How our people-first approach helped this Seattle-based SEO software company thrive in a changing company landscape.

Who is Moz

In 2004, Moz (formerly SEOmoz) began as a blog and online community, designed to connect the world’s first SEO specialists through a platform where they could share their ideas and interact with like-minded experts from the industry. Their journey into software development began in 2007 when Moz received funding to develop new tools and ideas. In recent years, Moz made the decision to simplify their business strategy and re-focus on what their customers valued most: search.

We met Moz in 2018 when STAT Search Analytics - one of our existing Vancouver clients - was the first acquisition made by Moz. The acquisition and the transition management that followed became our focus: coaching and advising on change communication and integrating cultures have been defining pillars of our work together.

The Challenges

With all the complexity of the company’s changing landscape, how could we focus on putting people first?

We were bringing two different companies, cultures and business practices together. Initially, we felt it would be (relatively) easy as we perceived our cultures to be similar and already had familiarity with each other. We underestimated the challenge and the differences that existed culturally.

Jana Mutch

Director of Operations

With the acquisition setting the stage, we recognized the need for leadership and management alignment across the merging companies. We wanted to be speaking the same language. Knowing that there would be distractions, overwhelm, and confusion amongst the integrating teams, shifting business strategies, and merging companies, we needed help providing the personalized and targeted support needed.

The solutions

Focusing on a people-first partnership, we provided career and leadership coaching, along with a cohesive compensation structure supporting the company in its cultural transition and alignment goals.

**Transition Support**

• Supported Stat Analytics senior leadership team while navigating the transition and Stat’s company-wide change communication plan
• Provided one-on-one coaching for employees making the transition to the new Moz culture
• Produced remote readiness workshops to enable employees to work in a distributed team with multiple offices and WFH employees

Compensation Market Review

• Helped to align Stat Analytics and Moz compensation approaches
• Collaborated with the leadership team on job market data reviews and expectation setting
• Developed a market-based base salary structure that can scale effectively

**Employee Retention and Engagement**

• One-on-one leadership training and management coaching for managers, directors and executives
• One-on-one career development, productivity and well-being coaching for individual contributors
• Developed coaching focused training sessions

“Adaptable, collaborative and responsive

We had support in working through the culture/team dynamics, via coaching, and in aligning our compensation programs. Talent Collective’s only interest is in meeting our needs and challenges, nothing else matters. I appreciate that they are completely focused on adding value to our business.” said Rebecca Clements.