Pronouns: He/Him/His
Lafayette Degree & Major(s): Bachelor of Arts, English and American Studies (double major)
Graduate Degree: Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Title: Principal
Employer: Acertitude
Describe what your employer/organization does: Acertitude is an executive search and leadership advisory firm. We recruit C-Suite leaders across multiple sectors while providing leadership consulting services such as assessment, team effectiveness, and organizational design.
Please provide a brief overview of your role: As a Principal, I am responsible for the overall execution of our engagements. This means I’m guiding candidates through the process, regularly speaking with clients to ensure we remain aligned, and working with both sides when we approach the “finish line” to ensure a candidate the client is excited about is positioned to take the role. I’m also responsible for originating new business, which sees me regularly engaging with current or new contacts to explore ways we might partner together.
What gets you excited to go to work each day? I have always been incredibly curious about people. Thankfully, my job requires me to engage with new, interesting people everyday, which in turns means my curiosity is endlessly supplied. I also love that we are invited in as trusted advisors to clients grappling with tricky business problems. This role and industry is one of the best when it comes to being positioned to learn from clients on a daily basis.
What keeps you up at night as you think about the opportunities (or challenges) related to your work? Like others, I’m thinking about the ways in which technology stands to streamline/automate parts of what we do. I believe any field that has a heavy emphasis on building personal relationships is well positioned when it comes to the potential for automation, but I also believe it is critical individuals and companies start thinking about how they want to navigate the next few years as AI/ML tools continue to gain footing across industries. My mind also regularly comes back to the many prospective candidates and clients I “know” are out there, and I find myself asking questions like “am I doing all I can to connect with the right people in space?”, “am I telling a story that is differentiated in an otherwise crowded market?” etc. I’m lucky the liberal arts experience taught me to be comfortable navigating ambiguity and regularly asking questions like these to take stock of the path I am on.
What key strengths are necessary to be successful in entering this career field? Aforementioned curiosity, exceptional communication skills, resilience and grit, an insatiable appetite to learn + the ability to learn quickly.
Is education beyond a Lafayette degree required to pursue this path? Not necessarily. I obtained my MBA to pair my liberal arts undergrad with more focused analytical/financial coursework. This was right for me, but is not something I would frame as being required.
What specific experiences during your time at Lafayette made the greatest impact on your professional path? Picking an interdisciplinary major was pivotal for me (at the time it was American Studies, now it would be Film & Media Studies). Collaborating with professors and students with vastly different skillsets and perspectives became second nature over my four years and made my transition into the workforce relatively smooth. I saw students who came from much narrower academic backgrounds struggle with the ambiguity that comes with the early days of a new job/career and felt lucky that Lafayette positions new graduates to be strong critical thinkers capable of navigating uncertainty with poise and focus.
As it relates to career exploration and development, what is one thing that you know now that you wish you could go back in time and tell your student self? I’d reinforce to my 22 year-old self that most people don’t have things “figured out” by graduation. Some of the most successful people I know made significant career pivots from what they started doing after graduation. I’d tell myself to “trust the process” and focus on working with smart people who challenge how you think and approach problem-solving. Picking the right environment initially is just as important as the role itself.
What advice do you have for students interested in pursuing your career field? Like other industries, Lafayette has many graduates in this field who are top performers and exceptional mentors. I’d take advantage of the ‘natural resource’ that is the Lafayette alumni network and reach out to folks doing this type of work to express your interest to connect with them to learn more. I know I’d be receptive to this type outreach from students and imagine many other graduates would as well.
What strategies, tools, or other efforts do you utilize to find “balance” or reduce your career-related stress? I’ve experimented with what feels like every tool/strategy in the book when it comes to this topic. I always land in the same place, which is that – for me – exercising in the morning is the most effective tool to balance stress. I consider this my “armor” that readies me to encounter the inevitable stress that comes with a busy career and family life.
How do you enjoy spending your free time when not at work? Spending time with my wife and two young kids, catching up with family and friends, and getting outside and away from screens for a few hours, which usually comes in the form of triathlon training or golf.
What was your favorite spot on Lafayette’s campus when you were a student? Skillman Library reading room.
Would you like to connect with JJ to learn more about his career path?
Mr. Houldin is happy to connect with students via GatewayLink, LinkedIn, or email.
If you’d like to connect with Mr. Houldin by email, please contact your Gateway Career Counselor for details.
