While studying information systems at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Doug Maxfield planned to pursue a career in technology development. However, a transformational conversation with a family friend set his career on a completely different trajectory by unearthing an untapped passion: leadership development.
Maxfield was fascinated by his friend’s work developing high-level healthcare teams; reflecting on his own experiences, he realized that he found running and shaping teams extremely fulfilling. “I love the experience of seeing something that needs to be accomplished and bringing people together to make that happen,” he says. Deciding to pursue a career in leadership development, Maxfield chose to continue at BYU Marriott after finishing his undergraduate to pursue a master of organizational behavior.
A highlight of his graduate experience, Maxfield emphasizes, was the people he interacted with—particularly the faculty. During a difficult point in the program, Maxfield was frustrated about struggling with his coursework, feeling that he wasn’t as smart as his classmates. A professor noted Maxfield’s negative self-talk and intervened. “She said, ‘Why are you putting yourself down? You can compete,’” he recalls.
That professor’s earnest mentorship helped Maxfield become more deliberate about being positive while assessing his abilities—which he says has helped him confidently tackle intimidating business projects ever since he graduated in 1995.
Now, Maxfield has roughly 30 years of experience in tech consulting and leadership development. He currently works as a senior client partner at Korn Ferry, a management consulting firm that offers executive leadership training and talent acquisition services in more than 50 countries. Maxfield is tasked with running various leadership development programs in addition to managing teams that help technology companies identify and solve talent needs.
A phrase that comes to his mind when discussing work is Better Leader, Better World—a saying that Korn Ferry uses internally. Maxfield describes how, as he consults, he doesn’t just aim to influence leaders’ behavior. Instead, he carefully examines how to link a leader’s personal values to those of their company. “It’s a really, really powerful combination when you can make that connection,” he says.
For Maxfield, connecting with his personal values means creating time for the other priorities in his life. He does not believe there is a perfect balance when managing work and personal responsibilities; rather, he feels balance is about paying attention to the parts of life that need attention in the moment and adapting one’s focus as life changes.
The decision to prioritize his family came early in Maxfield’s career. While he loved his position at the time, it required so much traveling that he actually had an apartment in another city. He keenly felt the stark imbalance in his life while on vacation with his young family. “I didn’t want to go back to work,” Maxfield remembers. “I loved my job, I loved the company, but I didn’t want to be away from my family like that anymore.”
So Maxfield found a different position in another company. While the change was limiting professionally, it allowed him to spend more time with his family and to focus on his faith, another priority that he has seen add meaning to his life and career.
While Maxfield is generally very open about his beliefs, he recalls a specific instance when he particularly felt the need to share his faith during a difficult project with an unhappy client. He recounts, “At the end of the call, I said, ‘I want you to know that I’m a praying man. I am praying for us to be able to solve this problem.’” For Maxfield, it felt like a simple comment, but several weeks later, a team member shared how his remark had encouraged her to start praying again, which, Maxfield shares, made a difference for her as she faced a personal challenge.
Maxfield says he hasn’t been alone as he’s balanced his various responsibilities and priorities. He credits God with guiding and blessing his family as he and his wife have tried to do what’s right. “I believe the Lord has positioned me in my job,” Maxfield says. “It allows me to have the freedom to serve in the way that He needs me to, and that brings me a ton of joy.”
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Written by Katie Brimhall
