Meet Lindsay Trout, a Partner at Egon Zehnder, the world’s preeminent leadership advisory firm, helping organizations get to the heart of their leadership challenges by providing insights to help leaders realize their true being and purpose.
Based in Palo Alto, Lindsay advises organizations, from global enterprises to emerging start-ups, on talent, transformation, and board composition.
Lindsay pursued business as an undergraduate and then joined a leadership development program at Chase, working on a variety of projects with different leaders, which coincided with the dot com boom bubble and the acquisition of JP Morgan, thereby setting the stage for her career: project-based work, learning from senior leaders, tech, innovation, and organizational transformation. At this point in time, Lindsay met Ameet Patel, who empowered her in uncommon ways early in her career. Then she was asked by her client, a public software company Chair and CEO, to join him as Chief of Staff, a role which eventually gave her broad exposure and significant learnings. From there, she attended Stanford GSB and joined BCG, primarily inspired by the former consultants she worked with at LabMorgan. Although Lindsay loved the thrill of starting and concluding projects and continuous learning, she still yearned to drive more tangible results and joined Egon Zehnder, which helped her connect with talented people and continuously learn about humanity and different business models.
Helping Leaders to Make Better Decisions
Leading is no walk in the park. While many leaders worldwide face exhaustion and are trying to source resiliency, some are pioneering new solutions for their employees, customers, and broader stakeholders. Many are embracing more diverse teams and designing a more purposeful business.
Lindsay and the team at Egon Zehnder help leaders make informed decisions and develop the skills to tackle the ever-evolving business leadership landscape. Lindsay feels exceptional leaders exhibit never-ending curiosity about themselves and a fearless commitment to adaptability. With great dedication, Lindsay and the Egon Zehnder team guide business leaders on their journey of self-discovery and provide immense growth opportunities – roles and experiences –designed to stretch business leaders to achieve their potential.
“At Egon Zehnder, we believe the world needs great leaders and that leadership is about taking a clear and purposeful stance on the most complex challenges. We understand the power of what great leaders can do. It’s why we are committed to discovering, developing, and advising the leaders of today and tomorrow.”- explains Lindsay.
Significance of Team Work
Egon Zehnder’s culture is deeply rooted in its core values; it celebrates engaging with generosity, exhibiting a sense of ownership, embracing differences, and putting clients first.
However, what distinguishes Egon Zehnder is its extraordinary culture of collaboration, an integral part of the firm’s identity forged almost six decades ago. The organization boasts a truly global model, with consultants spread across the globe, reaching from Jakarta to Johannesburg. This innovative approach is further characterized by the absence of individual incentives that could otherwise erode trust and teamwork. Instead, Egon Zehnder places a premium on tenure, cherishing the power of long-term thinking and deep relationships.
Focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Not only does Egon Zehnder have a group focused on diversity, equity and inclusion internally, but it also has the honor and responsibility of shaping this for organizations around the globe. With clients, Egon Zehnder looks past biases and seeks to identify the best talent. Many years ago, the firm developed an assessment tool to gauge a leader’s potential. Egon Zehnder believes that potential, not just experiences, qualifies individuals for pivotal roles and this is important as there is not always equal access to opportunity and experiences.
Internally, Egon Zehnder’s DEI team aligns the firm around DEI goals, champions local initiatives, and develops a platform for exchanging best practices. Egon Zehnder operates as one unit across 36 countries, with a single team and a unified profit and loss structure. This naturally fosters an environment that embraces and celebrates differences, making diversity and inclusion more than a goal but a way of life.
The Future Roadmap
Lindsay and her team at Egon Zehnder firmly believe that the world needs great leaders, and true executive leadership is taking a clear and purposeful stance on the most complex challenges. They recognize the power of outstanding leadership and have made it a mission to transform the world by discovering, developing, and advising present and future leaders. In their eyes, leadership is not just a position but a catalyst for a better world that holds promise for all.