Business Journal contributor Brad Scheller recently sat with Leslie McIntyre, founder and president of The McIntyre Group, for a conversation about leadership lessons from managing her HR business over the past 27 years. A privately held company with headquarters in Norwalk, The McIntyre Group is a recipient of “One of the Best Places to Work” awards and “One of the Top 5 Women-Owned Businesses in CT” awards.
Brad: How did you get your start in the staffing business?
“I saw an ad in the paper because that was the way we found jobs back then. It looked like a great job so I applied. I didn”™t even know it was a staffing firm ”” I didn”™t know what a staffing firm was at that time. I had no idea there was such a service. I didn”™t research the company. I made some mistakes. Went in, met with the owner. She took a shine to me.”
Obviously it was a good fit for you.
“Yes, it”™s become my passion. I just loved it and devoured her knowledge. I was up 24/7 soaking in all the industry had to offer. If the owner called me at midnight with an idea, I would get into my car and go over to her house. I just loved the business immediately.”
How did you come to start your own company?
“I knew an ex-HR executive for an aluminum company in Greenwich and he asked me if I would consider opening an office for him. And at 22 years old I said, ”˜No I won”™t open for you, but I will partner with you.”™ So I had $500 and that was my contribution to opening McIntyre and he invested a million and took a leap of faith. He stayed for ten years and got a wonderful return on his money and then he wanted to really retire and go down to North Carolina and play golf.”
What was important to you in creating your own staffing firm?
“I really wanted to make sure that when we built McIntyre we followed through on our promises. There were so many staffing firms that really weren”™t following through properly with candidates. We work tirelessly to represent our candidates well and even when it isn”™t necessarily the most economical choice we do what is right for the people. It”™s powerful work that we do. We change lives every day.”
How did you make that happen?
“Immediately was we upped our game as far as hiring really talented staffing managers. I was always of the belief, and I still am, that you should hire the smartest people possible ”” perhaps brighter than yourself ”” and we have done that. We have a certain degree of integrity and very strong values about how the staffing business should be conducted.”
Tell me about a ”˜good as it gets”™ moment for your company.
“A couple of years ago we met a candidate who was in a very bad situation. He was the provider for his family, four children, three in college, big house, a lot of debt which is very typical for Fairfield County. He was about two months away from losing his house. And let me tell you, we moved the moon to get this man a job. And we got him a job. He”™s with that company still and he is grateful and will probably stay with that company for the rest of his career. A lot of touching lives. That”™s the best part of the whole thing.”
How has your role evolved over the years?
“When you run a big company, you have to learn how to delegate and teach. If you ask me what I am, I”™m now a mentor and a teacher. That”™s who I”™ve become.”
What”™s the toughest part about being the top leader?
“Putting a happy face on every single day of the year ”” because it”™s expected and I set the tempo for the office every single day.”
Which has been more important to your success – good strategy or consistent execution?
“I have so many people that have so many ideas, but to me an idea is only as good as the execution of it.”
Is there a particular leader you admire?
“I love Jack Welsh. When I first opened McIntyre I read every one of Jack Welsh”™s books. ”˜Straight from the Gut”™ is my favorite. I have that book highlighted and dog eared everywhere ”” it”™s a tattered mess.”
