Tina Schaaf’s journey is a story of purpose, passion, and an unwavering commitment to people. As the Founder and CEO of The Schaaf Group, she has built more than just a company—she has built a legacy of trust, transformation, and success. With over 30 years of experience spanning executive leadership, recruiting, business development, consulting, coaching, and leadership strategy, Tina is widely regarded as a trailblazer in the world of talent acquisition and executive career guidance. Her career has been fueled by a deep conviction that individuals thrive when aligned with purpose, and that businesses scale most effectively when anchored by the right people.
From the early stages of her professional life, Tina recognized the power of human capital as a strategic differentiator. She spent over nine years at Robert Half International, where she sharpened her expertise in finance and accounting recruitment and laid the foundation for a career marked by relentless client advocacy. Her tenure at prominent organizations such as Adecco, Protiviti, and Highland Capital Management expanded her leadership lens across sectors and equipped her with a nuanced understanding of diverse operational structures and organizational cultures.
In 2011, Tina took a bold step forward and founded The Schaaf Group—a boutique executive search and consulting firm dedicated to helping companies and individuals reach their full potential. Guided by a philosophy of personalized attention and long-term strategic alignment, The Schaaf Group quickly earned a reputation for delivering exceptional C-suite talent across industries. Today, the firm serves public and private companies, startups, and growing mid-sized enterprises with a focus on high-touch, retained executive search engagements.
Tina’s hallmark offering, The Executives Agent™, emerged as a natural evolution of her mission. This unique service model reflects her passion for guiding mid-level-professionals through moments of career transition and personal reinvention. Through deep discovery, strategic rebranding, and thoughtful roadmap development, Tina empowers her clients to unlock clarity, confidence, and opportunity. The process is not transactional—it’s transformational. Her clients don’t just land roles—they find their voice, their purpose, and their next great chapter.
Industry-agnostic by design, Tina’s firm works across a range of verticals, from technology and professional services to manufacturing and financial services. Yet, her impact goes far beyond placement. Tina is a trusted advisor in venture capital and private equity circles, offering human capital insights and due diligence support for investment decisions. She is equally engaged with early-stage startups, where her talent strategies shape not only executive teams but entire organizational futures.
Her commitment to leadership doesn’t stop at the boardroom. Tina has been actively involved with executive leadership groups and nonprofit organizations for decades. She currently serves on the board of Obria and previously contributed to WIN (Women in Innovation), Dataprism, Our Mayberry, PRAYR, 4Word- Seattle, and Briotech. As a volunteer and donor, she supports initiatives that uplift youth experiencing homelessness, technologies that impact humanity for ‘good’, and empower women in the workplace. This heart-centered leadership is a core pillar of her life’s work—deeply personal, unfailingly authentic, and mission-driven.
Tina’s professional credibility is further enhanced by certifications in the Core Values Assessment (CVI) and DISC assessments, which she uses to deepen her insight into executive behavior and team dynamics. Her ability to understand not only what a candidate brings to the table but how they will thrive within a leadership team is unmatched. As a coach, she is equal parts strategist and motivator, helping her clients push past barriers to reach ambitious goals.
Throughout her career, Tina has cultivated a robust network of industry leaders, board members, and executive peers. She has been a long-standing member of groups, such as: the Keiretsu Forum, the Sherpa Group, and Convene—a global community of Christian business leaders. These affiliations allow her to remain both grounded in her values and constantly evolving in her perspective. Whether she is advising a CEO on organizational development or mentoring a rising leader, Tina brings wisdom, integrity, and relentless dedication to the table.
With more than three decades of leadership experience, Tina has weathered economic cycles, navigated talent shortages, and pioneered new models of career development. Yet, what sets her apart is her enduring optimism and belief in people. She sees beyond roles and résumés—to the heart of the individual and the soul of the business. Her impact is felt not only in the success stories she helps write but in the way she elevates those around her to dream bigger, aim higher, lead with passion, and live more purposefully.
Tina Schaaf is not just an executive coach or recruiter—she is a catalyst for transformation. She is not just a CEO—she is a steward of vision, both her own and others’. As she continues to shape industries, careers, and lives, her guiding principle remains simple but profound: the two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. For Tina, that “why” is crystal clear—and every day she helps others find theirs.
Character:
Tina Schaaf demonstrates unwavering integrity and a heart for service in every professional interaction. Her commitment to ethical leadership and human-centered practices defines her presence in both business and community spaces.
Knowledge:
With over three decades of executive and organizational expertise, Tina brings unmatched depth in leadership, executive recruitment, business strategy, and talent optimization. Her knowledge is not only theoretical but honed through hands-on experience across numerous sectors.
Strategic:
Tina approaches every challenge with a long-term, results-driven mindset that aligns people with purpose and organizations with sustainable growth. Her strategic acumen is evident in her ability to diagnose issues, architect solutions, and drive transformation at scale.
Communication:
As a seasoned coach and advisor, Tina excels in articulating vision and cultivating clarity for individuals and teams. Her communication style is empathetic, direct, and impactful—fostering alignment and trust at every level.
