Susan Hirt leads Talent Plus' global initiatives. Acting on a desire to study leadership talent, Hirt joined Talent Plus in June 2001 as
an analyst and consultant. In this role, she partners with executives in many different industries to help them discover and develop the talents of their associates, which leads to growth for the individual and for the company. In addition, Hirt has the opportunity to teach the Talent Plus interview technology as a selection and development tool within the client setting. Working primarily in the hospitality, cosmetic, retail and health care industries, she is also focused on clients in the German market.
Hirt began her professional career as a scholar of classical languages and literature. She earned her master's and Ph.D., at Stanford University, with the intention of taking a position as a university professor. Eager to engage her teaching and analytical skills for the benefit of individuals and organizations, she became intrigued with the opportunity to do so within the business environment as a leader and catalyst for change.
While finalizing her dissertation, Hirt began to work closely with the senior management team at MDS Pharma Services, a contract research organization for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. She was directly involved in the merger process of MDS Pharma Services with one of its largest competitors, bringing together leaders from multiple international locations to identify and realize the key benefits of the merger. Her activities there allowed her to influence visionary and strategic planning across the organization and highlighted for her the importance of leadership excellence as a key driver and sustainer of growth.
Hirt received her bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., and her master's and Ph.D. from Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. During her graduate work, she was granted a Fulbright Scholarship and studied for a year at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Germany. She currently lives in Lincoln, Nebraska with her husband, Brian.
