An Evolved Opportunity Arises for Executive Moms

Tara Flickinger Brings Executive Search Expertise to ON Partners

Tara Flickinger brings nearly a decade of executive search experience to ON Partners. She has recruited C-level executives across several industries for private equity, Fortune 500, and growth clients. Tara also brings the perspective of a working executive mom. She has experienced firsthand the balancing act that multiple jobs require. Moreover, she has seen how the role of working mother has evolved. The combination of the pandemic and the movement for diversity has created real opportunities for working executive moms for the first time.

“I am a true people person. I love connecting with others, having real, genuine, meaningful conversations, and figuring out what makes them tick. This is why I love my job as a search consultant,” Tara says. “I talk to a variety of executives daily – employers in search of talent and candidates open to new opportunities. Because of my role, people are very open with me. I have candid conversations about talent, employee performance, workplace dynamics and challenges, leadership, compensation, career decisions, and professional struggles. This gives me a unique perspective.”

Balancing Career and Family

As an executive woman and working mother of three, Tara Flickinger connects with other executive working moms on a deeper level. She believes women are essential to the workplace because they have a tremendous work ethic, creativity, resourcefulness, and flexibility. Women are GSDrs – they get stuff done. Additionally, women bring unique empathy and intuition to the workplace.

For decades, Corporate America hasn’t allowed women to think outside the box about what a workday could look like. That made things very challenging for executive working moms, causing some to step down or exit the workplace entirely. However, COVID-19 has totally demolished that box. Employees have proven they can be just as effective, if not more so, working “outside the box.” Working from home during COVID-19 eliminated commutes, making it much easier for people to be online earlier. Zoom meetings reduced logistical issues and eliminated wasted time. The time saved and flexibility of the home office proved extremely convenient, empowering people to work the hours that suit them best. “Nine to five,” which has never aligned with kids’ school schedules, is no longer necessarily nine to five. For the first time, companies are embracing this change.

A Paradigm Shift for Executive Working Mothers

Now, as nearly half of US adults have been fully vaccinated and schools are reopening for in-person learning, there is an opportunity to bring about a true paradigm shift for both executive working mothers and employers. The stereotype that executive women have to choose between career and parenting has always persisted. However, following the pandemic, the decision is less stark, and there are more opportunities to do both.

COVID-19 happened in parallel with a long-overdue increased emphasis on diversity. This delivered a one-two punch of improved workplace flexibility and demand for women executives. Just a few years ago, it often felt like a struggle to bring female candidates to the table for consideration. Employers did not offer flexible working arrangements. As a champion for women and executive working mothers, this was extremely frustrating and disheartening for Tara. She wanted to advocate for these women and do right by her clients, but their priorities did not always align.

Today, things are totally different. With increased emphasis on diversity and workplace flexibility, Tara is expected to and applauded for bringing women to the table. In fact, she is currently working on two CXO searches, and the candidate pools are both 100% female. This has never happened in her career. It is only happening because of the flexibility COVID-19 has enabled, combined with the renewed focus on diversity.

The Value of Executive Moms

While moms had to juggle work and kids at the same time during COVID-19, no group was better prepared for it. Overcoming the challenge validated what moms have been saying all along: that their unique position makes them more qualified for senior roles, not less. That perception has finally begun to change because of the collision of COVID-19 and the push for diversity.

Meet Tara Flickinger – Q&A Session

How did you get into executive search?

I serendipitously ended up in executive search following the birth of my first child. I had been working in finance when I had her, but I wasn’t good at what I was doing or passionate about it. I decided that if I was going to leave her every day, I had to do something I loved, was good at, and where I was making an impact.

I love people and figuring out what makes them tick, and I love being a trusted advisor. Executive search is the perfect complement to my skill set. I took a somewhat circuitous route to get into it, but I am thankful for all of my prior experiences because they have given me a broader perspective, which makes me a better search consultant.

What have been some of your favorite assignments and why?

My favorite assignments are those in which I tap someone on the shoulder who is heads down and killing it in her or his current role. I present them with an opportunity that they otherwise wouldn’t have been aware of. I then walk them through the search process, landing them in a new role that completely changes their life and career trajectory.

What did you learn in 2021?

The year was more of a validation of what I had believed vs. what I learned. The workforce has proven that we can be effective – really effective – in less traditional working environments. We’ve seen employees thrive with the autonomy and flexibility that came with the pandemic.

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