AESC Executive Research Forum

Karen Greenbaum is President and CEO of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC), the global association representing the $15b+ profession worldwide. AESC is dedicated to strengthening leadership worldwide. AESC’s rigorous Code of Professional Practice guides its members, spanning 1,200+ offices in 70+ countries and beyond, to serve as strategic advisors on behalf of their clients. AESC Members are best positioned to provide companies with a competitive advantage—the ability to find, attract and develop the best talent in the world and ensure that executives are successfully integrated.

Ms. Greenbaum is an experienced business leader having served as the President and COO for the $1 billion US business of Mercer Consulting/MMC, a Fortune 200 company and later as COO for Nixon Peabody LLP a nearly $500 million global 100 law firm. She also served as an executive search consultant and partner before being selected as President and CEO of AESC.

Ms. Greenbaum is committed to diverse leadership, representing AESC as an official member of the 30% Club, a global group of Chairs and CEOs committed to board diversity and The Committee of 200, a global non-profit focused on advancing women in business. AESC recognizes that diversity is a business imperative. As trusted advisors to those companies that drive economies, lead innovation, and compete across vital sectors and geographies, AESC members know first-hand the power of diverse corporate leadership.

By virtue of selecting an AESC Member, clients can be secure in their choice of consulting firm, and can reap the benefits that only a trusted advisor can deliver. To learn more about AESC and to view a list of AESC members, visit www.aesc.org. To learn more about AESC’s career service for executive-level candidates, visit www.bluesteps.com.

A former lawyer with more than 21 years of search and assessment experience, Shami Iqbal is the Managing Partner of Spencer Stuart’s UK business.
Shami is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, working with organisations on a variety of talent and leadership matters.

Experience and Background
- Shami leads Spencer Stuart's Legal, Compliance and Government Affairs practice across Europe, Middle East and Africa and has worked on numerous general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer projects around the world. He also works with law firms and other professional services firms to assist with partner hiring and leadership succession.
- Shami leads various internal and external DE&I initiatives for the firm, and sits on the AESC’s EMEA Diversity Council.
- Before his career in executive search, Shami was a sports lawyer at a leading London law firm.

Shami graduated with a law degree from King's College London and completed his studies at The College of Law, London. He is currently on the Board of Trustees at Tonbridge Grammar School for girls in Kent. He is fluent in Urdu.

An expert in senior management and supervisory board assignments, Dr. Annette Dölker advises clients on how to build and develop outstanding senior leadership teams. Annette is a core member of Russell Reynolds Associates’ global Financial Services sector. Based in Germany, she leads the Hamburg Office of Russell Reynolds Associates. With more than 20 years of professional experience, she is a trusted advisor to industry leaders across insurance, reinsurance, asset management and banking. Annette advises boards, CEOs and senior-level executives on building excellent leadership teams, including cross-industry hiring. She brings expertise and experience to her clients by providing insight into senior leadership talent in numerous areas, including risk, finance, legal, compliance, data and analytics and digital transformation. Annette co-leads Russell Reynolds Associates’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion practice in EMEA. She has spent a decade in executive search. Prior to joining the firm, she managed the financial, strategic and legal functions of a Bancassurance group. Before that, she was a Chief Risk Officer in the same group. Earlier, Annette spent a decade with McKinsey & Co. and Accenture, providing strategic, operational and risk expertise to leading insurance and reinsurance clients across Europe.

Annette has a masters degree in insurance and business mathematics from the University of Hamburg. She also holds a master's degree in business research and a doctoral degree from Munich's Ludwig Maximilians University. Annette is fluent in English and German and has advanced French language skills.
Certified Actuary and Member of the German Association of Actuaries

Norwegian-born Pia has lived in the UK, North America, The Middle East and more recently has been based in Hong Kong since 1995. She has worked as a training and facilitation professional since 2004, conducting workshops throughout Asia.

Her spirited style and unique ability to establish rapport and trust with participants at all levels of an organization is a hallmark of Pia’s training and facilitation style. She is passionate about the potential that lives in every human being. And it is from this point that she conducts all of her facilitation and coaching.

In addition to leading learning interventions in key business skill areas such as effective communication and presentations, culture change, resilience and leadership, she has been deeply involved with spiritual and personal growth work for the last 20 years. Pia has dedicated her life to develop herself personally and spiritually. And at the same time, in working with others who are also longing for inner growth. Amongst her many approaches, Pia is a Life Coach, a S.I.A.F. certified Holistic Counselor, a Learning Love teacher, and a Biodynamic Breathwork and Trauma Release facilitator.