For many across Protiviti, fatherhood isn’t a role that exists outside of work, it’s something that shows up in how they lead, how they support their teams, and how they show up every single day.
Behind every title and every client engagement is a story of dads who are teaching resilience at home while practicing it at work, who are learning patience through parenthood and bringing that same perspective into their teams, and who are redefining what balance looks like in a fast paced, ever evolving environment.
This Father’s Day, we’re taking a step beyond the usual snapshot to share those stories. The real ones. The ones that don’t always fit into a calendar invite or a job description, but shape who our people are in the moments that matter most. Through their voices, we celebrate the Protiviti dads who are not only building careers but also building legacies. Let’s hear from a few of them:
Kevin Rohrback – Managing Director, Dallas
What is something your kid(s) have taught you that you never expected to learn?
Having kids that are as active as ours are, I have had to learn to be present and it is honestly a lesson I still have challenges with, but kids they “live in the moment” and it is a trait that I admire and wish I was better at.
I never miss a game, recital, Friday Night Halftime shows, etc. but there are times my mind was still back at the office — running through a checklist, thinking about tomorrow’s priorities. Both girls taught me to be present without ever saying a word. Watching them compete and grow with everything they have, completely locked in, has a way of pulling you into the moment whether you’re ready or not. They don’t realize that they have taught me this, but it’s one of the most practical things I try to carry into every area of my life.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received — or given — as a dad?
As a “girl dad” the best advice I ever received as a father came recently as both my girls have gotten older and it was something that I hadn’t given much thought until I heard it: “Be the kind of man you want her to marry someday.” That one hit differently than anything else I’d heard. It reframed everything — the relationship that my wife and I exhibit in front of the girls, how I handle stress, how I show up when it’s inconvenient. It’s less about telling her what to look for in life and more about quietly demonstrating it every day. I’m still working on it, but that phrase has never left me.
Syed Hussain – Manager, Houston
How has becoming a father made you better at your job — or changed how you approach your work?
Fatherhood has made me more driven than I ever thought possible. When you have a daughter and a son counting on you, you don’t hit snooze, you don’t cut corners, you show up every day because you know how important it is to provide for them.
What is something your kid(s) have taught you that you never expected to learn?
As a dad of a daughter and a son, they’ve shown me that the little moments matter more than anything, sometimes just showing up and being there physically means the world to them. Whether it’s swimming class, gym class, or something as simple as riding the tractor together.
What is one thing you want your kid(s) to know about you when they grow up?
I want them to know that everything I do is for them. The weekly work travel and time away from home is all driven by the love I have for my two kids and the future I want to build for them.
Aric Quinones – Managing Director, Atlanta
What is something your kid(s) have taught you that you never expected to learn?
As a sports guy, I have been pleasantly surprised to learn how to appreciate the arts with multiple of my daughters in plays, theater, dance, and choir along with the amount of effort needed to be great at it.
What is a moment with your kid(s) that completely changed your perspective on life?
The day my first daughter was born. I am sure this is true for everyone in some way, but Kenna was in the NICU for the first couple of months of her life so I realized the only thing that truly matters is health.
How has becoming a father made you better at your job — or changed how you approach your work?
You realize you need to coach and communicate to every kid/person uniquely if you want them to respond optimally.
Mike Osterrieder – Associate Director, Philadelphia
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received — or given — as a dad?
The best piece of advice I’ve received is with kids you’ll never reach a steady state; they are always changing, so expect that change and embrace each season of it. In terms of advice I’ve given, the refrain I share with my kids all the time is that your actions have consequences and your words have meaning.
What is a moment with your kid(s) that completely changed your perspective on life?
When my kids were newborns and I would have to feed them bottles in the middle of the night, the stillness was something I so appreciated. Those were special moments where it was me and my kids and nothing else mattered. It was a good reminder that “real” life happens all around us each day, outside of the daytime noise, and we should value it.
Ali Qasim – Senior Manager, Dallas
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received — or given — as a dad?
The best advice I got: “Life has its ups and downs, but a frown never helps.” It’s truer than I expected as a parent — kids read our reactions before they decide how to feel. When Nina takes a tumble, if I stay calm and smile, she usually shrugs it off and keeps going. Our reactions shape their day more than we realize.
What is a moment with your kid(s) that completely changed your perspective on life?
Two, really. The first was hearing her heartbeat for the first time — it made everything suddenly real. The second built slowly: realizing how much work goes into raising a child. It made me see my own parents differently and gave me a deep new respect for what they did for me and my sister. And it gave me a whole new appreciation for my wife and everything she went through to bring Nina into the world.
Marek Potyrala – Manager, Toronto
What is something your kid(s) have taught you that you never expected to learn?
Fatherhood has given me a profound appreciation for time – something I never truly understood until I became a dad. Children grow up faster than you could ever imagine, and the moments you have with them are fleeting. What feels like yesterday was my son taking his first steps, and before long, he’ll be heading off to college/university and live his own life. That awareness has been one of the greatest unexpected lessons of my life: to be present, to cherish the ordinary moments, and to never take today for granted.
How has becoming a father made you better at your job — or changed how you approach your work?
Becoming a father made me a better organized and disciplined professional. It comes back to that same lesson – time is precious. Knowing that I want to be present and engaged at home in the evenings has made me far more focused and disciplined during the workday. I’ve learned to prioritize what truly matters, tackle important tasks head-on, and resist procrastination. The days of all-night deadline sessions have been replaced by a healthier, more sustainable approach to work, a one where being there for my family is just as much a measure of success as anything I accomplish professionally.
Marty Murray – Managing Director, Toronto
What is something your kid(s) have taught you that you never expected to learn?
My son is almost 19 and just finished his first year of university and my daughter is 15 and just finished grade 9. My kids have taught me how observant they are and how my (my wife’s) behavior’s are really what they are listening too. As parents we tend to give a lot of direction, say “no” a lot, tell our kids what they “should” do, but what they are really ingesting is how we , as parents, carry ourselves and navigate the world everyday. As they become young adults, I am starting to see how that is what they were really paying attention to.
How has becoming a father made you better at your job — or changed how you approach your work?
Being a parent is constantly contributing to my emotional intelligence and leadership style. Having children that go through stages from being a toddler, to a middle-schooler, and now teenagers requires deep patience, negotiation skills, and situational leadership. All of these apply to being a leader at Protiviti whether I am interacting with our team or with a client.
Steven Stachowicz – Managing Director, Chicago
What is something your kid(s) have taught you that you never expected to learn?
My kids want me to be happy. They ask me very frequently how my day was, and why I might not be upbeat on the occasions that I am not. They ask me about who I talked to, and what about, and how they felt about our work together. They ask me to name something good that happened that day. They ask me if I learned anything. Where they learned to be this way, I sometimes do not know – I appreciate it nonetheless. But if they can be thoughtful at the tender age of 8, the takeaway for me is that I most certainly can and should do the same thing, and it is something that I actively strive to do every day now.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received — or given — as a dad?
I had always heard that being a working parent was challenging – finding time to do it all and giving it your all, at work and home, to co-workers, clients, family and friends. Having kids now, I can attest that it’s true! Someone told me early on to be honest with everyone around me, to ask for grace from them (and myself) when I needed it, and to understand that what I am experiencing is shared by more people than I realized. So, I do tell people why I look tired when they ask, or that my weekend wasn’t relaxing, or that I am excited to have hit a Boy Scouts popcorn fundraising goal, all because these things are my truth, and in sharing these things with others I feel closer to them, can relate better, and can both feel support from – and provide to – others who are trying to be the best parents they can be.
Justin Janicek – Director, Minneapolis
What is one thing you want your kid(s) to know about you when they grow up?
I want my kids to know I have a strong work ethic, treat people with genuine respect no matter their role or stage in life, and don’t try to be anyone other than myself.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received — or given — as a dad?
The best advice I’ve gotten is that being a good dad isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being present and behaving in the same manner that I’d want them to grow up.
Thank you!
And as we wrap up this special Father’s Day feature, we’re reminded that fatherhood shows up in so many meaningful ways through guidance, humor, patience, and the quiet moments that leave lasting impressions.
To all the fathers and father figures across our community, thank you for the impact you make every day both at home and here at the firm. Today, we celebrate you and everything you do to support, inspire, and lead. Happy Father’s Day!
