equally as rewarding as his.
Michel Orban, Board Member, Coro
El Museo del Barrio is thrilled to have worked with Machlowitz Consultants in a national search to fill the key position of Director of Finance and Administration. The personal attention devoted to all the aspects of the search, from interviewing key staff and board members to better define the position, to maintaining very good communications along each step of the process resulted in a great pool of candidates and a superlative hire. But most important, after the hire, Marilyn is still present, maintains contact making sure that both the candidate and the organization are adapting to each other to mutual satisfaction. The very caring nature of Marilyn makes the experience professional with the higher standards that one would expect from an external search firm but with the added value of someone that gets to understand the organization and its needs deeply so that it almost feels as from within.
Julian Zugazagoitia, Menefee D. and Mary Louise Blackwell Director, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Marilyn was able to lead us to an audit committee chair for our board, no small feat in these times. Her database has extraordinary range; she zeroes in on useful connections. The more difficult the request, the more her range and skills stand out.
Morris J. Vogel, President, Lower East Side Tenement Museum
Machlowitz Consultants, Inc. has worked on several projects for us. Marilyn's ability to understand our unique needs, coupled with her uncanny knack for finding a wide range of appropriate candidates make her our "go to" person for searches.
Karen Berman, Board President, Congregation Rodeph Sholom
Marilyn Machlowitz is the best nonprofit headhunter I know. After all, she connected me to Trickle Up! (If that's not sufficiently impressive, she has done searches for Rockefeller Foundation, Rockefeller Bros Fund, Rodeph Sholom (she just did their new ED), Channel 13, Atlantic Philanthropies, Studio Museum and many more.) She is very creative in her thinking and tireless in her matchmaking; most of all, I think she is very perceptive in understanding her clients' needs, both explicit and subtle.
Bill Abrams, President, Trickle Up
We hired the first person she showed us… and the following five were really excellent candidates.
Ruth A. Diem, Retired Sr. Vice President, HR, Hearst Magazines
She was one of three firms formally interviewed by the Search Committee. The others were well-regarded national organizations, much larger than Machlowitz Consultants Inc. She became the unanimous choice of the Search Committee.
Thomas W. Langfitt, M.D., Late President, The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
People in professional service businesses all talk about becoming your “Trusted Advisor.” Very few people truly become that – Marilyn Machlowitz does and sets the standard. Trustworthiness, deep interest in clients’ needs and a drive to do what is truly best for the client all characterize her work. An additional benefit is that Marilyn has a Golden Rolodex and generously shares her network and knowledge of resources in ways that go beyond the scope of the assignment.
Alicia Whitaker, Former Managing Director, Global Human Resources Programs, Credit Suisse
Marilyn introduced me to talent that now graces my advisory boards. Some of her additions have already led to major advances in our work.
Marisa Weiss, M.D., Founder, Breastcancer.org
…Your diligent sourcing, evaluations and prescreening of candidates made the process incredibly easy for us and provided us with a number of bright, qualified and motivated candidates with very diverse and impressive backgrounds. I truly believe that no other consultant or recruiter could have sourced such qualified candidates with such varied experiences. Lastly, I must note that it was a pleasure to work with you.
Marc A. Alpert, Partner, Chadbourne & Parke, LLP
Marilyn has the qualities I need in an executive recruiter… She is very perceptive, and able to form an immediate view of just what mix of attributes will result in a successful candidate… Marilyn also recruits successfully from outside our industry group, no mean feat, allowing us to get fresh talent and new thinking. To top it all off, she’s fair in commercial negotiations.
Frank Fanzilli, Retired Global CIO, Credit Suisse First Boston
Marilyn acted as a true business partner and assisted us in arriving at the right answer for the Church Pension Fund. She found the needle in the haystack for us.
Maria Curatolo, SVP, Church Pension Fund
When I think of Marilyn Machlowitz, I think of resources. Her creative thinking and quick ability to synthesize seemingly disparate requirements always result in high-quality solutions – whether you're hunting for the best board member or the expert who will fit your consulting needs, no matter how specialized you think they are.
Davina Askin, Director, Organizational Development & Talent Management, Girl Scouts of the USA