Search For Excellence

Professional Overview

F. Kendall Sharp owns and runs Search For Excellence (SFE), Inc., a legal search firm based in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. For more than twenty years, Ms. Sharp has assisted and coached numerous candidates in finding more fulfilling jobs. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions, partner groups, as well as retained and contingency partner searches. SFE handles the recruitment of attorneys from associates to senior partner-level attorneys. They also work with firms from out of the area that are looking to align with a local group of attorneys interested in opening the South Florida office of a larger firm. SFE covers Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, and primarily works with larger firms. They search for lawyers with sophisticated practices that would fit into a national or regional firm.


Ms. Sharp's candidates and clients value her candor and guidance. They also permit her to direct their searches to completion. Addressing each search with tenacity, unprecedented candidate and client knowledge, and an influential coaching style has earned Ms. Sharp a reputation as a first-rate consultant and legal recruiter.

Kendall was born in Charlottesville, VA, on her father's graduation day from law school. Her family moved to Florida a week after she was born. She grew up in Vero Beach, Florida and considers herself a native. Her father is currently a federal judge in Central Florida. Ms. Sharp graduated Valedictorian from Vero Beach High School. She earned her B.A. in History from Yale University. Ms. Sharp played varsity sports and lettered in lacrosse, softball, and basketball. Prior to establishing SFE in 1991, she briefly worked as a stockbroker for Dean Witter.

When she isn't working, Ms. Sharp loves spending time with her nine and five year old daughters. She also enjoys reading, creative writing, traveling and yoga. Pre-kids, Ms. Sharp rode her bike across Southern Spain, kayaked in Alaska, and dove some of the most exquisite reefs on the planet, including the Great Barrier Reef. She has also traveled extensively around the US and Europe, and has ventured to more exotic spots such as Kenya, Japan, and China. When asked about her hobbies, Kendall stated, "I have gotten into yoga, meditation and journaling lately. I know these things don't qualify as 'hobbies' in the truest sense of the word, they are really more like 'practices.' But they take time and care, and are all part of a journey of self-rediscovery I started last year when I turned 50." Ms. Sharp also loves good food and is a frequent visitor of Fort Lauderdale's Canyon and Sublime Restaurants.

When asked what she likes to read, Ms. Sharp claimed:

"I am an avid reader, a total word nerd actually, and have lots of favorites. I can be very snobby when it comes to good writing. If it’s not well written, I put it down, no matter how titillating it might be (i.e., Fifty Shade of Grey). I love poetry and quotes, and especially enjoy reading Rumi, Rilke, Emerson and Anais Nin (I want to be like her someday). For fiction, my favorite author is Barbara Kingsolver. For historical fiction, Philippa Gregory is the queen, and for non-fiction I am drawn to books on spiritual growth. My favorite authors are Pema Chodran, Debbie Ford, Byron Katie, and Michael Singer. Right now I am flip-flopping between the following books: Daring Greatly by Brene Brown, The Power of Now by Echkart Tolle (re-reading this one), Spiritual Relationships by Gary Zukav, and E2 by Pam Grout (re-reading this one, too and re-doing the energy experiments)."

Ms. Sharp's Successful Career Path and Tips for Legal Recruiters

Does Ms. Sharp have a top memory from Yale University? "My years at Yale are infused with amazing memories. I don't think I can pick a 'top' memory that is fit for publication, but my fondest memories all circle around the relationships I developed while there and the friendships we forged."

Did she receive any awards, scholarships, or honors at school? "At graduation I was awarded something called a Master's Cup, which was given out by the master of my college, Timothy Dwight, to ten graduates who he felt stood out in one way or another in our service to the college."

What does it take to become a successful legal recruiter? Ms. Sharp noted:

"I think there are many ingredients that must come together in a perfect mixture to enjoy long-term success in our industry. The one thing that I think is most important is the ability to manage your emotions and keep trudging along through all the no's you get and all the deals that crater. You MUST have the ability to keep going even when you feel like quitting. You absolutely have to have consistent habits, too, to keep the pipeline nice and fat. It is extremely helpful if you are a good manager of funds so you don’t have a sense of desperation around closing the next deal. This desperation, which I often felt when I was just beginning, really clouds your ability to effectively coach your candidates and to have their best interest in mind. Other qualities for success in this business which are imperative are: a good memory for details, the ability to build rapport with your candidates and gain their trust, integrity, persistence, follow-through, etc."

Ms. Sharp was a stockbroker for Dean Witter before she founded SFE. How was this experience? She explained:

"Luckily, I didn't make very much money as a stockbroker back in the late 80’s, nor did I have very many material things. This gave me immense freedom to begin slowly with Search For Excellence and build without a lot of external financial pressures. I have found that there is a yin and yang characteristic to almost every transition I have made in life. There is a scary, intimidating and frightening component that is born from lack of confidence or belief in myself. And there is the invigorating, exciting, challenging opposite force that draws me forward to prove to myself that I can do it. I am attracted to new challenges because I believe I can be a better person, have a better life, make a difference, or grow in some way. Every new chapter in my life has left me at a higher place of personal evolution, but it has not been without a commensurate dose of pain and resistance that I have gotten there. This just seems to be part of the journey."

What motivated her to work as a recruiter? "When I was a poor, struggling broker I met someone who was recruiting physical therapists. She drove a fast car, had nice clothes and a stylish townhome. I thought to myself, 'I can do that.' It was that simple. I believed I could find a physical therapist for a hospital...how hard could that be, right? Plus, I didn't think being a stock peddler was a good career for me long term. I recruited PTs for seven years (boring!), then in late 1997 when the market for physical therapists changed I made the transition into the legal market."

What advice would Ms. Sharp give to someone who’s brand-new to her position? "I would say this: make sure you have saved some money before you transition to legal recruiting because the ramp-up period can take some time. Don't give up. Keep going, keep plugging away, keep calling. This is a numbers game. The more people you talk to each day the higher the likelihood that you will find someone interested in your help."

What information does she wish she had when first starting out? "I wish I had the patience and wisdom that I have today. That would have launched me in a completely different trajectory in both my personal and professional lives. I would have done a lot of things differently, as most of us would if we had the benefit of 20/20 hindsight."

What's one of the things that Ms. Sharp finds most challenging about her job? "When I am close to closing a deal and it dies for reasons that are beyond my control."

What would she say is the most important thing that she learned as a legal recruiter? "Tenacity is a key ingredient to long-term success."

What is Ms. Sharp known for professionally? "Being tenacious. Being respectful. Being reliable. Hopefully also being fun...who wants to be a bore?"

What does she look for to find the right fit? What makes a great candidate? "This is hard to describe because much of what goes into 'fit' is intangible. I, personally, pay a lot of attention to the personalities involved and try to match people with other people they will like...this is assuming that other important characteristics like platform and infrastructure are in place. What I love most about my job is taking pieces of information (about the candidates and their universe of options) and rather than looking at it like I am putting puzzle pieces together, look at it like I’m making a mosaic. I am attempting to match people up and make something beautiful out of the combination."

In regards to what makes a great candidate, Ms. Sharp stated, "I work with partners. Hands down, great candidates have large, quantifiable and reliable books of business."

Does she have a recipe for a perfect match? "Nope. I wish I did, and if I had such a magic formula I would keep it secret."

Ms. Sharp discussed her strengths and weaknesses as a recruiter. She candidly admitted:

"My strengths and weaknesses as a recruiter are the same strengths and weaknesses I have as a person. Strengths: I try really hard to be a solid and moral person. I strive for impeccability and flawlessness in my work. Weaknesses: most stem from fears that can be traced way back into childhood (which I am nurturing with much care these days). One fear that still grips me from time to time is a fear of financial insecurity. This can land on me out of nowhere. I probably, also, have an unhealthy desire for approval and praise. This makes it hard for me to accept criticism at times and makes rejection seem personal. I am impatient by nature, though this is improving slowly but surely with age. I can be overly pushy and aggressive (I've been this way since kindergarten, however, so this may be part of my DNA)."

Since Ms. Sharp has been operating her business for twenty-three years, many readers may want to know where she sees the legal recruiting field in the next five years. "It will be the same. The cream rises to the top. The good people stick around. Those individuals lacking in talent will go off to find another career."

Where does she see the legal field in the next five years? "The legal field is in fine shape. I am not a futurist and have no predictions vis-à-vis trends. What I do know it that the legal industry, like many others, is tied to the economy as a whole. It will be in five years things will probably look very similar to today, except that I hope the economy in general will be a lot stronger."

What motivates Ms. Sharp to be a legal recruiter every day? She acknowledged:

"The most honest answer I can give is that I need to support my family. This is what gets me out of bed and into the office everyday. If I were independently wealthy I would be on a sailboat in the islands somewhere...tan, gorgeous and eating fresh coconut meat (and hopefully not addictively texting, as I am right now). Once I arrive in the office, however, I derive meaning from the assistance I provide to my candidates and clients and from the relationships we develop over time. This is a wonderful life and a great way to make a living. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to meet such amazing and fascinating people."

How does the businesswoman process fear? Ms. Sharp asserted:

"It depends on the day. Some days I feel it, pay attention and give it respect. Other days I get caught up in the tornado (like when financial fears land on me apropos to nothing). My new strategy is to sit with fear when it comes up and just watch. This takes incredible awareness, though, and I don't always catch it in time. My goal is to stay quiet and not be reactive. Meditation has helped immensely with this. It has given me a space between stimulus and response. Once I have that moment in between what happens and my reaction to it, I can make a better choice or process it differently. I can be the observer."

How does she tackle obstacles? "Mostly I just jump right in. I guess I'm lucky that way. Some people become incapacitated. I go into hyper problem-solving mode."

Does Ms. Sharp learn something of value from her mistakes? "Always! Even if you don't know it's happening at the time. Every 'mistake' has a gift in its hands."

Where does she derive her confidence? Ms. Sharp stated:

"At this point, my confidence comes from my track record...I just tell myself if I've done it in the past I can do it again. I should also say that more and more I am putting my trust in what I will call the benevolent energy of the universe. Some people call this God. Others call it Source. In quantum physics they call it the field of potentiality. My goal at this stage is to find the current of my life and flow downstream with it. My goal is non-opposition...no judgments, no expectations, no struggles. I say 'goal' because I am not there yet, just paying more attention and becoming more mindful. I spent much of my younger years struggling and swimming upstream. I am no longer interested in that game, and the anxiety and stress that naturally accompanies it.

Regarding confidence, when I first began recruiting, I adopted a 'fake it till you make it' attitude which sort of filled in the gaps for my lack of belief in myself. I didn't really have much confidence back then, and struggled immensely with feelings of doubt and inadequacy (perfectionism does have an ugly underbelly). What I did have, however, was an eagerness to do a good job and improve my life, to make money so I wouldn't feel financially insecure, and to eventually believe in myself with my whole heart. I am a lot closer to that now, and am grateful for it. Age does have its benefits."

Mentoring Legal Recruiters, Professional Associations, Being Motivated and Ms. Sharp's Passions

Is Ms. Sharp a mentor? She said she has mentored many legal recruiters throughout her career(not all of them successfully). This career is not for everyone.

Ms. Sharp's company abides by the ethical guidelines laid out by the National Association of Legal Search Consultants (NALSC), a voluntary organization of legal recruiters that adhere to the highest ethical standards in the profession.

Who has inspired her? "I am inspired everyday by brave people who carry immense baggage, who have had terrible things happen to them, but then manage to get up everyday, and continue to live and try and put one foot in front of the other. Each of us has a tragic and heroic story. I am always awed and honored when someone lets me in and shares something deeply personal and painful. It's true that you really never know what it's like till you walk in someone else's shoes. We as humans hide our shame so masterfully, but when only when we share it can we begin to heal. Read Brene Brown's book. You may feel empowered to let vulnerability to be viewed as courage."

What causes is Ms. Sharp passionate about? She supports Women for Women International (WfWI), a nonprofit humanitarian organization based in Washington D.C. that provides moral and practical support to women survivors of war. The organization also assists women in the move from poverty and crisis to stability and self-sufficiency. Ms. Sharp sponsors three women per year in Sudan and exchanges letters to them. She also donates to water.org, an American nonprofit developmental aid organization that provides aid to regions of developing countries that do not have access to safe sanitation and drinking water. Water.org was established from the merger between WaterPartners, co-founded by Gary White, and H20 Africa, co-founded by Matt Damon.

Handling Obstacles, Favorite Quotes, a Rewarding Position and Ms. Sharp's Goals

Has Ms. Sharp faced any obstacles in her life? How did she get through the obstacle? "Of course, everyone has obstacles. Some obstacles I have handled with great dignity and courage, others I have faced kicking and screaming like a little brat, and others have smacked me hard against the concrete because I stood defiantly in denial. With those, I eventually had to peel myself up and started healing. Only after the horror and humiliation waned was I able to see my 'mis-takes,' i.e., missed signs, missed red flags, and then learn from them. The painful ones seem to always be the best teachers. My worst mistakes have almost always involved an overblown ego and/or a good dose of greed."

Her favorite quote is by Mary Oliver: "Tell me what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life." This quote resonates with Ms. Sharp because it reminds her that she has one life to live. She wants to make her mark in the world. Ms. Sharp added, "I could live life like a leaf blown in the wind or live my life like I am captain of a ship. I'd rather be the captain." Another quote that moves her is by Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Ms. Sharp said Williamson's quote appeals to her because individuals shouldn't hide from their fear of inadequacy. Instead, people should find their strength and harness it. They can then become role models for other individuals.

Does she find her work rewarding? "I go through ups and downs. Overall I really like the work and am exceptionally grateful that I have found something that I am good at and that allows me to be of service to people. The deal cycle can be long in partner placement. Like I said earlier, it's all about managing the emotions."

Does the Floridian have goals? "My goal is to be a published writer."

What to Expect When Working with Ms. Sharp

Anette Yelin, Founding Partner at Anette Yelin, PA, stated, "Kendall is a consummate professional; she is sharp (really!), diligent and delightful to work with."

Cliff Steele, Attorney at Law at Clifford R Steele, P.A., claimed, "Kendall is among the brightest and most reliable, knowledgeable professionals I have worked with. Superlative work and creative, proactive approach to your individual abilities. Brings the best to each challenge."

Alejandro M., a partner at The Comber Law Group admitted, "It was a pleasure to work with Kendall when I was interviewing with law firms in Miami. She provided me with all the information I needed about the firms I was considering, was a pleasure to work with and responded to all my questions promptly. I highly recommend her and would happily work with her again in the future."

Barbara del Pilar Alonso, a partner at Squire Sanders said, "Kendall is highly knowledgeable about the So. Florida legal market."