MY EXPERTICE

ENHANCED HEADHUNTING:

SUPERIOR TALENT. FASTER

Christin Tellefsen is a Norwegian-born world-class headhunter and expert in candidate assessment and human behavior. Before building ESR in Scandinavia and the U.S., Christin worked as a Research Associate at Korn Ferry International, the world’s largest retained executive search firm, where she managed international searches for managers, specialists, and board members. As Managing Partner and European Director of ESR (Executive Search Research)—a triple-impact global firm where she has served as Senior Partner since 1997—she leads the delivery of high-caliber passive talent to more than 50 leading executive search firms and select Fortune 1000 companies across Scandinavia, the United States, and international markets.

Under her leadership, ESR has contributed to more than 5,000 placements of managers, specialists, and board members, achieving a 97% hiring success rate. The firm’s capabilities are strengthened by a global network of 100 industry-specialized recruiters certified through the ESR Academy, which she co-founded, along with strategic partnerships and advanced AI-driven automation designed to deliver speed, precision, and exceptional quality. Christin is also a strong advocate for the responsible use of AI and automation in hiring to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and, where appropriate, lessen reliance on traditional external recruiting models.

Recognized by a leading business magazine as one of the top five female headhunters in the field, Christin also co-established ESR’s U.S. operations together with C. Schoyen. This expansion earned ESR recognition from the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the top 25 recruitment firms in Southern California.

Prior to her career in executive seatrch she co-founded a newspaper focused on global job forecasts for the passive talent market and upskilling.

Her deep interest in human behavior—shaped in part by undergraduate studies in Psychology at California Lutheran University—has been a defining thread throughout her career. Inspired by Carl Jung, she co-authored Can People Change?, a book that outlines ESR’s assessment model and later informed the development of the LifeScript AI assessment platform. This tool is designed to support more precise evaluations of candidates’ likely strengths, risks, and long-term fit in professional roles.

Christin has also co-authored several influential books on executive search, recruitment best practices, psychology, candidate assessment, and job market dynamics, including the U.S. bestseller Secrets of the Executive Search Expert. Beyond business, she is actively engaged in CSR initiatives. She serves on the Advisory Board of Neighborhood Rescue of America, ESR’s CSR program focused on building safer, more resilient communities for children and animals across the United States. She also serves on the Advisory Board of LifeScript AI, which applies behavioral frameworks to support stronger personal and professional alignment.

A dedicated advocate for ethical, innovative talent acquisition, Christin Tellefsen combines decades of executive search experience with forward-looking tools and behavioral insight to help organizations identify transformative leaders while contributing to broader societal impact.