Navigate Forward was recently featured in the StarTribune, Sunday, November 13, 2016
When Teresa Daly and Mary Kloehn launched Navigate Forward in 2008, they resolved to do it their way, after corporate and consulting careers.
“We became entrepreneurs and business owners in our 50s,” Daly said. “We didn’t want to spend time trying to convince ‘headquarters’ anymore.”
Navigate Forward provides outplacement services for departing managers. Their companies pay Navigate Forward a fee for working on a next-act plan and introducing them to head hunters and hiring companies.
“We get them out in the market … and we stay with them until they land,” Daly said. “Business has far exceeded our expectations. We now have hundreds of client alumni out there who are our ambassadors.”
Navigate Forward this year will post revenue of about $1.5 million from the work of 14 employees and contract consultants.
Daly said a differentiator with clients has been Navigate Forward’s policy of donating 3 to 5 percent of revenue to charity. That’s revenue. Not the more typical small percentage of profit.
“It’s not only a good thing to do, but it adds to our brand,” Daly said. “We have clients, who when they learn about our services, they like our approach and also our philanthropy.”
This year, Navigate Forward owners added a twist to their own “charity of choice” for a year to which Navigate Forward provides cash and volunteer support.
When a client lands a new job, Navigate Forward makes a contribution to the client’s charity of choice. Also, Navigate Forward owners have developed a list of charitable best-practices that they share with client companies and others.
Neal St. Anthony
