People First and AI: Our Commitment to Use Technology to Strengthen Human Connection in Family Business Succession
- Erin McNulty
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Back in 2016, I attended a recruitment industry conference and listened to a speaker discuss the mature nature of our industry and its impact on firms large and small. He said something that's been burned into my brain ever since.
"The recruitment industry trades in the walking, talking commodity."
I wanted to walk out. That statement went against everything my father, Jim Stranberg, taught me about the work we do and its importance in people's lives. Not just company profits, but the livelihoods of individuals and their families.
That conference crystallized something for us at Stranberg. We consolidated around a core value that had always guided us: putting people first in everything we do. Not candidates as commodities. Not resumes as transactions. At Stranberg, we put People first.
Now, in the era of artificial intelligence, that core value faces a new challenge.
The Trust Challenge in the AI Era
As you read this article, you might reasonably question whether the content was purely AI-generated or whether any real human insight was used. When videos can be created entirely through artificial intelligence, conversations can be simulated, and when even authentic human experiences can be questioned, what happens to trust? (By the way, all of our content is directly informed by real conversations in our firm and with our clients and partners, and decades of industry experience. While we may utilize AI to synthesize conversation notes, the resulting insights are uniquely ours.)
This is the reality we're navigating: artificial intelligence offers tremendous capabilities to enhance how we work, but it simultaneously threatens the people-first foundation of what makes our work meaningful.
The Question Driving Our AI Strategy for Family Business Succession
At Stranberg, we're considering an internal question that guides every decision we make about technology implementation:
How do we use artificial intelligence to foster genuine human connection?
This question shapes our approach to AI adoption. We're not rushing to automate everything that can be automated, or to implement AI simply because it's possible or trendy. We're examining each potential use of AI through the lens of whether it strengthens or weakens the human relationships that define our work.
AI in Practice: More Presence, Not Less
Here's a concrete example of how we're answering that question.
We've deployed AI in our interview process. The technology now records every conversation our recruiters have with candidates and automatically takes notes, aggregating that information into digestible formats so our recruiters are fully present in every conversation.
Gone are the days of recruiters half-listening while frantically taking notes to capture important details. No more splitting attention between the person across from them and ensuring they document every relevant qualification or concern.
AI handles the documentation. Our recruiters focus entirely on the human being in front of them so they can read body language, pick up on nuances in tone, and ask follow-up questions that demonstrate genuine interest rather than checklist completion.
This is what we mean by using AI to foster genuine human connection. The technology removes barriers that prevent our team from being fully present with the people they serve.
Our Commitment to Our Family Business Community
As we continue developing our AI strategy, we're making this commitment to our clients, candidates, and broader community:
Any use of artificial intelligence at Stranberg will align with our core value of putting people first.
This commitment means:
We will not use AI to replace human judgment in critical decisions about people's careers and livelihoods.
We will not use AI to conduct interviews on our behalf.
We will not implement AI that reduces candidates to data points or clients to metrics.
We will carefully evaluate each AI application to ensure it enhances rather than diminishes the human relationships central to our work.
We will remain transparent about where and how we use AI in our processes.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The intersection of artificial intelligence and human connection in executive search is new territory for everyone in our industry.
In early 2026, we'll be sharing more about our evolving AI strategy and the specific commitments we're making to ensure technology serves people rather than the other way around. We're developing frameworks for AI implementation that keep human connection at the center of everything we do.
The recruitment industry may trade in "walking, talking commodities" elsewhere. At Stranberg, we're building a model that uses technology to enhance our ability to see and serve the actual human beings whose careers and companies depend on getting leadership transitions right.
Ready to discuss your executive succession needs with a firm that puts people first? Contact us to learn more about our approach.
