
For our final episode, the three founding partners of Growth by Design Talent turn the lens on themselves. Mike Joyner, Adam Ward, and Jill Macri sit down together to reflect on the journey of building GBD from scratch, what led them to start the firm, and why they're closing this chapter.
They share the inflection points that shaped each of their careers—from Adam's internship that sparked his love for recruiting to Jill's formative years at Backroads learning leadership, to Mike's path through design, tech, and into talent. The conversation covers what it really took to build a consulting firm centered on quality over quantity, the leadership lessons learned along the way, and what they're most proud of after nearly seven years.
They discuss why they chose to create the community and support system they wish they'd had in their Head of Talent and RecOps roles, and how they proved that companies truly value strategic talent work as a differentiator.
An honest reflection on partnership, building something meaningful, and what comes next when you close one chapter to open another.
This is career development for the people who develop careers—one last time.