ALUMNI PROFILE
The Shaping of a Leader
B
orn in Chicago, Geoff Hoffmann ’99 moved to St. Louis and enrolled at Saint Louis Priory School about halfway through his freshman year. For many teens, the transition would have been difficult. But Hoffmann quickly joined the school’s baseball team and made friends immediately. “Priory created such a welcoming atmosphere from the beginning so I never felt like the new kid,” he says. “Everyone went out of their way to make me feel part of the community right away.” A gifted athlete, Hoffmann went on to become captain of his baseball, football, and basketball teams at Priory. Today, he uses leadership skills that were nurtured at Priory as the CEO of DHR International, one of the world’s largest executive search firms, headquartered in Chicago. “Priory was a safe place that helped shape the leadership skills I use today,” Hoffmann says. “I didn’t do everything right at Priory but the school created an environment that allowed us to make mistakes and to learn from them.” He cites an example of an impactful leadership learning experience when he was captain and quarterback of the football team. He says he took an authoritative approach with a teammate that didn’t go well. “I remember clearly the co-captain taking me aside and reminding me that my teammates won’t respond well to an authoritative style and that I could be much more effective leading by actions. It really resonated with me and was a huge life lesson that influenced how I manage today. Our company has thrived on a servant-leader based management style where people earn leadership opportunities through performance and respect.”
12 PRIORY MAGAZINE | SPRING 2020
Developing the Next Generation of Well-rounded Leaders Hoffmann and his wife, Megan, are building a team of their own in Chicago with four boys, ages 10, 9, 7 and 4. Being a father has heightened Hoffmann’s appreciation for his experience at Priory. “Priory nurtured a well-rounded approach to life where we were encouraged to try our best to be a pillar in faith, family and community,” he says. “They are all important facets for developing young men who are successful leaders in the community. You can’t sacrifice one for the other. That message can often be lost today with so much emphasis on specialization.” Hoffmann says the core principles he learned at Priory have served as the foundation for how he lives his life.
