Supplier Stories: Amy King, The Connell Group

Can you tell us a little bit about The Connell Group?
Amy: The Connell Group is an insights consultancy that specializes in qualitative and quantitative primary research. We mostly work in the health care, life sciences and B2B markets.

Can you tell us about the recent project you were awarded on Globality’s Platform?
Amy: With the pandemic and the Great Resignation, there has been a lot of chaos in the labor markets. A leading technology company wanted a solid understanding of what employees are looking for, what’s working, and what can be improved. We helped set up a tracker to provide insights into the marketplace and into the talent pool they’re trying to recruit.

What has your experience been like with Globality?
Amy: Globality has been easy to use. It’s nice to have a Platform where we can simply highlight what our services are and be able to track when there’s an RFP, if we match or don’t match, and then move quickly from there. Overall, it’s great that Globality functions as a matchmaker, as opposed to having to navigate random requests for proposals.

Do you feel Globality’s Platform can make a difference and help level the playing field?
Amy: As a woman-owned business, Globality makes it much easier for people to find us. The onus is still on companies to actively look for women-owned suppliers, but it's great that Globality provides this Platform for those that do to connect with businesses like ours.

As a woman-led business, what has been your biggest struggle?
Amy: Recently, like many businesses, our main challenge was handling the pandemic and maintaining relationships in a remote environment. Having a Platform like Globality certainly made it much easier to keep connections going without feeling cut off.

As a woman-led business, what does IWD mean to you?
Amy: I am of a generation that didn’t see a lot of women in leadership roles growing up. When I was younger, I had an opportunity to work abroad for the United Nations Development Program, and I remember it was my first time being in rooms with female decision-makers. This was in the late 1990s, and it was an incredible moment to experience. It is empowering to be in rooms where women are making decisions and being taken seriously. As a mother, I’m glad that my daughter will have fewer obstacles to overcome because there are more women in charge, not just in business, but in some cases, running countries around the world.

Why do we need more women in leadership positions?
Amy: Women are natural leaders, and they have the capacity to lead on many different levels. With women, it’s not always about command and control. Women can lead by example and with compassion and empathy. Because of our ability to tap into these different levels, we can accomplish a lot more and go much further. In general, women tend to think about success and leadership more holistically, as opposed to solely focusing on the bottom line. This holistic mindset benefits companies and teams, which, of course, naturally affects the bottom line in the long run.

Do you have any hopes for the future?
Amy: It would be great to see more women CEOs in the Fortune 500. I’m sure we will get there.