HRx Radio – Executive Conversations: On Friday mornings, John Sumser interviews key executives from around the industry. The conversation covers what makes the executive tick and what makes their company great.

HRx Radio – Executive Conversations

Guest: Jeanne Achille, Founder and CEO, The Devon Group

Episode: 324

Air Date: April 26, 2019

Transcript

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Full Transcript with timecode

00:00:13 :27 – 00:00:27 :15

Good morning and welcome to HR Examiner’s Executive Conversations. I’m your host John Sumser and today we’re going to be talking with Jeanne Achille who is the Devon group. So Jeanne, how are you?

00:00:27 :27 – 00:00:42 :25

Well I’m fine John. I haven’t I haven’t grown into quite those large shoes yet. There are others here. But I thought it would be just that you were the only person that did everything but you most certainly are

00:00:43 :07 – 00:00:46 :15

The persona and public face of the group.

00:00:47 :23 – 00:01:09 :18

Well thank you for that. You know we’re celebrating our 25th anniversary this month which is I. It has gone by so quickly and when I say that to people there they’re like Wow 25 years. I mean especially when people are 28 years old they just it’s mind boggling that a business could be in place that long.

00:01:09 :29 – 00:01:22 :04

Sure it will. We’ve we’ve been at this the same amount of time. How interesting. However since you told me about the different of people who don’t know which let’s be sure that they.

00:01:23 :04 – 00:01:55 :12

Well you know I think our our journey has been very interesting. Obviously we started as a tech PR firm back in the day. When the Internet was becoming commercialized so that that in and of itself sounds like a million years ago. But it’s been a heady ride. And part of the journey has involved a heavy focus on each our technology to the extent today where that is most of the client portfolio. And what has also changed over the years of course is the science of public relations.

00:01:55 :12 – 00:02:05 :26

So we are not just working with traditional journalists anymore at print publications. We’re creating programs that influence the influencers.

00:02:06 :21 – 00:02:17 :10

Work with industry analysts such as yourself work with financial analysts. Certainly the journalism community but also heavy focus on content marketing.

00:02:18 :03 – 00:02:29 :04

So. So what are you most excited about. What’s what’s what’s really making the entire system jump up and cheer.

00:02:29 :15 – 00:02:29 :21

Well

00:02:31 :18 – 00:03:03 :05

I think you know for us that Devon always been about the kind about the clients and you know I think I think culturally in terms of a corporate culture that’s been a very interesting orientation. And sometimes one that isn’t comfortable for new hires you know some people onboard that company and are really looking or you know the the weekly softball game or the keg party on Fridays and that’s not our culture. We are very focused on our customers.

00:03:03 :08 – 00:03:25 :28

We’re very focused on making our customers successful and supporting whatever their vision is and whatever their exit strategy is. And so a lot of times we are one of the quieter players out there in this category because we are behind the scenes rather than you know kind of thumping on our own chests here.

00:03:26 :02 – 00:03:42 :01

Well that’s great. Isn’t that what you want your marketing people to be. You say that what you do falls squarely in the marketing universe. You don’t want to know who the marketing people are. You want to know what what the company is about.

00:03:43 :00 – 00:03:56 :27

Exactly. Exactly. It’s a build process and it’s a blend of corporate brand and product brands. So it’s as I as I said it’s definitely a science and it’s a discipline. And it keeps us busy.

00:03:57 :09 – 00:04:19 :03

So recently you’ve started. That doesn’t really seem worth the risk you’ve taken this active interest in promoting women in nature technology. Good. The chair was a women in technology. I think it’s a day though. Yeah. You know your confer