Here at Green Hills Office Suites, we regularly take the time to get to know our members better and learn about their businesses. This month we had a chance to meet with Stephen Smith of Hunter Shore Group.
Stephen Smith is quite the world traveler! Originally from the South Coast of England, he eventually moved to Australia, where he spent 14 years before relocating to Vancouver, Canada. It was in Australia that his recruitment and executive search career started building momentum, and he has spent the past 20 years establishing a very successful track-record. Australia was also where he met his wife, who is originally from New Zealand, and together they have an adorable little 5-year-old daughter.
Before landing in our little city of Nashville in early 2021, he also lived in Hong Kong and New York City, where he met his business partner, Shara Alter. While working together for a firm based out of New York, they quickly discovered that they had very similar morals and work styles. Evenly yoked with over 20 years of experience in leadership positions with other companies, they became the dynamic duo soon thereafter, and decided it was time to strike off on their own with a new firm; Hunter Shore Group.
Stephen is fortunate to be able to do his job from anywhere. With this so, he chose to move his family to Nashville and open up the southern branch of Hunter Shore Group here with us. When asked why Nashville, he said it is due to the great low cost of living (comparatively) and the fact that though a smaller city, there is a lot to do here, and it offers all the convenience of a big city. Although his reach is national, he is excited about the number of local opportunities in Nashville, with all the growth and headquarter relocations happening now. The major adjustment for Stephen and his family to make has been owning and driving a car, for the first time in almost a decade. So, watch out!
Hunter Shore Group is a Search & Talent Acquisition Advisory Firm, specializing in the identification and appointment of professionals in business-critical functions of Innovation, Procurement, Supply, Digital, Sustainability, and Compliance. Their reach, offering, and track-record is global having partnered with organizations in 30 countries. They operate at the VP/C-Suite level, down to leaders earlier in their careers often with a Director title or comparable position.
Stephen’s advice for people starting out on their own is to always remember that the first version of your business doesn’t have to be perfect; you can waste a lot of time obsessing over details that don’t ultimately drive the business forward. He added that it’s important to look at the big picture and suggests that one free oneself up to be able to spend at least 80% of your working time doing what you are good at.
When I asked Stephen why he and Shara chose Green Hills Office Suites to house their Nashville Headquarters, he shared that while they joined us “sight-unseen”, they knew it was the right choice given our high level of flexibility, and the value of our included services. He also enjoys our warm and friendly staff. Finally, the accessible location couldn’t be beat! We are looking forward to watching Hunter Shore Group grow with us for years to come!
