Founding Principles
We are never transactional
STS® is here to serve as your trusted talent management advisors
Strategic Talent Solutions (STS) is a Chicago-based talent management consulting firm specializing in driving deliberate change in senior executives, leadership teams, and organizations. Since our founding 20 years ago, we have distinguished ourselves as business astute and organizationally savvy consultants who drive business results for our clients.
STS was established in 2004 by Ed Gubman and John Philbin based on the fundamental maxim that all business strategies must be enabled by an aligned talent strategy to be effective. Ed authored The Talent Solution, a groundbreaking book, celebrating its 25th year in print, that illuminated the importance of aligning business and talent strategies to drive sustainable impact.
Across two decades and the changing of (some of) the names and faces, our team remains firmly committed to this foundational principle in all that we do. We ensure that each engagement is designed and implemented with a clear understanding of what must be accomplished for the business.
STS serves a diverse mix of client organizations (small, family owned businesses, Fortune 150 companies, and not-for-profits) across an array of industries. Our services support senior organizational leaders and teams who are positioned to have an impact on the business and who, over time, possess the capability and drive to assume a larger scope of responsibility. We closely partner with senior business leaders as well as Human Resource and Talent Management leaders to ensure the appropriate positioning and sustainability of our consulting beyond the engagement.
Our work matters because your work matters.
We use our wisdom, our experience, and our candor to meaningfully impact leaders and leadership teams so that they can meaningfully impact their organizations. Devoting our careers to this work is deeply rewarding and allows us to solve interesting, unique, and important challenges while having fun alongside our colleagues as we make the world a little better each day.
Our Core Values
Trust
is foundational and essential to our work.
- It enables partnership and teamwork, creates a safe and productive environment, and positions us to take on our clients’ most critical challenges.
Courage
moves us forward to help others achieve their full potential.
- It enables us to provide deep insights and deliver tough feedback, and courage fuels our curiosity and desire to push beyond the status quo.
Conviction
keeps us focused on a high standard of excellence.
- It represents an enduring and uncompromising passion to be clear and confident in our perspective and remain committed to having a meaningful impact through our work.
Our Communities
STS is grateful to have the opportunity to support a number of organizations that are meeting critical needs in our communities. We would encourage you to learn more about them and the important work they are doing.
