The Art of Team Building: Lessons in Leadership and Diversity from Moira Benigson

For the second episode of ‘Winning’, I had the joy of sitting down with Moira Benigson, founder of The MBS Group, the leading boutique executive search firm in Europe. She is a true force in executive search and someone who’s spent her career building leadership teams that actually work. Moira’s story is remarkable.

From growing up in South Africa to placing her first client (Monty Don!) from her dining room table, she’s built a business on instinct, integrity and deep relationships.

We talked about transformation, ambition, and the immigrant mindset. But what really struck me was how clearly Moira knows her value and how she uses it to build success for others. She said: “My real strength, I feel, is building teams. So, it's not just one person. I can do that. But my real strength is building teams. And if it's a transformation team, even better.”That’s what real leadership looks like. Knowing your strengths, owning them, and using them to lift others.

(00:00) Introduction to High Performance and Leadership

(01:09) The Evolution of MBS Group and COVID-19 Impact

(04:56) Immigrant Background and Personal Journey

(10:14) Family Influence and Early Career Choices

(14:03) Navigating Business Partnerships and Work-Life Balance

(20:26) The Birth of MBS Group and Early Clients

(23:11) The Power of Intuition and Team Building

(30:19) Balancing Discipline and Drive

(36:10) Diversity, Inclusion, and the Impact of Leadership

(42:15) The Role of Music in Life and Work
(44:44) Outro