Dorothy M. Billingsly
Executive Search & Consulting Expert
Global Strategic Partnership Development
Trusted Advisor & Executive Coach
Talent & Leadership Optimization
Career Strategist, Mentor, Author, Speaker
Dorothy Billingsly Rado is an executive recruiter, certified professional coach, career strategist, teacher, mentor, speaker, and author. While many people know executive recruiters as "headhunters," Dorothy prefers to describe herself as a matchmaker, bringing together talented individuals and meaningful career opportunities. For more than four decades, she has guided individuals through career transitions, promotions, leadership challenges, and job searches, empowering them to discover their strengths, align with their purpose, and create meaningful and highly rewarding career experiences.
As Chief Executive Officer of Billingsly Associates, LLC, a boutique retained executive search and consulting firm, Dorothy has devoted her career to connecting exceptional talent with leadership opportunities while serving as a trusted advisor to organizations and executives. Over time, clients increasingly invited her to extend her work beyond executive search into executive coaching, leadership development, and team building. Her experience includes partner-level leadership roles with three top-ten retained executive search firms, including the world's largest. She also serves as Executive Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Executive Engagement for Open Technology Incubator (OTI), where she collaborates with leaders, innovators, educators, and organizations around the world to foster strategic relationships and accelerate meaningful impact.
Throughout her career, Dorothy has been a sought-after keynote presenter, workshop leader, and speaker for professional associations, universities, corporations, and community organizations. For more than three decades, she has shared the principles of Chart Your Course through workshops, presentations, mentoring initiatives, and career development programs throughout the United States and internationally. Through university partnerships and classroom instruction, she has taught Chart Your Course principles to thousands of undergraduate and MBA students, inspiring individuals of all ages to approach their lives and careers with greater self-awareness, purpose, confidence, and direction.
Dorothy is co-author, with Joel Rado, of Chart Your Course: Empowering Purpose Fueled Lives and Careers, A Guided Exploration. Joel is a retired IBM executive and Chief Operating Officer of Billingsly Associates. Together, they have shared Chart Your Course through workshops, keynote presentations, professional associations, university partnerships, and career development programs for more than three decades. The expanded third edition reflects the collective wisdom gained from working with students, professionals, educational institutions, employers, professional associations, and communities around the world. Originally developed as a practical career-building workshop, Chart Your Course has evolved into a proven, integrated approach to career building and job searching for individuals of all ages.
Dorothy holds both BS and MBA degrees from Western Illinois University, where she was a scholarship swimmer. She resides in Florida and enjoys yoga, swimming, cycling, golf, and time spent in nature. Above all, she values inspiration, collaboration, gratitude, lifelong learning, and meaningful relationships.
Joel G. Rado
Joel G. Rado is the co-author of Chart Your Course: Empowering Purpose-Fueled Lives and Careers, a practical guide designed to help individuals discover purpose, build meaningful careers, and achieve personal and professional success.
A seasoned business executive and advisor, Joel brings more than thirty-five years of experience spanning operations, technology, human resources, finance, consulting, and executive leadership. His career includes leadership roles with startups, consulting organizations, and more than twenty-five years with IBM, where he served in both domestic and international assignments.
Joel has founded and advised organizations focused on business strategy, operational excellence, and technology innovation. He has also served on corporate boards and as an advisor to both private and public companies, helping leaders navigate growth, transformation, and organizational change.
Passionate about developing future leaders, Joel has worked with students, educators, and early-career professionals throughout his career. His long-standing commitment to mentorship and career development contributed significantly to the insights, tools, and strategies presented in Chart Your Course.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Joel enjoys golf, music, cooking, and spending time with family. He believes that respect for people, lifelong learning, and the pursuit of excellence are essential ingredients for a purposeful and rewarding life.