8/10/2019 Leadership Insights From Kate Wolford - McKnight Fndn

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Leadership Insights from Kate Wolford, President, McKnight Foundation

Shared with Lars Leafblad, Co-founder and Principal, Ballinger | Leafblad, Inc.

12.17.14

LL: How do you approach hiring?

KW: A cover letter is hugely important. A c.v. can go to 100 employers. The cover letter will tell me if a

candidate has truly focused on our organization and this specific position. Im looking for how they

communicate their story. Are they able to translate their experiences into a relevant and applicable

message to what were seeking? Do they demonstrate cross -cultural competency in their background

and life experience?

Im also looking for a spark. What is their why? Why are they passionate about the role were discussing

and the impact they could have in it?

What is their 4-line story? Have they overcome adversity? Tell me about it. Have they developed new

skills? Tell me about it. Are they curious? Tell me about it.

LL: What else informs how you assess spark or fit in an interview?

KW: Im a big believer in culture fit and want to know how a candidate has assessed their own fit with

our culture. Ill seek out impressions from others in our organization, starting with our front-desk

receptionist. How they treat everyone when no one is watching speaks volumes.

Ill ask about major challenges they have faced and ask them to walk me through the process they used

to address it/them. Did they rely on their own knowledge? Others knowledge? A combination of both?

Ill probe about their ability to operate and be successful in an environment with ambiguity andrequiring adaptability. I want to understand what situations they have been in that mimic those

conditions and how they responded and performed.

In addition to content knowledge and experience directly relevant to a given position,Im seeking

translatorswho are able to bridge experiences, insights and many different scenarios. Our society

needs more people who can connect across issues, sectors and cultures.I believe were seeing

Millennials thrive and seek out translator approaches and experiences which gives me hope as I look

at the challenges and opportunities facing society.