In Episode 5 of Hiring for Good, hosts Suzanne Hanifin and Tanis Morris sit down with Anja Taylor, President of Kinesis, to explore what it truly means to lead with purpose, hire for impact, and build organizations that prioritize people and transformation.
From Global Ambitions to Purpose-Driven Leadership
Anja’s journey began with international aspirations, shaped by her Gen X upbringing and a belief that she could “do it all.” After studying communications and international studies, she pivoted from global development to a more grounded, family-compatible career path. Her story is one of adaptability, exploration, and a deep commitment to aligning personal values with professional purpose.
“One of my values is exploration… I’m often interested in where life leads me without really planning everything out to the last detail.” – Anja Taylor
Building Trust Through Servant Leadership
Anja’s leadership style is rooted in servant leadership—earning trust by working alongside her team, even sanding wood in a shop at 6 a.m. Her approach emphasizes credibility, empathy, and relational bonding, which she believes are essential to effective leadership.
Redefining Work-Life Balance
Anja challenges the traditional notion of work-life balance, calling it a “false dichotomy.” Instead, she advocates for integrating work and life in a way that fosters belonging, purpose, and joy.
Hiring for Good: A Human-Centric Approach
At Kinesis, hiring isn’t about checking boxes, it’s about finding alignment between individual passions and organizational goals. Their hiring process includes a six-page job description, a paid sample project, and a focus on adaptability, humility, and collaboration.
“Hiring for good means it needs to be good for both parts—it needs to be good for the company and for the person who’s hired.” – Anja Taylor
Empowering People to Grow and Evolve
Anja believes in the power of continuous growth and transformation, both for individuals and organizations. She encourages leaders to embrace ambiguity, support diverse learning styles, and create environments where people can thrive.
The Future of Leadership: Empathy, Adaptability, and Purpose
As a B Corp and values-driven leader, Anja is passionate about using business as a force for good. She emphasizes the importance of strategic impact, sustainability, and equity in shaping the future of work.
Final Thoughts
Anja Taylor’s insights offer a refreshing and deeply human perspective on leadership, hiring, and organizational growth. Her emphasis on transformation, belonging, and purpose is a powerful reminder that hiring for good starts with leading with heart.
At Acumen Executive Search, we believe that leadership is one of the most powerful levers for change. Conversations like this one are why we created Hiring for Good. It’s a platform for sharing the stories, strategies, and values of leaders who are shaping the future, with heart and with purpose. Click here to watch the full episode: https://www.acumenexecutivesearch.com/hiring-for-good-ep-5/