Melinda Decker recently started a new position as Director, Marketing – Commercial Innovation with MedImmune.  With its cutting-edge biological products, MedImmune is a leader in scientific and medical progress.

Why did you choose Kelleher Associates for your recent transition?

I felt an outside perspective could be a valuable addition to my search process.  I hoped that some of Kelleher’s connections could open doors and/or broaden my network in important ways.  Although the expense was something I weighed carefully, I felt that if I could land a great opportunity sooner with professional help or if I could land a better opportunity than I would have otherwise, it would be very worthwhile.  Kelleher received high marks from people I talked with and I was impressed when I met with them to discuss what they offered.

How valuable were the exploratory sessions when deciding which career path was best for you?

These sessions were helpful in providing focus to my search and shoring up my positioning and messaging.  Additionally, they were helpful in assessing my job options and making timely decisions.

How useful did you find Kelleher Associates as a catalyst for networking and connecting you to people who were relevant to your search objectives?

This is a strength of the firm. I was working with Mitch Wienick and Tammy Beil. Mitch helped connect me to critical people with whom I had productive, insightful conversations about positions I was seeking, companies that represented quality targets, and other connections who could be helpful to me.  Tammy helped me think through how I could best approach these new contacts. I am hopeful these new relationships will continue.

How beneficial was Kelleher Associates during the negotiation phase of your search?

This is difficult to precisely assess.  Mitch definitely helped me compose and articulate my counter offer as well as the rationale, but I don’t have a comparison to what I would have negotiated on my own or with an employment attorney. I can say that in a very tough job market, I was able to secure a notable increase in total compensation from what I had been making in my last position which is very gratifying and more than offset the fee I paid to Kelleher Associates.

Your new employer agreed to let you work from home for 2 days a week. How did Kelleher Associates help you in navigating this somewhat unusual arrangement?

The employer is the one who originally proposed this idea in order to broaden the candidates they could consider.  Kelleher helped me think through the personal implications, as well as financial considerations and made sure this was articulated well in my employment agreement.

What were the benefits of having dual coaches? (Mitch Wienick and Tammy Beil)

I felt I got the benefit of different perspectives. Mitch was really focused on helping me broaden and manage my network and spent a great deal of time coaching me on how to approach new situations and derive the maximum benefit from key networking meetings. Tammy provided insight on how to project a highly professional image and mix with the senior executives to whom I was being introduced. They were both very supportive.

Would you refer others to Kelleher Associates? If so, why?

DEFINITELY!  I found the support and guidance extremely helpful through the process and the connections to a broader network quite valuable. Also, knowing that I would be held accountable on following-through was a constant motivator that helped reach a desirable end point.