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    BPI Expert Faculty

    Cliff Hakim

    Career Consultant, Executive Coach, Author

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.Author of the influential book and concept, "We Are All Self-Employed," which advocates for professional self-ownership.
    • 2.Champions the principle of career self-reliance, empowering individuals to manage their own professional growth.
    • 3.Provides executive coaching to leaders and entrepreneurs to help them navigate career transitions.
    • 4.Emphasizes kindness, conversation, and storytelling to build strong interpersonal connections in the workplace.

    About Cliff

    Cliff Hakim is a distinguished career consultant, executive coach, and author who champions the philosophy of individual career self-reliance, contributing his expertise as an Expert Faculty member at the Best Practice Institute.

    Who is Cliff Hakim?

    Cliff Hakim is a recognized figure in career development and organizational thought. With decades of experience, he has guided executives, managers, and entrepreneurs through evolving career landscapes. Hakim is known for pioneering the concept of "We Are All Self-Employed," urging individuals to adopt a mindset of self-ownership in their professional journeys.

    His work extends beyond traditional consulting into broader areas of human connection and personal development. Hakim has engaged with various platforms to share his insights, emphasizing the importance of kindness, conversation, and lifelong learning.

    Quick facts about Cliff Hakim

    RoleAuthor, Career Consultant, Executive Coach
    ExpertiseCareer Self-Reliance, Executive Coaching, Organizational Development
    Notable forAuthor of "We Are All Self-Employed"
    BPI affiliationExpert Faculty member

    What is Cliff Hakim known for?

    • "We Are All Self-Employed": Authored the influential book and concept advocating for individuals to view themselves as self-employed, promoting resilience and self-interest in career navigation.
    • Career Self-Reliance: A key proponent of empowering individuals to take ownership of their professional growth and adaptability in dynamic work environments.
    • Executive Coaching: Provides guidance to leaders, specialists, and entrepreneurs, helping them navigate career transitions and development.
    • Rethinking Work: Contributes to the discourse on adapting professional mindsets and structures in post-industrial economies.
    • Interpersonal Connection: Emphasizes the significance of kindness, conversation, and storytelling in fostering meaningful connections, relevant to workplace culture and personal well-being.

    What is Cliff Hakim's background and experience?

    Hakim’s career spans over two decades, marked by his steadfast commitment to career development and personal empowerment. He has served as a career consultant, executive coach, counselor, and advisor, developing practices like "Rethinking Work." His foundational work, "We Are All Self-Employed," first published in 1994 with a second edition in 2003, cemented his reputation as a thought leader in the career self-reliance movement. More recently, Hakim has pursued artistic endeavors, including attending art school and developing custom furniture from reclaimed materials, showcasing his commitment to continuous learning and creative expression.

    What topics does Cliff Hakim speak and write about?

    Cliff Hakim’s work primarily revolves around the evolving nature of careers and the importance of individual agency within that evolution. His writing and engagements delve into the philosophy that every individual is, in essence, self-employed, advocating for a proactive approach to career management rather than reliance on traditional employment security. This includes discussions on cultivating resilience, strategic personal branding, and continuous skill development.

    He also speaks on broader humanistic themes, emphasizing the power of kindness, genuine conversation, and storytelling as essential tools for building stronger interpersonal connections, both in and out of the workplace. These themes underscore his belief in a holistic approach to professional and personal fulfillment.

    How does Cliff Hakim contribute to the Best Practice Institute?

    As an Expert Faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, Cliff Hakim brings his extensive knowledge of career self-reliance, leadership, and organizational development to BPI’s community. His insights align with BPI's mission to identify and disseminate best practices that foster Most Loved Workplaces® and implement the SPARK Model. Hakim’s work on individual empowerment and adaptable career strategies provides valuable perspectives for leaders striving to create engaging and resilient work environments.

    Where can you learn more from Cliff Hakim?

    Further insights into Cliff Hakim’s work can be found through his book, "We Are All Self-Employed." His participation as an Expert Faculty member for the Best Practice Institute offers access to his expertise through BPI’s resources and future programs.

    Background & Perspective

    Cliff Hakim is a distinguished career consultant, executive coach, and author known for pioneering the concept of "We Are All Self-Employed." As an Expert Faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, he champions career self-reliance and individual empowerment in the modern workplace.

    Background

    Hakim’s career spans over two decades, marked by his steadfast commitment to career development. His foundational work, "We Are All Self-Employed," was first published in 1994, cementing his reputation as a thought leader. He has served as a career consultant, executive coach, and advisor, developing practices like "Rethinking Work" to help professionals adapt to evolving economic landscapes. His more recent pursuits include artistic endeavors, reflecting a commitment to lifelong learning and creative expression.

    Areas of Expertise

    Cliff Hakim's expertise is centered on the empowerment of the individual within an organizational context. His primary areas of focus include:

    • Career Self-Reliance: Advocating for individuals to adopt a mindset of self-ownership and proactivity in their professional journeys.
    • Executive Coaching: Guiding leaders, specialists, and entrepreneurs through career development and transitions.
    • Organizational Development: Contributing to the discourse on adapting professional mindsets and structures in post-industrial economies.
    • Workplace Culture: Emphasizing the significance of kindness, conversation, and storytelling in fostering meaningful connections and positive work environments.

    Topics Covered

    Hakim speaks and writes about the evolving nature of careers and the importance of individual agency. His work explores the philosophy that every individual is essentially self-employed, requiring a proactive approach to career management, resilience, and continuous skill development. He also covers broader humanistic themes, such as using kindness and genuine conversation as essential tools for building stronger interpersonal connections in both professional and personal life.

    Areas of Expertise

    Career Self-RelianceExecutive CoachingOrganizational DevelopmentWorkplace CultureInterpersonal ConnectionLeadership Development

    Research Topics

    Career DevelopmentLeadershipOrganizational Culture

    Profile last updated

    Frequently asked questions

    Best Practice Institute

    Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

    The Workplace Report

    The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.