Lars Leafblad

Long before he co-founded his executive search firm, Ballinger | Leafblad, Lars Leafblad had a passion for connection. From organizing a college alumni network to founding PollenMidwest, Lars has provided a guiding hand, bringing people together to make a difference in the world.

"Eleven years ago everything changed for Lars Leafblad when he reached out for help to stop drinking … and someone answered. Ever since, the holidays have become a season of recovery advocacy for Leafblad, a Twin Cities civic leader and co-founder of St. Paul-based executive search-and-selection firm Ballinger|Leafblad."

We got the good-for-St. Paul indication last week that 3M is considering office space downtown. It arrives as the capital city strives to become a destination for technology and innovation workers. Welcoming the homegrown firm that grew into an innovation powerhouse — and one of the world’s best-known brands — would be a powerful step toward that end.

In Common Grounds' eleventh year, co-founder Lars Leafblad, ‘06 MBA, attended the kick off meeting to see how the group has evolved. The graduate student group’s purpose is to promote cross-University relationships and collaboration. The meeting room was filled with students from the Carlson School, the Law School, the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, the Medical School, and the School of Public Health.

If you don’t know him personally, we are willing to bet someone in your network knows Lars Leafblad. He is co-founder and principal at Ballinger | Leafblad Inc., an executive search firm here in the Twin Cities, and he is a master enroller. He is also one the very first members of Studio/E.

Enrollment is interrelated with selling, but is distinct from it. Selling is persuading and convincing people to focus on your self-interest, whereas enrollment is inviting others to combine their… Show more

If you don’t know him personally, we are willing to bet someone in your network knows Lars Leafblad. He is co-founder and principal at Ballinger | Leafblad Inc., an executive search firm here in the Twin Cities, and he is a master enroller. He is also one the very first members of Studio/E.

Enrollment is interrelated with selling, but is distinct from it. Selling is persuading and convincing people to focus on your self-interest, whereas enrollment is inviting others to combine their desire with yours. When you enroll, you’re asking people to add their own individuality to your idea, breathing life into it. Enrollment is a catalyst to make things bigger, better and more sustainable. Show less

Your organization is about to embark on a leadership transition. Depending upon your perspective, this can be a time of great opportunity or great concern — and potentially both.

Overseeing the hiring of a new executive director or president represents the most important work a board can do. Usually through a search and selection committee, the board must assess your organization as it stands today, consider what it can become in the future, and determine who is the best person to take… Show more

Your organization is about to embark on a leadership transition. Depending upon your perspective, this can be a time of great opportunity or great concern — and potentially both.

Overseeing the hiring of a new executive director or president represents the most important work a board can do. Usually through a search and selection committee, the board must assess your organization as it stands today, consider what it can become in the future, and determine who is the best person to take the organization forward.

This work is never easy, but asking the following questions at the beginning of a transition will increase your chances for an effective search process and longer-term leadership success. Show less

Minnesota Business recently caught up with Marcia Ballinger and Lars Leafblad, co-founders and principals of St. Paul-based “civic search” firm Ballinger | Leafblad (and Minnesota Business (Real) Power 50 members). The pair discuss the finer points of nonprofit sector talent search, how young social entrepreneurs can magnify their impact, the outlook for Minnesota’s civic scene and Lars’s glory days as a touring BBQ slinger.

Pulling together partners, investors, clients, consultants and all the other pieces of the puzzle that set a new business up for success requires a network of relationships that can continue to grow alongside the venture itself. That’s even more true when your business is connecting people to each other and to new opportunities.

"The process of hiring a CEO can be an especially daunting task for nonprofit boards. It’s time-consuming and requires wrangling disparate volunteer board members into a cohesive group that can interview candidates and agree on the right one to hire. Frequently, nonprofits cannot afford to hire a search consultant or firm to help them manage the process and instead have to dig in and get the job done themselves. With or without a search firm, it’s hiring by committee.In fact, it’s the search… Show more

"The process of hiring a CEO can be an especially daunting task for nonprofit boards. It’s time-consuming and requires wrangling disparate volunteer board members into a cohesive group that can interview candidates and agree on the right one to hire. Frequently, nonprofits cannot afford to hire a search consultant or firm to help them manage the process and instead have to dig in and get the job done themselves. With or without a search firm, it’s hiring by committee.In fact, it’s the search committee that is the distinguishing characteristic of nonprofit executive search." Show less

Last week, Pollen founder, Lars Leafblad made a big announcement, he is co-founding a new executive search firm, Ballinger | Leafblad. Starting your own business is a risky endeavor, but Lars Leafblad and Marcia Ballinger don’t feel brave. Their partnership gives them strength. Ballinger and Leafblad believe in each other even more than they believe in themselves. Together, they have co-created a shared vision to shake up the field of executive search. The civic sector needs a new approach, and… Show more

Last week, Pollen founder, Lars Leafblad made a big announcement, he is co-founding a new executive search firm, Ballinger | Leafblad. Starting your own business is a risky endeavor, but Lars Leafblad and Marcia Ballinger don’t feel brave. Their partnership gives them strength. Ballinger and Leafblad believe in each other even more than they believe in themselves. Together, they have co-created a shared vision to shake up the field of executive search. The civic sector needs a new approach, and Marcia and Lars see a path to reimagining the search process for placing leaders within organizations that do good. Show less

Presentation I gave with Jamie Millard on building community networks at the 2013 Nonprofit Leadership Conference hosted by the MN Council of Nonprofits.

The Carlson School offers ample opportunities for students to hone their networking skills, connect with peers, and initiate valuable mentor relationships. Careers can flourish based on relationships, and amid an increasingly competitive job market, it's all about who you know. MBA alumnus Lars Leafblad, ranked among the best-networked professionals in Minnesota, has built a flourishing career around his natural talent for connecting people.

"Leafblad’s network is as wide as it is deep. He founded Pollen, the regional social network with more than 4,000 members and counting. Pollenites help each other spread news of their work with an orientation toward the civic-engagement and social-enterprise sectors. Using social networking tools, Pollen provides the vehicle for members to connect around job postings, event announcements, news, and links to books, articles, and trend information. When he’s not busy with Pollen, Leafblad works… Show more

"Leafblad’s network is as wide as it is deep. He founded Pollen, the regional social network with more than 4,000 members and counting. Pollenites help each other spread news of their work with an orientation toward the civic-engagement and social-enterprise sectors. Using social networking tools, Pollen provides the vehicle for members to connect around job postings, event announcements, news, and links to books, articles, and trend information. When he’s not busy with Pollen, Leafblad works at KeyStone Search to place candidates in leadership positions in civic organizations. Need a connection? It’s likely Leafblad knows the person you’re looking for." Show less

KeyStone Search integrates its marketing efforts into every aspect of what they do. The full-service retained search firm places people in executive-level positions while emphasizing the cultural fit. But instead of just trying to sell their services, KeyStone makes it a goal to offer value to anyone, whether they are a potential client, candidate or someone looking for information about executive search and cultural fit within companies.

Lars Leafblad joined the KeyStone in 2007. This… Show more

KeyStone Search integrates its marketing efforts into every aspect of what they do. The full-service retained search firm places people in executive-level positions while emphasizing the cultural fit. But instead of just trying to sell their services, KeyStone makes it a goal to offer value to anyone, whether they are a potential client, candidate or someone looking for information about executive search and cultural fit within companies.

Lars Leafblad joined the KeyStone in 2007. This past year, Leafblad launched BePollen.com as an expansion of Pollen, a civic connection project also founded by Leafblad. Pollen is a digital community comprised of more than 4,000 civic-minded connectors from several hundred companies, startups, nonprofits, foundations and public agencies. The network provides a platform for people to share ideas, career and civic engagement opportunities, along with peer-to-peer recognition to create positive impact and professional growth for its members. Since its inception Pollen has grown into one of the most significant and influential business networks in the Twin Cities.

Leafblad’s unique digital networking and community-building exhibited in the Pollen campaign highlights KeyStone’s core values of concern for others and forward-thinking. Along with the creation and launch of Pollen, Leafblad works in all phases of KeyStone’s business, conducting search operations and business development activity. Show less

"Developing savvy networking skills is one of the keys to career success — especially in a down economy. To learn from a master, you should meet Lars Leafblad. He has been dubbed the “most networked man in the Twin Cities” by Minnesota Business magazine. Leafblad, a principal with the Mill District-based executive recruiting firm KeyStone Search, is also the brains behind Pollen — a valuable resource for people looking for career tips and opportunities to serve on boards and get involved in… Show more

"Developing savvy networking skills is one of the keys to career success — especially in a down economy. To learn from a master, you should meet Lars Leafblad. He has been dubbed the “most networked man in the Twin Cities” by Minnesota Business magazine. Leafblad, a principal with the Mill District-based executive recruiting firm KeyStone Search, is also the brains behind Pollen — a valuable resource for people looking for career tips and opportunities to serve on boards and get involved in community causes." Show less

Twin Cities Business magazine writers profile 200 "Minnesotans You Should Know" in 2011.

I had the opportunity to visit with David Gee, former editor of Minnesota Business magazine, about innovation and executive search. Read why I love this business and my work with KeyStone Search via this interview with David.

"YPN5Q" is a weekly Q&A series spotlighting the state's top young business and civic leaders and creative minds -- professionals propelling change through entrepreneurship, the arts, public service, social media, and community involvement. This week, we hear from Lars Leafblad, a principal at the Minneapolis executive search firm KeyStone Search and the founder and curator of Pollen, a networking newsletter for professionals.

Drew Wood, Editor, Minnesota Business, "I guess I bring it up because this month I had the privilege of sitting down with one of the more genuine and thoughtful people in the Twin Cities, Lars Leafblad. We’ve talked about Lars often of late, and rightfully so. In case you’re one of the 10 people in town who doesn’t know Lars, he’s a principal at executive search firm Keystone Search and the founder of the monthly networking newsletter Pollen (which you can read at minnpost.com). More than that,… Show more

Drew Wood, Editor, Minnesota Business, "I guess I bring it up because this month I had the privilege of sitting down with one of the more genuine and thoughtful people in the Twin Cities, Lars Leafblad. We’ve talked about Lars often of late, and rightfully so. In case you’re one of the 10 people in town who doesn’t know Lars, he’s a principal at executive search firm Keystone Search and the founder of the monthly networking newsletter Pollen (which you can read at minnpost.com). More than that, though, he’s one of the area’s most tireless and selfless connectors. I’ve never once come away from a meeting with Lars without at least one more meeting on the books with someone whom he thinks I should connect with. That’s just the kind of guy he is. Aside from promoting a guy who refuses to promote himself, I bring up Lars because we talked about how content we Minnesotans, Twin Citians in particular, are with our standing in the world. When any sort of national ranking is released and we crack the top 20, we’re stoked. And, yeah, that recognition is great, but the problem is, we’re perpetually content with being just good enough. We’re No. 10 on the list of the nation’s best coffee cities? YES! We’ve cracked the top 20 coolest cities in the nation? GREAT! (So did Fargo, fyi.) What Lars and I were saying is, yeah, that’s nice, but why the heck aren’t we trying to be No. 1 on these lists?" Show less

Lars Leafblad, a principal in the Minneapolis executive search firm KeyStone Search, was dubbed "the most networked man in the Twin Cities" by Minnesota Business magazine last year. We thought that it would make sense to talk to this well-connected business connector about his take on what our city and state need to meet the challenges of the coming years.

"A look at 142 of the most notable people, places, companies, topics and trends affecting the greater Minnesota business community this year." By Drew Wood, Editor, Minnesota Business. If you scroll down to the "P" section you'll read my mention as part of the "Pollen" entry. Thanks Drew!

"MPR's Midmorning speaks with a corporate headhunter about what voters should be looking for as they choose the next governor to run the state of Minnesota."

Editor’s Note: We’ve got a lot of voices on Idea Peepshow … but we want more. So we’re reaching out to interesting people doing interesting things, asking them to share their inspiration and insights.

Our first post in an ongoing series of guest submissions comes from Lars Leafblad, a principal with KeyStone Search, an executive recruiting firm. Leafblad is the creator of Pollen, a Minnesota-based networking organization.

If you’ve got an idea for a guest post, we’d love to hear… Show more

Editor’s Note: We’ve got a lot of voices on Idea Peepshow … but we want more. So we’re reaching out to interesting people doing interesting things, asking them to share their inspiration and insights.

Our first post in an ongoing series of guest submissions comes from Lars Leafblad, a principal with KeyStone Search, an executive recruiting firm. Leafblad is the creator of Pollen, a Minnesota-based networking organization.

If you’ve got an idea for a guest post, we’d love to hear from you. Shoot a note to: info(at)fasthorseinc.com. Show less

"In an arena where no one is an expert yet many have opinions, it can be difficult to determine who to listen to.However, the more attention you pay to social media, the more certain people separate themselves from the pack. The following is a series of Q&As--all executed via Twitter--with ten of the more influential and disparate local thought leaders engaged in the social media conversation today. By no means are they the top ten-again, nobody is-they are merely a handful of solid sources… Show more

"In an arena where no one is an expert yet many have opinions, it can be difficult to determine who to listen to.However, the more attention you pay to social media, the more certain people separate themselves from the pack. The following is a series of Q&As--all executed via Twitter--with ten of the more influential and disparate local thought leaders engaged in the social media conversation today. By no means are they the top ten-again, nobody is-they are merely a handful of solid sources who bring varied perspectives, backgrounds and insights to the conversation. They talk social media tools, how social media will affect business going forward, and even return on investment." (Drew Wood, Editor, Minnesota Business magazine) Show less

If you are reading this article, you’ve likely received or will receive a call from an executive search consultant like me regarding a new career opportunity with another organization. As a former director of development with the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the U of MN and via my current role as a principal with KeyStone Search, a Minneapolis-based retained executive
search consulting firm, I’ve been on both ends of the phone.

So, just how should you plan to respond the… Show more

If you are reading this article, you’ve likely received or will receive a call from an executive search consultant like me regarding a new career opportunity with another organization. As a former director of development with the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the U of MN and via my current role as a principal with KeyStone Search, a Minneapolis-based retained executive
search consulting firm, I’ve been on both ends of the phone.

So, just how should you plan to respond the next time a search consultant solicits you to consider a new leadership opportunity? Do you take their call? Ignore it? Phone a friend for counsel? Here are some initial thoughts to consider:........... Show less

The Media Panel
Original Broadcast Date: 4/20/2012
This week's group discussed Pulitzer Prizes, journalistic ethics and all sorts of media issues new and old. Jane Kirtley, David Brauer and Lars Leafblad made up our panel this time around.