Barbara Talabisco and Al .J Wakefield were pioneers in the Retained Executive Search industry—Al being a minority executive who served as Vice President at Korn Ferry International, as well as Gilbert Tweed Associates; and Barbara being a rising female partner who contributed to the success of well-known firms, such as Judd Falk, Rene Plessner, Kurt Einstein Associates and Gilbert Tweed Associates. In 1992, the two came together with a shared vision of changing an industry that was reluctant to do so.

At the time of the firm’s founding, the placement of women and diverse leaders was far from the norm, but Barbara and Al understood the importance of breaking down barriers for generations to come. As companies slowly began to embrace the changing tides, Barbara and Al remained at the forefront, waiting for their moment to deliver results. Today, more than thirty years later, Wakefield Talabisco International continues to be a trusted partner to renowned organizations in the development and presentation of diverse candidates globally.

Having grown up in Caracas, Venezuela, Barbara came to the industry with an innate ability to understand different cultures, people and regions, and has been relied on heavily for helping to strategize on business development initiatives across Latin America. Before launching Wakefield Talabisco International, Barbara built a strong reputation for recruiting women into large, global organizations, such as Citigroup, Cigna Corporation and Mastercard—an achievement that furthered her vision for the future: In order to evoke change, she needed to be change. Today, Barbara continues to be a steward of diversity & inclusion, and Wakefield Talabisco International is proud to be at the forefront of building a global workforce across world-class organizations, all of which are bolstered by talented women and minority executives.