Stephen A. Miles
Encyclopedia
Stephen A. Miles is an author and consultant to CEOs and corporate boards of directors. He is a Vice Chairman of Heidrick & Struggles
, a member of the global CEO and board practice and a member of the firm’s management committee.
(1994).
After working as a social worker counseling maximum-security inmates at the Kingston Penitentiary
in Ontario, Miles turned his focus to management and leadership, receiving his Masters in Business Administration (1997) from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
Upon receiving his MBA, Miles worked for about a year as a consultant at Anderson Consulting before he arrived at Heidrick & Struggles in 1999. Since arriving at Heidrick & Struggles as a research analyst, Miles moved on to become a vice chairman, and currently runs Leadership Advisory Services within the Leadership Consulting Practice, overseeing the firm’s worldwide executive assessment/succession planning activities.
, who is regarded as the dean of executive-coaching consultants, noted that Miles is “near the top, especially given his age, [and] probably has a broader knowledge base than [Goldsmith]."
In November 2010, Business Week magazine published a feature article on Miles, calling him the “rising star of CEO consulting” and “the CEO whisperer” and highlighting the successful work he has done in the area of CEO and executive coaching. Shantanu Narayen
, CEO of Adobe Systems
has described Miles as “wicked smart,” while Marius Kloppers
, CEO of BHP Billiton
, has described him as “fearless in a soft but determined sense.”
Miles and Stanford University Graduate School of Business Professor David Larcker have collaborated on a Stanford Graduate School of Business
case study on CEO succession planning, entitled “Multimillionaire Matchmaker.” In a 2010 research study, they found that 51% of companies could not name a CEO successor today, if needed. Miles and Larcker continued this thread of research in 2011, to examine whether active CEOs make the best board members. They found evidence to suggest that while active CEOs bring prestige to a board, they are often not the best choice because they are commonly too busy with their own businesses to be a fully effective director.
Miles’ 2006 book, Riding Shotgun: The Role of the Chief Operating Officer
, was featured in the Harvard Business Review as one of the first in-depth studies of the COO’s role within a corporation and how the role can successfully intersect with that of the CEO. He is quoted regularly about succession planning and leadership issues in the press.
Heidrick & Struggles
Heidrick & Struggles International Incorporated is a global executive search firm. The company claims to be the first leadership advisory firm in the world. In terms of 2009 revenue, publicly held Heidrick & Struggles is the world's second largest executive-search. It is one of the "Big Five"...
, a member of the global CEO and board practice and a member of the firm’s management committee.
Background
Miles was born in Nairobi and lived a somewhat “nomadic” childhood in places such as South Africa, Iraq, Argentina and Canada. Driven by the study of human psychology, Miles received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (1991) from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and a Masters in Psychology from the University of VictoriaUniversity of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
(1994).
After working as a social worker counseling maximum-security inmates at the Kingston Penitentiary
Kingston Penitentiary
Kingston Penitentiary is a maximum security prison located in Kingston, Ontario between King Street West and Lake Ontario....
in Ontario, Miles turned his focus to management and leadership, receiving his Masters in Business Administration (1997) from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
Upon receiving his MBA, Miles worked for about a year as a consultant at Anderson Consulting before he arrived at Heidrick & Struggles in 1999. Since arriving at Heidrick & Struggles as a research analyst, Miles moved on to become a vice chairman, and currently runs Leadership Advisory Services within the Leadership Consulting Practice, overseeing the firm’s worldwide executive assessment/succession planning activities.
Career
Miles' research centers on CEO succession and leadership. Using the 360 degree evaluation process, Miles has helped companies such as BHP Billiton, Nokia, Best Buy, and Adobe assess their internal leadership capacity and develop emerging leaders within each company. Marshall GoldsmithMarshall Goldsmith
Marshall Goldsmith is an American author of management-related literature, professor, executive educator and coach. Born in Valley Station, Kentucky, he received his BS from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 1970, his MBA from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business in 1972 , and his...
, who is regarded as the dean of executive-coaching consultants, noted that Miles is “near the top, especially given his age, [and] probably has a broader knowledge base than [Goldsmith]."
In November 2010, Business Week magazine published a feature article on Miles, calling him the “rising star of CEO consulting” and “the CEO whisperer” and highlighting the successful work he has done in the area of CEO and executive coaching. Shantanu Narayen
Shantanu Narayen
Shantanu Narayen is the current CEO of Adobe Systems. Prior to this post, he held the role as the President and Chief Operating Officer since 2005.-Early life:...
, CEO of Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
has described Miles as “wicked smart,” while Marius Kloppers
Marius Kloppers
Dr Marius Kloppers is CEO of BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company. He is presently the group president of BHP's non ferrous metals division.- Education :...
, CEO of BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
, has described him as “fearless in a soft but determined sense.”
Miles and Stanford University Graduate School of Business Professor David Larcker have collaborated on a Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford Graduate School of Business
The Stanford Graduate School of Business is one of the professional schools of Stanford University, in Stanford, California and is broadly regarded as one of the best business schools in the world.The Stanford GSB offers a general management Master of Business Administration degree, the Sloan...
case study on CEO succession planning, entitled “Multimillionaire Matchmaker.” In a 2010 research study, they found that 51% of companies could not name a CEO successor today, if needed. Miles and Larcker continued this thread of research in 2011, to examine whether active CEOs make the best board members. They found evidence to suggest that while active CEOs bring prestige to a board, they are often not the best choice because they are commonly too busy with their own businesses to be a fully effective director.
Miles’ 2006 book, Riding Shotgun: The Role of the Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
, was featured in the Harvard Business Review as one of the first in-depth studies of the COO’s role within a corporation and how the role can successfully intersect with that of the CEO. He is quoted regularly about succession planning and leadership issues in the press.