The Shortlist – A Personal Perspective, from Senan Karunadhara

Intellect, curiosity and collaboration define Senan Karunadhara’s approach to executive search. He gained a First in Modern History at the University of St Andrews and spent a semester studying at Keio University in Tokyo, a defining experience that fired his passion for culture and connection.

As an associate at Damhurst, Senan supports leadership searches with rigour and insight, supporting the firm’s commitment to innovation and impact.

For our Shortlist series of interviews with Damhurst team members, Senan revealed his continuing passion for research, his appreciation for his colleagues and why he’s facing one of his biggest fears in two months’ time.

Research is where I thrive. My favourite aspect of my degree was interrogating a subject and presenting my argument in a convincing way. After graduating, I realised I had an aptitude for executive search over contingent recruitment. I find the research elements of my role at Damhurst really rewarding – attending conferences and seminars, speaking to individuals in the market and sharing the latest insights with my colleagues and clients.

I convinced a famous historian to help me with my dissertation. I sent him an email and he agreed to a Teams call. He was generous enough to share some of his sources with me, which informed and enhanced my research. Some academics might have been protective of their work, but he took the time to help, which opened doors for me.

I find source calls really enjoyable. It’s rewarding when someone’s open to having a conversation about an opportunity or shares information about the market. Being able to then relay these findings back to the client is incredibly satisfying. It’s similar to academic research, when you uncover key findings that offer a new insight or angle on a subject.

Competition shaped my education. At school and university, I was encouraged to be the best – it was you against everyone else. I got good grades, but I realise now that collaboration holds much more value in the workplace and to my personal development. At Damhurst, when we help each other, we all grow.

I’ve always been driven to help others. I’m currently mentoring young people from underprivileged backgrounds and serve as a volunteer swim coach. At work, I strive to help my colleagues and contribute to projects as much as possible.

I loved the interview process at Damhurst. It was the first time I’d had an opportunity to speak about my time in Japan and my dissertation. It felt like the directors were really trying to get to know me. I got to meet several members of the team and everyone spoke positively about the environment here and how collaborative it is.

I can be myself at work. There’s no concept of a ‘game face’. We’re all exactly the same people in the office as we are outside of work. That’s why James invests time getting to know people during the interview process – he needs to know you’ll get along with the rest of the team. I perform better when I’m being my authentic self, not putting on an act.

I’ve always learnt best by doing. The culture here at Damhurst encourages you to get involved. Everyone is close – we all get on really well, which makes you want to support others and anticipate any help they might need.

Swimming’s an individual sport, but away from the pool it’s very collaborative. Everyone helps each other, and the whole team benefits as a result. It’s similar at Damhurst: there’s no sense of hierarchy. People can go to anyone and talk to them openly.

This summer, I’m facing one of my biggest fears by taking on the Canary Wharf Swim in aid of Lives Not Knives. Although I love swimming, I’ve always had a phobia of open water, but the charity is very close to my heart and I know these small steps are what make big changes.

Read more about Senan’s Canary Wharf Swim in aid of Lives Not Knives and make a donation here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/senan-karunadhara-1