Deb Kaufman has always maintained a strong entrepreneurial spirit, pushing her to defy the odds in the executive search field. Sixteen years ago, she was a mother of two with another on the way — while most search consultants would stick to what they know, Deb found herself fascinated with the road less traveled. Balancing motherhood and her career, she set off on a new beginning through her very own executive search firm, Ksquared Search.

Deb Kaufman had a vision for offering a different level of customized service to her clients and candidates — producing candidate slates that were unique and transformational to the business. Sixteen years later, many placements made by Ksquared were game changers to the businesses they joined. 

Born from Deb’s relentless entrepreneurial spirit, Ksquared Search expanded on the idea that candidate slates are far from one-size-fits-all. Each professional presented must not only fit the job requirements but also fit into the unique fabric of a company. 

“Search firms offer, in many cases, a very similar service,” Deb said. “However, what I felt was missing was a high-touch service where you actually spent the time to understand your client’s needs and get to know what was important to them and the culture of their company.”

As the founder of a women-owned business, Deb also wanted to change the mix of candidates provided for executive roles. Ksquared centered its focus on diversity in all dimensions — touching diversity in race, ethnicity and gender as well as experiences and skill sets. 

“Offering diversity means different things to our clients and beyond a diverse slate,” Deb said. “I think we are unusual by getting very creative in how we think about sourcing the right candidates, sometimes convincing our clients to be open-minded in the skill sets that can apply across roles and even industries.” 

Ultimately, Ksquared builds talent pipelines that positively shape outcomes. By connecting leadership teams with exceptional candidates, the firm stands apart as an indispensable resource for industry-leading organizations.

Ksquared Search now stands apart as a small team of highly collaborative search consultants who focus entirely on long-term success. Over the years, Ksquared has gained team members throughout the United States with specialties in countless industries. 

“Many of the key leaders at Ksquared have been here since the start, so our ability to work together is undoubtedly unique,” Deb said. “We operate like a fine-oiled machine — I think our clients benefit from the cohesiveness of our team.” 

With hundreds of searches between them, Ksquared Search team members have amassed a comprehensive database of diverse, multi-disciplinary candidates. Deb Kaufman shared that their real differentiators are their strong client relationships and unmatched ability to adapt to organizational needs. 

“We’re an extension of our clients’ recruiting teams,” Deb said. “The commitment and the success of those around us have helped us build really strong relationships with our clientele and across numerous industries.”

In line with Deb’s ambition and entrepreneurial spirit, Ksquared Search continually expands its capabilities by placing roles such as Chief Marketing Officers, Chief Human Resources Officers and Chief Diversity Officers. Together, Ksquared consultants have built a natural network of diverse leaders willing to provide resources and facilitate connections within talent pipelines. 

“Our consultants are all working towards the same goal, which is the success of our clients, candidates and firm,” Deb said.

Under Deb’s guidance, the Ksquared Search team has placed executives in notable organizations such as Walmart, Boeing and American Express. By staffing her firm with genuine people, she believes every search will exceed expectations and truly impact the fabric of each organization. 

“We rise and fall by the success of every search. Our clients will always feel as though they are the primary focus — because they are. We don’t have 50 clients — we have a handful that truly are the priority,” Deb said. 

Searching for the next executive for your organization? Deb Kaufman and her team will assess your needs and preferences to identify the ideal leader for you. Contact Ksquared Search today to start the process.