Acknowledgments

Agile Talent has been a year in the writing, and another year in preparation. We have many colleagues to thank for clearing the path we have walked in completing this book. A few deserve particular mention. First, Dave Ulrich, our friend and partner at The RBL Group, has greatly informed our thinking. Second, we thank Julie Person and Jorge Figueredo of McKesson, who, by requesting a review of emerging trends in strategic HR, led us to the topic of this book. Third, we thank Martin Waters, President of the International Division of Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, who became a supporter and early adopter of our work.

In addition to these individuals, we are grateful to many others: Paul Thompson and Gene Dalton for the career stages; Brook Derr for career orientations; David Maister’s writings on trusted professional relationships; and Rita McGrath’s work on dynamic organizational capability. In addition, we thank Aaron Younger, formerly of PwC, and Spencer Patterson, of Utah Valley University, who are our partners and cofounders of the Agile Talent Collaborative and have made significant contributions to the practical application of our work.

Many other colleagues have taught us, sparred with us, and provided helpful guidance and criticism as we’ve developed and tested our ideas: Telma Viale, Seamus and Helen McCardle, Jen Simpson, Bill Allen, Ron Schneiderman, Jens Jenssen, Hilde Sannes, Paul Kadin, Geeta Durham, Suzanne Pedersen, Even Bolstad, Shelley Seifert, Pat Hedley, Frank Cespedes, Soren Isaksen, Dixon Thayer, Josh Younger, Megan Wall-Wolff, and Gabor Varjasi. We also acknowledge RBL colleagues, notably Christine Cleemann, Ernesto Uscher, Martha Liliana Ruiz, Mark Nyman, Joe Hanson, Adam Rampton, Darryl Wee, Jessica Johnson, Nate Thompson, Allan Freed, Erin Burns, Michael Phillips, Jade White, Joe Grochowski, Jayne Pauga, Justin Allen, and Lisa Griep.

A special thanks goes to Melinda Merino, our editor at Harvard Business Review Press. Melinda is a delightful, wise, and exacting editor, and it was our privilege to work with and learn from her: her nine-page, single-spaced critique of our first draft was a revelation. She is a legend in the trade, and we can’t thank her enough. We also sincerely applaud Melinda’s supporting team at the Press for their hard work and evident professionalism at every step in the publication of Agile Talent.

Finally, we dedicate this book to our dear life partners, Carolyn Younger and Tricia Smallwood, the real talent in our families.

—Jon Younger and Norm Smallwood