About the Event:
This event was presented on November 12th by Axis Talent Partners, JoHo Talent Network and Spencer Stuart. During this session, participants gained insider tips from executive recruiters and senior alumni on how to rise into leadership. They learned what hiring managers look for, emerging trends, and how TFA works with mission-aligned organizations to help connect our alumni network with opportunities.
Session Resources (and recommendations from presenters):
- Presentation Deck
- Breakout Rooms: Be sure to watch the recordings of our breakout sessions, packed with attendee Q&A and even more ready-to-use tips from our presenters!
- Resources
- TFA Career Connect – Teach For America’s exclusive, national career platform for alumni, corps members, and TFA staff to explore connect, network and explore new career opportunities and pathways
- TFA 35th Anniversary Summit – Opt-in to receive text reminders and early updates on Teach For America’s 35th Anniversary Summit in Las Vegas (October 2-3, 2026), including ticket access, speaker announcements, and ways to get involved!
- TFA Regional Alumni Staff Contacts – Opportunities aren’t always locked to a particular geography. If you’ve recently relocated or want to engage with more TFA alumni in your region, reach out to an alumni staff member in your region to find ways to get involved and stay connected.
- Update Your Contact Preferences – Stay informed about events, programs, and other opportunities across the enterprise by keeping your contact information and preferences up to date.
Presenters
Emily Kathleen Mays found her professional home when she began leading people, culture, and operations strategies for mission-driven organizations such as United Methodist Urban Services, Child Care Action Campaign, The Children’s Defense Fund, Teach For America, and Newark Alliance. As one of Axis Talent Partners’ search leaders and people, culture, and equity partners, she strives to genuinely see and honor each client’s, candidate’s, and colleague’s needs and gifts.
Link to Profile
Jonathan Howard (NYC ‘06) is a talent strategist with 15+ years of experience helping mission-driven organizations in education and social impact build strong leadership teams. As founder of the JoHo Talent Network, he reimagines executive search with a human, values-aligned approach. His work focuses on expanding access, surfacing untapped talent, and helping organizations hire with clarity and intention.
Link to Profile
David Wick is a consultant in Spencer Stuart’s Washington D.C. office and leads the Education & Social Impact Practice in North America. He focuses on senior-level recruitment assignments, board placements, organizational culture and leadership assessments for a broad range of nonprofit and healthcare organizations, with specialized experience in philanthropy and impact investing, K-12 and higher education, education technology and fundraising.
Link to Profile
Aaron Mieszczanski is a former leader at top educational institutions and trusted adviser in placing and developing high-impact leaders at independent schools, K-12 and higher education institutions, and other nonprofit, philanthropic and mission-driven organizations. Bringing deep ties to the public, private, education, philanthropic and social impact sectors, Aaron supports leading educational and nonprofit organizations globally.
Link to Profile
About the Career Acceleration Virtual Event Series:
Hosted by the Teach For America Career Center and select partners and contributors, the Career Acceleration Virtual Events Series is offered to our entire network to engage in career accelerating topics to help inspire and support mindsets, knowledge and skills that advance one’s own career. The event series occurs every fall. We are always looking for a range of diverse speakers and topics to engage our alumni and corps member network. If you are interested in becoming a Career Acceleration virtual speaker or presenter, click reach out to us at teachforamerica.org/contact-us