"It's crucial to foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation, empowering employees to embrace change and contribute their ideas."
Miles Everson Tweet
In this exclusive interview with ValiantCEO Magazine, Miles Everson, CEO of MBO Partners, unveils his insights into the world of independent work, technology’s pivotal role in the evolving business landscape, and his commitment to fostering a culture of empowerment and satisfaction in the workforce.
Everson, who brings over three decades of experience from his tenure at PwC, now leads a company uniquely poised at the forefront of what he calls ‘The Great Realization’ – the transformational shift towards embracing the growing independent workforce.
Whether you are an independent professional, an enterprise looking to tap into high-skilled talent, or simply interested in the future of work, this interview promises a wealth of knowledge.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Miles Everson: I am the CEO of MBO Partners, a technology platform that makes it simple for enterprises and independent professionals to work together. I joined the company in 2019 after more than three decades at PwC, where I most recently served as the Global Advisory and Consulting CEO.
Our platform is dual-sided, meaning we work with the nation’s nearly 65 million independent workers to help them start, run, and grow independent businesses, and with enterprise organizations to help them engage, scale, and optimize their work with independents, some of the nation’s most in-demand talent.
Even in today’s uncertain economic climate, job openings still outnumber unemployed workers, and in high skill areas, this demand is even more pronounced. Independent workers are a vital way for businesses to gain access to top talent, achieve strategic business imperatives, and to remain competitive and agile at the same time.
If you were in an elevator with Warren Buffet, how would you describe your company, your services or products? What makes your company different from others? What is your company’s biggest strength?
Miles Everson: MBO Partners is a technology platform that enables independent professionals and enterprises to collaborate seamlessly.
We champion The Great Realization, a movement that empowers individuals to have the freedom to do the work they love, the way they want, and businesses to re-think how to break free of corporate rigidity to succeed in the future of work. Our platform focuses on the engagement and management of independent workers, providing them with the support they need to succeed, both B2B and B2C.
What sets us apart is our deep understanding of the independent workforce and our ability to deliver innovative solutions tailored to their unique needs, as well as our laser focus on strategic and high-skill talent, a market not covered by any other provider, and a deep need for our client base, which focuses heavily on professional services, high tech, and strategic industries like finance and healthcare.
Our biggest strength lies in our comprehensive platform, which combines advanced technology, compliance expertise, and personalized support to optimize the independent experience.
Quiet quitting, The Great Resignation, are an ongoing trend causing many businesses to struggle keeping talent engaged and motivated. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. In your experience, what keeps employees happy? And how are adapting to the current shift we see?
Miles Everson: In my experience, employees are happiest when they feel valued, empowered, and connected to the purpose of their work.
At MBO Partners, we prioritize creating a positive and inclusive company culture that fosters collaboration and celebrates the contributions of every individual – we call this The Great Realization, which implies an awakening of individuals to their power in the workforce.
We invest in ongoing communication, provide opportunities for growth and development, and promote work-life integration for both independents and our own staff.
Data from The State of Independence, our now 12-year trending research and the longest-running of its kind in America, shows this is particularly true with independent workers, who have not only grown more than 69%, to 64.6 million, since 2020, but also with their satisfaction, happiness, health, and financial security, all of which out-perform traditional employees and remain higher than ever before.
To adapt to the current shift at a corporate level, we are actively listening to our employees’ feedback, enhancing our remote work policies, and focusing on building strong virtual connections through regular team activities and virtual social events.
To best leverage a model that contains cost while still enabling productivity, we run at a 50/30/20 model, enhancing our FTE workforce with an additional 30% skilled contract labor and 20% offshore talent.
Here is a two fold question: What is the book that influenced you the most and how? Please share some life lessons you learned. Now what book have you gifted the most and why?
Miles Everson: One book that greatly influenced me is “Leadership on the Line” by Ronald A. Heifetz and Marty Linsky. It taught me valuable lessons about the importance of adaptive leadership and the need to confront difficult challenges head-on.
The book emphasized the significance of staying true to one’s values, taking calculated risks, and inspiring others to drive meaningful change.
As for the book I have gifted the most, it would be “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman. I believe it provides valuable insights into human behavior, decision-making, and cognitive biases, which are crucial for leaders to understand when navigating complex business environments.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as THE real challenge right now?
Miles Everson: One of the real challenges in the current business landscape is the ongoing disruption caused by rapid technological advancements and digital transformation.
Embracing new technologies, adapting to changing customer expectations, and ensuring data security and privacy are significant hurdles that businesses must overcome.
Additionally, the evolving regulatory landscape and the need for organizations to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce present additional challenges. Successfully navigating these obstacles requires a combination of agility, innovation, and strategic foresight.
2020, 2021, 2022 threw a lot of curve balls into businesses on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past years, how can businesses thrive in 2023? What lessons have you learned and what advice would you share?
Miles Everson: The past few years have taught us the importance of resilience, adaptability, and agility in the face of uncertainty.
To thrive in 2023, businesses should focus on building flexibility into their operations, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, and embracing a customer-centric approach.
It’s crucial to foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation, empowering employees to embrace change and contribute their ideas.
Moreover, businesses should prioritize building strong relationships with customers, as the best source of business growth is the business you already have!
What does “success” in the year to come mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Miles Everson: Success in 2023, both personally and for MBO Partners, means achieving sustainable growth while making a positive impact.
On a personal level, it means maintaining healthy work-life integration, nurturing meaningful relationships, and continued learning, which is one of the best ways you can grow both as an individual and as a leader, and something I also encourage of the MBO team.
For MBO Partners, success entails being the trusted go-to platform for independent professionals and enterprises, driving economic empowerment and flexibility in the world of work.
It means expanding our reach, deepening our client partnerships, and delivering innovative solutions that enhance the success and satisfaction of independent workers.
Ultimately, success in 2023 is about making a difference and leaving a lasting legacy in the evolving landscape of work.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Miles Everson for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Miles Everson or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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