ghSMART Consulting: Careers, Culture, and Interview Insights

Founded on the belief that great leadership drives great performance, ghSMART Consulting is a boutique management consulting firm specializing in leadership advisory, executive assessment, and talent strategy. Known for its data-driven approach and deep psychological insights, ghSMART helps CEOs, boards, and private equity firms make smarter leadership decisions. If you’re exploring ghSMART careers or wondering what ghSMART consulting does and how it compares to other top consulting firms, this guide breaks it all down.

TL;DR – What You Need to Know

ghSMART Consulting is a boutique management consulting firm specializing in leadership assessment, executive advisory, and talent strategy for CEOs, boards, and private equity investors.

• Founded in 1995 by Dr. Geoff Smart, ghSMART built its reputation on behavioral science and data-driven leadership advisory.
• The firm operates 20+ offices across the U.S. and U.K. with roughly 125 professionals serving global clients.
• Core services include executive assessment, CEO succession, team performance, and private equity leadership advisory.
• ghSMART careers attract experienced consultants and psychologists seeking impact, autonomy, and employee ownership.
• The ghSMART interview process emphasizes leadership reflection, career storytelling, and behavioral assessments over traditional case interviews.

What is ghSMART Consulting and what do they do?

ghSMART Consulting is a management consulting firm that helps organizations improve leadership effectiveness through data-driven executive assessment and talent strategy. The firm advises CEOs, boards, and investors on leadership selection, team performance, and organizational growth by applying behavioral science and rigorous analytics to talent management decisions.

ghSMART Consulting was founded to solve one of the most critical challenges in business: ensuring companies have the right leaders in the right roles. Rather than focusing on traditional operational or strategy consulting, ghSMART specializes in the human side of performance assessing, developing, and advising leaders who shape company success.

The firm’s consulting model blends psychology, analytics, and leadership strategy. Consultants typically hold advanced degrees such as MBAs or PhDs in psychology or organizational behavior, allowing them to combine analytical rigor with behavioral insight.

Key areas of ghSMART’s work include:

• Leadership assessment for executive hiring and succession planning
• Team and board performance improvement for senior leadership groups
• Talent strategy for private equity portfolio companies
• CEO succession and leadership development for global corporations

This unique focus allows ghSMART to act as a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 executives and investors seeking data-backed insight into leadership decisions. By combining evidence-based methods with decades of executive advisory experience, ghSMART Consulting continues to help clients build stronger leadership pipelines and achieve sustainable organizational success.

ghSMART History and key milestones

Founded in 1995 by Dr. Geoff Smart in Chicago, ghSMART Consulting was established to advance the field of leadership assessment and advisory. Built on behavioral science and executive psychology, the firm has expanded from a single Chicago office to a global leadership advisory firm serving Fortune 500 and private equity clients.

Dr. Geoff Smart’s academic foundation in psychology shaped ghSMART’s distinctive consulting philosophy. After earning his PhD at Claremont Graduate University under renowned business theorists, he applied his research on leadership effectiveness to real-world business settings. This academic rigor became the firm’s cornerstone and differentiated it from traditional strategy consultancies.

Key milestones in ghSMART’s journey:

• 1995 – Founded in Chicago with a focus on leadership assessment and executive performance.
• 2001 – Expanded nationally across major U.S. markets.
• 2010 – Established international offices in London and expanded its private equity practice.
• 2020 – Recognized among top leadership advisory firms for board and CEO effectiveness consulting.

Over nearly three decades, ghSMART has remained privately held and employee-owned, allowing consultants to uphold its mission: helping organizations hire, develop, and lead more effectively through science-backed insight and data-driven evaluation.

ghSMART Key statistics and global footprint

ghSMART Consulting operates more than 20 offices across the United States and the United Kingdom, employing roughly 125 professionals. Headquartered in Chicago, the firm generates approximately $20 million in annual revenue and maintains a boutique model focused on high-touch leadership advisory and executive assessment engagements.

ghSMART’s compact yet influential presence reflects its philosophy of quality over scale. Rather than pursuing large client volumes, the firm maintains exclusivity and senior-level engagement on every project.

Key ghSMART statistics:

• Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
• Founded: 1995
• Employees: Around 125
• Offices: 20+ locations in the U.S. and U.K.
• Annual Revenue: Approximately $21 million
• Ownership: 100% employee-owned

Major office locations include: Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, Atlanta, and London. Each office supports clients across industries such as healthcare, private equity, and financial services.

This distributed network allows ghSMART consultants to maintain close client relationships while delivering consistent expertise across geographies. Its employee-owned structure ensures every consultant’s performance directly aligns with firm success and client outcomes.

Services & practice areas: how ghSMART helps clients

ghSMART Consulting helps clients strengthen leadership teams and organizational performance through data-driven executive assessment, succession planning, and team effectiveness strategies. Its consultants design customized solutions that enable CEOs, boards, and investors to make informed leadership decisions that drive measurable business results.

ghSMART’s consulting work centers on improving leadership quality at the highest levels of organizations. The firm’s methodology blends behavioral science, analytics, and executive advisory experience.

Core practice areas include:

• Leadership assessment: Evaluating internal and external candidates for key roles using structured behavioral interviews and analytics.
• CEO succession: Advising boards on identifying, assessing, and developing future leaders.
• Private equity advisory: Supporting investors in evaluating portfolio company leadership and designing talent strategies.
• Leadership development: Coaching senior executives to enhance effectiveness and communication.
• Team and board performance: Facilitating alignment among leadership teams and boards to improve decision-making and collaboration.

These services are applied across sectors such as healthcare, technology, private equity, and professional services. Each engagement combines qualitative insight with quantitative rigor, producing actionable leadership strategies.

ghSMART careers: roles, culture and what it’s like to work there

ghSMART careers offer experienced professionals opportunities to advise senior executives on leadership strategy, talent management, and organizational growth. The firm’s collaborative, research-driven culture emphasizes flexibility, intellectual rigor, and shared ownership, making it an appealing choice for consultants seeking high-impact work in leadership advisory.

ghSMART employs an unconventional consulting model. Unlike firms with large analyst classes, ghSMART hires seasoned professionals often former consultants, PhDs, or executives with deep experience advising leaders. This ensures every consultant can engage directly with C-suite clients.

Common roles at ghSMART include:

• Principal or Consultant: Leads client engagements and executive assessments.
• Researcher or Psychologist: Designs assessment methodologies and supports talent analytics.
• Operations and Support Staff: Enables smooth client delivery and internal coordination.

The firm’s culture emphasizes autonomy, intellectual depth, and shared purpose. Employees enjoy remote flexibility, profit sharing, and participation in the firm’s employee-ownership model. This creates a strong sense of accountability and belonging.

ghSMART’s commitment to well-being, diversity, and continuous learning also stands out. The firm encourages lifelong development and values diversity of thought as essential to leadership insight.

The ghSMART interview process and assessment methodology

The ghSMART interview process is an in-depth evaluation that includes behavioral interviews, the SmartAssessment, and case discussions focused on leadership experience. The firm’s assessment methodology emphasizes understanding a candidate’s full career history to predict future performance and alignment with ghSMART’s leadership advisory mission.

Candidates go through multiple structured interviews assessing both emotional and analytical intelligence. Unlike typical case interviews, ghSMART’s process focuses on real-life leadership scenarios and self-awareness.

Stages of the ghSMART interview process:

1. Screening interview: Evaluates alignment with firm values and consulting experience.
2. SmartAssessment: A multi-hour behavioral interview covering complete career history.
3. Case study or peer interview: Tests problem-solving and leadership insight.
4. Reference checks: Confirms professional track record and leadership credibility.

This comprehensive evaluation ensures that only highly experienced and self-reflective candidates join the firm. Preparation often involves mapping career milestones, understanding leadership styles, and practicing clear communication.

Typical ghSMART salary, exit opportunities and target candidates

ghSMART salaries are highly competitive, with consultants and principals earning between $160,000 and $280,000 annually, plus performance bonuses and profit-sharing. The firm primarily recruits experienced professionals such as MBAs and PhDs, offering strong exit opportunities into executive leadership, private equity, or entrepreneurship.

Compensation reflects the seniority and specialization of ghSMART’s consultants. As an employee-owned firm, bonuses often include equity or profit participation.

Typical candidate profile:

• 10+ years of professional or consulting experience
• Advanced degree (MBA, PhD, or related field)
• Strong background in leadership development or executive advisory work

Common exit paths include:

• Senior HR or Talent roles at Fortune 500 firms
• Leadership positions in private equity portfolio companies
• Launching independent leadership advisory practices

This career model appeals to professionals seeking autonomy, impact, and long-term value creation through ownership.

Is ghSMART consulting prestigious and what makes them unique?

ghSMART Consulting is considered a prestigious boutique firm due to its elite client base, evidence-based methods, and select hiring of senior professionals. Its focus on leadership effectiveness and employee ownership model distinguish it from traditional consulting firms focused on operations or strategy.

Prestige at ghSMART comes from influence rather than scale. The firm advises top executives, private equity investors, and boards on critical leadership decisions that directly impact company performance.

What sets ghSMART apart:

• Exclusive work with senior executives and boards
• Rigorous, psychology-based leadership methodologies
• Employee-owned partnership structure
• High client impact and low consultant turnover

This combination of intellectual depth, autonomy, and measurable client outcomes has earned ghSMART lasting recognition in the leadership consulting space.

How to prepare for a role at ghSMART: candidate tips and best practices

To prepare for a role at ghSMART Consulting, candidates should build a clear narrative of their leadership experiences, review their professional timeline, and practice articulating lessons learned from key career moments. Reflecting on self-awareness, decision-making, and team impact is essential for success in the SmartAssessment interview.

Effective preparation involves both reflection and rehearsal. Candidates should map out their professional history, including successes, challenges, and leadership transitions.

Best preparation tips:

• Create a detailed career timeline highlighting leadership decisions and outcomes
• Practice explaining your leadership style and values concisely
• Study ghSMART’s focus areas: assessment, development, and leadership strategy
• Conduct mock interviews emphasizing self-awareness and communication clarity

By focusing on authenticity and structured reflection, candidates can stand out as thoughtful and self-aware leaders qualities central to ghSMART’s consulting philosophy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is ghSMART Consulting firm and what do they do?
A: ghSMART Consulting is a boutique management consulting firm that helps organizations improve leadership effectiveness through data-driven executive assessment and leadership advisory services.

Q: How to prepare for the ghSMART interview process?
A: To prepare for the ghSMART interview process, candidates should review their professional timeline, reflect on key leadership experiences, and practice clear, structured storytelling aligned with leadership assessment principles.

Q: Who founded ghSMART and what inspired its approach?
A: ghSMART was founded in 1995 by Dr. Geoff Smart, whose research in psychology and leadership inspired the firm’s data-driven approach to executive assessment and advisory.

Q: Is ghSMART Consulting a good company to work for?
A: ghSMART Consulting is highly regarded for its collaborative, research-driven culture and employee ownership model, making it a strong choice for experienced consultants seeking autonomy and impact.

Q: What makes ghSMART’s executive assessment approach unique?
A: ghSMART’s executive assessment approach is unique for its behavioral-science foundation, combining structured interviews and analytics to evaluate leadership potential with high predictive accuracy.