As Phaidon International’s Charlotte office gears up for its 5-year anniversary, we speak with Executive Director – Head of Charlotte, Brian Bullard, to find out why both organizations and professionals from a diverse range of industries are flocking to the area from America’s largest cities, and how Phaidon International’s specialist brands offer companies a one-stop-shop for talent solutions.
Each month, we'll release a new blog post in our series, diving deep into the unique culture and operations of our key offices located in various corners of the globe.
Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the fastest growing cities in the US, and has been ranked as one of the top ten places to live in the country. Whether you're considering relocating for work or expanding business operations, Charlotte's Southern hospitality, low cost of living, and wide range of local activities makes it an ideal place to live and work.
Charlotte’s Growing Business Scene
“The great thing about Charlotte is that there isn't just one thing driving business growth,” shares Brian.
“There has been a post-COVID boom, however, as people realized that you don't need to be in a major metro to be successful in a job. Many saw that as an opportunity to identify more affordable living areas with a higher quality of life, and Charlotte ticks both of those boxes. We’re continuing to see thousands move here every single month.”
From a from a business perspective, Charlotte offers generous incentives to companies moving to the area, including one of the lowest corporate tax rates of any state in the US, making it a very affordable place to operate from. The city is also seeing continuous investment in infrastructure and is home to Charlotte Douglas airport, one of the busiest in the world, making it easy to establish headquarters there.
In addition, Brian says, “businesses have access to an exceptional, diverse talent pool for a more affordable cost than they would in larger cities like New York, LA, or San Francisco. There are talented professionals across many different fields, including manufacturing, finance, technology, healthcare, and life sciences to name a few. So businesses can move to Charlotte and run their company at a cheaper cost, but still continue to be successful and grow.”
And this pace of growth is set to continue, with several industries in particular seeing significant numbers of both businesses and professionals moving to the area:
“Although Charlotte has been a finance hub for over a decade now, we’re continuing to see the city’s financial services space grow further, with lots of new financial technology organizations establishing additional headquarters here. Manufacturing and technology are also continuing to grow, along with legal and compliance hiring.”
As Phaidon International specializes in talent solutions across so many different verticals, this supports Charlotte’s varied mix of businesses perfectly.
“The range of brands we have in the Charlotte office means we can effectively act as a single talent solution partner to businesses in the area. For example, a local financial services client might be making hires for their legal team, allowing us to be a one-stop-shop for our partners and maximize the ways we can support them effectively, no matter their industry.”
The Diverse Appeal of Charlotte
Brian resided in New York before relocating to Charlotte, so can attest to the fantastic quality of life the city has to offer:
“Charlotte’s location and low cost of living makes it an ideal haven for anyone seeking new opportunities. This diverse city has something for everyone – it’s a foodie paradise, has a thriving sports scene, impressive schools, and a mild climate with lots of outdoor activities.”
And when looking at career options, the advantages of living in the Queen City don’t stop there:
“Charlotte is home to nearly 20 Fortune 1000 headquarters and close to 500 regional or secondary headquarters for major companies, providing a prosperous job market and wealth of options for local residents to develop their careers and work with some of America’s biggest and best companies.”
Careers Spanning Cities at Phaidon International
Brian is a testament to how, with the right mindset, a career at Phaidon International can open up unexpected career opportunities in new cities:
“Before I joined Phaidon International in New York in 2016, I was an entrepreneur running my own gym, but I knew I wanted to be more in the corporate world. When I discovered Phaidon International I had little knowledge of recruitment, but I was really excited by their business trajectory. I walked in for my interview and was immediately glued to the electricity of the people and the amazing energy in the office.
“While it took me a while to find my feet, I ended up becoming one of our top sales people a number of years in a row, but always had that that entrepreneurial mindset so was keen to put my stamp on the business. When Phaidon International announced they were launching a new office in Charlotte, I was the first to raise my hand and became one of the office’s four founding members.
“We officially opened our doors in January 2019, where I stepped into the Head of Selby Jennings role for Charlotte and the Southeast. We’ve since grown to about 90 professionals just over four years, and that leads me to my current role as Executive Director – Head of Charlotte.”
Brian now works very closely with all the talent brands located in the Charlotte office: Selby Jennings for financial sciences and services, DSJ Global covering the end-to-end supply chain, life sciences brand EPM Scientific, and most recently Larson Maddox focusing on regulatory and legal talent. And with each launch, the office is able to offer a broader range of talent acquisition support to local businesses.
How Phaidon International Redefines Career Progression
As the business scene continues to grow in Charlotte, Brian explains how this also opens up opportunities for the team at Phaidon International, not only in terms of internal career trajectories but overall skills development:
“Both at the Charlotte office and Phaidon International overall, we have such a rewarding platform, not only financially but also from an opportunity standpoint. There are so many skills that talent consultants tap into daily to develop and establish themselves as a well-rounded professional, whether that’s negotiation, sales, communication, or marketing.
“Phaidon International also offers opportunities to individuals early on in their career that people just don't get access to in other companies. Here in Charlotte, I have managers that are two to three years into their professional career leading a $2,000,000 business and running a team of over 10 people. In most professions, it can take 15 years to lead a team half that size and be trusted with that.”
Want to join our team and see where a career at Phaidon International could take you? To explore open vacancies at our Charlotte office or our other locations around the globe, search for roles or submit your resume here.
