Most Important Skills for a Director at SPMB
Ross at SPMB finds it "almost impossible" to definitively pinpoint the most crucial skills for a role like Director, noting success comes in many forms; however, Ross emphasizes "being insanely curious" about clients, technology, the venture capital ecosystem, and asking great questions as a vital trait, while also acknowledging that hard work and intelligence are helpful but not definitive indicators of success.
Curiosity, Work Ethic, Intelligence, Recruiting, Venture Capital
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ross Kim
Director
Schweichler, Price, Mullarkey, and Barry (SPMB)
UC Berkeley
Political Science, American Studies
Recruitment, HR & Related Professional Services
Consulting
Video Highlights
1. Curiosity is key: The speaker emphasizes that being "insanely curious" about clients, technology, the venture capital ecosystem, and the roles they recruit for is crucial for success.
2. Hard work is necessary but not all-consuming: While hard work is important, the speaker notes that you shouldn't be a "slave to this job," suggesting a need for balance.
3. Intelligence is helpful but not essential: The speaker believes that while being smart is beneficial, you don't need to be a genius to succeed in this field.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
I've spent so much time thinking about this very question, and it's hard to answer. It might even be impossible, at least for me.
You can look at it from a sports analogy standpoint. What makes someone a great NBA player? Height definitely matters, but not every NBA player is tall. Some have been below six feet tall.
Is shooting the basketball that important? Yes, but some aren't great shooters. Is that the skill that matters most? Probably not. It's almost impossible for me to answer because people are successful in this industry with very different styles.
I think there are a few things that matter. You have to work hard, but you're not a slave to this job. It helps to be smart, but you don't have to be a genius to do this.
What's really worked for me is just being insanely curious. Be curious about our clients, about technology, about the functions we're recruiting for, and about the broader venture capital ecosystem and how money gets deployed.
Even when it comes to candidate development or sales calls, the best recruiters ask the best questions. I think that comes down to curiosity.
If I had to orient towards one trait that really matters, I think it would be that. But I reserve the right to change my opinion because it's such a difficult question to answer.