Psychotherapist turned HR professional - social science students, step right up!
Michael LeFevre '00
He/Him/His
Major: International Political Economy
Role: Senior Director of HR Operations
Organization: The Spur Group
Host Date: 2020 TBA
Time: TBA
Host Location: Redmond, WA
We asked Michael...
How would you describe your role and organization to a college student?
I head up the people (HR) function for a consulting firm in Redmond. My job is to help 187 employee navigate their careers in consulting and reach their potential in all aspects of their work. My aspiration in my role is to make it so that every single employee LOVES coming to work every day, and to keep that perspective as we continue to grow. Our company hires a lot of folks who are recent college graduates, and so I am fascinated right now about what inspires employees at work, helping students transition to the corporate world, and at connecting with talented individuals from diverse backgrounds in order to really understand what makes work meaningful.
The Spur Group was started 14 years ago by two ex-Deloitte consultants who didn’t want to travel anymore. They had a unique model for consulting – rather than hiring only experts in their field and billing them out at a premium, we hire raw talent from a variety of majors and backgrounds and teach them how to be top-notch consultants. I was the first such hire – I was employee #3 in 2004 – and the skills and ways of thinking that I learned as a consultant helped me tremendously in every job since. Now, I get to return and help inspire a new generation of talent – I love what I do.
What can a student expect to experience by job shadowing you?
We are going to try something experimental with the group – we are going to have them take on a mini-consulting project helping The Spur Group develop its strategy for recruiting college students, specifically students from liberal arts colleges. Our hope is to flip the traditional job shadow experience on its head – rather than the students taking a passive role and receiving information, we are going to invite the students to take an active role in the process. We hope it will be an engaging experience for all! There will also be space and time to connect with the Puget Sound alumni about their unique journeys to Spur.
ATTENTION: Students shadowing this host will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. This form will be provided to students matched with Michael. Please contact CES if you have any questions or concerns.
Why do you want to host Logger Students?
My Puget Sound education was critical to my success at every stage of my career, and I hope to give back in some small way. Whether it is with students who are interested in consulting, understanding human resources, or folks who want to know about private practice psychotherapy, I hope to provide an engaging experience for everyone who signs up. And if some of them decide to come work at Spur, all the better!