Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of talented students interviewing for summer internships.
From earlier conversations, it was clear: many of these students were well-prepared for the standard questions around markets, economics, business, and technical concepts.
So I decided to open differently. I went around the room and asked a simple question:
“If you were the hiring manager, what would you look for in a strong candidate?”
Their answers had one powerful thing in common:
They spoke of personal qualities—integrity, optimism, tenacity, focus, work ethic, intellectual curiosity, creativity, balance, critical thinking, wellness, and respect.
Not one person mentioned financial modeling, technical skills, or market knowledge.
They were wise.
These personal traits are the real foundation upon which high-performing teams are built. Hard skills are critical, of course—but once new hires arrive in most corporate onboarding training programs, they enter a structured process to develop technical expertise through repetition, apprenticeship, and mentoring.
As careers advance beyond the first phase of technical competence, it’s the human skills that begin to separate the good from the exceptional.
The ability to collaborate, lead, communicate persuasively, and elevate others becomes the true differentiator.
Which raises important questions for all of us:
✅ How am I improving my ability to deliver compelling, persuasive arguments?
✅ Am I consuming daily content that expands, calms, or inspires my mind beyond just work?
✅ Do I create moments that trigger creative thought?
✅ Am I showing curiosity at work—and asking questions freely of those with more experience?
✅ Do I treat everyone—above, beside, and below me—with consistent warmth, respect, and courtesy?
✅ Am I protecting my wellness with exercise, nutrition, and sleep (as best I can)?
✅ Do I help create a sense of levity, humor, and camaraderie on my team?
If you invest in both hard and soft skills, you’re far more likely to deliver excellent work, positively impact others, and build a career that blends high success with deep fulfillment.
#EmergingTalent #LeadershipDevelopment #SoftSkills #HardSkills #CareerGrowth #ForwardAndUpward
