She will tell you that succeeding in business was simply a choice she made, and then
executed. Still, it’s hard not to see Matrice Ellis-Kirk as the “perfect storm” that roared to the
top of the executive search profession in Dallas.
The stakes are sky-high when replacing top management at the largest corporations – for the
company and the new executive. Playing the matchmaker requires a keen eye for talent, some
marketing mojo, and the business acumen to seal the deal. Ivy League-educated Ellis-Kirk
proved she can crunch the numbers at an early career foray into banking. And a number of
local non-profits will gladly attest to the marketing appeal her participation lends to their efforts.
An eye for leadership talent? One has only to look at her most famous client, the Honorable
Husband Ron Kirk, to suspect she’s picked a winner or two.
Ellis-Kirk is Managing Director of the Dallas office of Heidrick & Struggles, a global provider of
senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services with offices in the Americas,
Europe, and Asia. For the last year, she had been on special assignment implementing
enhancements to the company’s worldwide client services organization. Her role in the
organization has expanded because, she says, of her “keen ability to listen, to understand the
nuance, yet be action-oriented. I identify solutions and always look to execute.” Excited to be
re-focused on her local clients, Ellis-Kirk leads a team of 28 professionals that manage
leadership talent, execute retained searches, assess existing leadership to investment
partners, and facilitate executive on-boarding.
Her climb to the top did have a few setbacks, but Ellis-Kirk has a short memory. “I expect to
face new challenges every day. The key is to really understand what challenges are and match
each to your strategic vision.” She sees challenge as an opportunity to improve. One that
should be prioritized and aligned with your overall strategy. “The lesson I’ve learned,” she
says, “is to draw on resources; that I’m not in it alone. I look to accomplish reasonable,
achievable short-term objectives while keeping in mind my longer-term goals.”
Success is about choices, Ellis-Kirk believes. “Everyday we choose … whether to be
productive or idle, whether to take chances or stay where we’re at. You must choose to
succeed.” But how you define success is your choice as well, she explains. “You must have a
vision of the success you want. With that vision, you can build a strategy and execution. Look
for success that can be replicated, then execute, execute, execute.”
As a wife and mother of two daughters, Elizabeth, 18, and Catherine, 15, Ellis-Kirk’s strategic
vision includes more than business success. She shares Ron’s optimism for the city of Dallas
and is determined to make a difference. Ellis-Kirk is a tireless supporter of local organizations,
including UT Southwestern Medical Foundation, the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, and
the Women’s Museum. The family is active in St. Luke Community United Methodist Church.
executed. Still, it’s hard not to see Matrice Ellis-Kirk as the “perfect storm” that roared to the
top of the executive search profession in Dallas.
The stakes are sky-high when replacing top management at the largest corporations – for the
company and the new executive. Playing the matchmaker requires a keen eye for talent, some
marketing mojo, and the business acumen to seal the deal. Ivy League-educated Ellis-Kirk
proved she can crunch the numbers at an early career foray into banking. And a number of
local non-profits will gladly attest to the marketing appeal her participation lends to their efforts.
An eye for leadership talent? One has only to look at her most famous client, the Honorable
Husband Ron Kirk, to suspect she’s picked a winner or two.
Ellis-Kirk is Managing Director of the Dallas office of Heidrick & Struggles, a global provider of
senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services with offices in the Americas,
Europe, and Asia. For the last year, she had been on special assignment implementing
enhancements to the company’s worldwide client services organization. Her role in the
organization has expanded because, she says, of her “keen ability to listen, to understand the
nuance, yet be action-oriented. I identify solutions and always look to execute.” Excited to be
re-focused on her local clients, Ellis-Kirk leads a team of 28 professionals that manage
leadership talent, execute retained searches, assess existing leadership to investment
partners, and facilitate executive on-boarding.
Her climb to the top did have a few setbacks, but Ellis-Kirk has a short memory. “I expect to
face new challenges every day. The key is to really understand what challenges are and match
each to your strategic vision.” She sees challenge as an opportunity to improve. One that
should be prioritized and aligned with your overall strategy. “The lesson I’ve learned,” she
says, “is to draw on resources; that I’m not in it alone. I look to accomplish reasonable,
achievable short-term objectives while keeping in mind my longer-term goals.”
Success is about choices, Ellis-Kirk believes. “Everyday we choose … whether to be
productive or idle, whether to take chances or stay where we’re at. You must choose to
succeed.” But how you define success is your choice as well, she explains. “You must have a
vision of the success you want. With that vision, you can build a strategy and execution. Look
for success that can be replicated, then execute, execute, execute.”
As a wife and mother of two daughters, Elizabeth, 18, and Catherine, 15, Ellis-Kirk’s strategic
vision includes more than business success. She shares Ron’s optimism for the city of Dallas
and is determined to make a difference. Ellis-Kirk is a tireless supporter of local organizations,
including UT Southwestern Medical Foundation, the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, and
the Women’s Museum. The family is active in St. Luke Community United Methodist Church.
Matrice Ellis-Kirk