Two years ago, when the Chair of Panorama Global Search Partners asked us if we’d be willing to host the organization’s 2018 Global Conference, we jumped at the opportunity. We could showcase our gorgeous city, introduce our PFM team to their Panorama colleagues, and introduce our global partners to the business community in our region. Those two years of hard work, planning and organizing paid off this week, with 34 Partners from 20 Panorama offices in 16 countries descending upon our city.
We founded Panorama Global Search Partners in part to provide our local clients better service through global recruitment capabilities, but mainly because we wanted to align ourselves with other boutique executive search organizations providing outstanding client service so that we could learn from them and share best practices. We also made it an imperative that new members had to be “our people” – authentic and focused on doing really excellent work, and willing to have fun in the process. That last aspect in particular made for a great blend of working hard and playing hard over the last several days.
The conference tackled many big questions about the future of executive search, such as how AI will affect our business and improve our ability to provide better quality service to our clients and candidates. Our Practice Groups had an opportunity to caucus in person and discuss issues specific to their industry sectors. We discussed the synergies between executive search and leadership services, and how we can further enhance what we offer to our clients as they look to strengthen their leadership teams of today and the future. And we welcomed new members to the fold from Europe and Latin America and got to know about their regions.
Then on Tuesday morning we unleashed the Greater Vancouver business community on our Partners, as they came together at our annual Economic Outlook Breakfast featuring Jock Finlayson. It was our largest event ever and Jock was able to provide immense take-away value for the local and global attendees alike.
And of course, we wouldn’t be doing our job as hosts if we didn’t showcase BC wines and sweeping Vancouver vistas, and we offered up both in style. Communications-turned-wine consultant Trace Acres conducted a wine tasting at our offices, and opened everyone’s hearts and palates to a wide variety of delicious local wines. Delegates also got to take a whirlwind tour of Canada at Fly Over Canada, and we had a beautiful night with the bears and eagles at Grouse Mountain, where we received a very special presentation from a local Squamish Nation elder.
Over four days we strengthened our bond with our Partners and built on the premise that we can do more together than separately. As a network of independently owned and operated boutique firms, we need to want to work together to make our partnership worthwhile, and this year’s conference solidified that this amazingly diverse, bright and talented group of professionals is one we hope to be aligned with for many years to come.