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 I am interviewing for an ED position in a non profit. The last ED left  and took her #2 with her to a new job. I have heard from a reliable source that the Board and the ED were having a tough time prior to her leaving. The place I am looking at faces many complicated challenges... some of which are clearly the result of the marketplace, some due to poor operations, and some of which may be due to  Board issues. 

My question is this: what do you think about my reaching out to the ex ED to discuss her tenure and get insight on the business and Board dynamics?  Assuming she would talk to me, is this kosher/wise and would you see this as setting myself up to be biased by her biases or view it as smart due diligence? I know whatever dynamics existed might be unique to the parties involved at that time, but I also know that Boards have patterns... and having some background might help me avoid some of those patterns.

I would think this question could be generalized to any job search, i.e., is it smart to reach out to the previous person to get their take on the job?

Thanks 

Mark's picture
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You are interviewing with the Board.  There is a reasonable assumption here that the ED and the Board parted under less than amicable conditions.  If you were to speak to her, the Board could legitimately feel that was an error in loyalty/judgment.  All such communications would be inherently biased, and worse, unclear as to whose agenda they served.  How could you be sure of anything?  Without knowing this person, are you willing to fall on your sword for her?

If you did it before we had made a decision to offer you , and I were on the board, I might well vote that you not be hired.

No.  Build your own relationships...and not with her.

And, this recommendation is NOT generalizable to other transition situations.  Some times it's okay, sometimes not.