---
id: "quote-earnest-curiosity"
type: "quote"
source_timestamps: ["§ Hiring and Developing Agent Managers"]
tags: ["hiring", "traits"]
related: ["claim-agent-manager-non-technical", "entity-zach-stauber", "contrarian-ai-credentials"]
speaker: "Zach Stauber"
speakers: ["Zach Stauber"]
sources: ["agentic"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-agentic"
originDay: 6
articleStem: "hbr-sig-58-agent-managers"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/02/to-thrive-in-the-ai-era-companies-need-agent-managers"
sourceTitle: "To Thrive in the AI Era, Companies Need Agent Managers"
---
# The primary trait for hiring agent managers

## Quote — 'earnest curiosity'

> "earnest curiosity"
> — attributed to [[entity-zach-stauber]] as the primary hiring trait (§ Hiring and Developing Agent Managers)

**Why it matters:** This two-word phrase is the article's shorthand for the disposition that predicts a successful agent manager — prized above formal AI credentials. It anchors [[claim-agent-manager-non-technical]] and the contrarian [[contrarian-ai-credentials]]. Curiosity drives the iterative [[concept-test-deploy-learn-cycles]] that keep agents improving.