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Do work you love
Our mission
Two-thirds of Americans report feeling disengaged at work. We believe that doing work you love not only keeps you engaged, but also makes the world a better place.
We’re on a mission to help courageous people build careers they love so they can make their fullest contribution to the world around them.
Since 2017, we've helped thousands of career designers find more fulfilling work through our programs. We've worked with people from all ages and industries; from teachers and lawyers, to engineers and administrators. Regardless of your background or age, our proven Career Design Process will give the clarity and plan you need to pursue a career you really love.
Speaking of our Career Design Process, where did that come from? We've spent years refining our approach to career design, and have been very influenced by a number of fields, including Design Thinking, Positive Psychology, and Career Counseling. Our process breaks down the overwhelming challenge of "figuring out what you want to do" into simple steps that anyone can follow!
Our team
Jessica MacDonald - Director of Career Programs
Jessica is on a mission to empower individuals to unlock their full potential and forge career paths that lead to both success and personal fulfillment. Armed with a certification as a Gallup Strengths Coach, she brings experience in career coaching, leadership development, and team building. With a background predominantly rooted in higher education career services, complemented by roles in program management, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations, Jessica is adept at guiding individuals towards their professional aspirations. Her unwavering commitment to a strengths-based approach underscores her passion for helping others harness their innate talents for maximum impact.
Cecile Oreste - Program Manager
Cecile is a marketing and communications professional with an extensive background in the nonprofit sector. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in public relations, she began her career in advertising sales and media relations. Cecile has worked with performing arts organizations in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and San Francisco, in addition to consulting for companies in the logistics and technology industries. As an alumna of the Mission Collaborative Fellowship, she is passionate about helping people make connections to enhance their careers.
Sagarika Das - Program Manager
Sagarika is passionate about supporting career-changers through their journeys of self-discovery and transformation. She is an epidemiologist with a background in global health, human-centered design, and higher education, and she uses her multidisciplinary expertise to guide individuals in pursuit of fulfilling and empowering careers.
Katherine Lelek - Program Manager
Katherine is a dedicated career services professional and Mission Collaborative alumna who believes that self-reflection, research and having a strategic plan are the keys to finding career success. Her superpower is curiosity and she is a lifelong learner. She is particularly interested in using design thinking to empower others to find meaning and joy in their lives.
Claire Dorn - Program Manager
Claire is a career strategist with extensive experience guiding professionals across diverse industries through significant career changes. She is passionate about helping people design meaningful careers that resonate with their unique strengths, passions, and ambitions, and empowering them to transform their career aspirations into actionable plans. Her career background includes teaching, career coaching, workforce development, and project management.
Alexandria Grant - Program Manager
Alexandria is a lifelong learner with a decade of experience in Education, Guidance Counseling, and Human Development. Her career began with Teach for America and evolved into a series of impactful roles. After completing the Fellowship in 2022, she earned a Project Management Certificate and transitioned into Program Management in Lending and Finance. She now consults and advises entrepreneurs and small business owners, providing technical assistance and educational programming to support their growth and bankability. Passionate about servant leadership, Alexandria collaborates with community stakeholders, grant institutions, and corporate partners to enhance access to resources that help business owners create and retain jobs, ultimately putting dollars back into the communities in which they live. As a Mission Collaborative alum and career-changer, Alexandria is dedicated to guiding individuals in career design and helping them pursue more fulfilling and purposeful careers.
Krista Vaught - Program Manager
Krista is passionate about creating learning and connection experiences that help people move forward, particularly by applying design thinking concepts and creating space for intentional reflection. She has made several pivots on her own career journey, including roles in journalism, law, executive support, academic programs, compliance, and learning and development, and she enjoys continually exploring ways to enhance meaning and fulfillment. Krista holds an EdD in educational technology and a law degree, and is an ICF Associate Certified Coach. Outside of coaching and life design, Krista enjoys traveling to national parks and finding the best gluten-free bakeries.
Samantha Varner - Program Manager
Samantha Varner is a higher education professional passionate about life-long learning and personal development. She has spent the last fifteen years working in university relations and advancement, focusing on building resources for university alumni, including the establishment of valuable career mentorship programs for which she won a CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Gold Award in 2018 for new program initiatives. Samantha is no stranger to career transitions, as she started her career journey organizing large-scale athletic and fundraising events and has experience working with professional sports organizations and managing corporate accounts for an award-winning social/digital marketing agency. Her greatest transition has been the one to “working mom,” which has led her to be an expert in managing time and resources to maximize efficiency.
Anna Carlson - Program Manager
Anna is passionate about helping people identify and develop their strengths to find fulfilling careers. Her 12 years in education, combined with training in yoga, wellness, AI, and machine learning provide a unique perspective that she hopes will inspire others on their professional journeys.
Dumari St. Angelo - Program Manager
Dumari is dedicated to empowering individuals to find greater fulfillment, self-confidence, and joy. With over 20 years of coaching experience, she has helped thousands of people to achieve their personal and relationship goals. Her diverse background in entrepreneurship, software quality assurance, learning facilitation, and program management, paired with her expertise in mindset coaching and manifestation principles, uniquely positions her to guide professionals in discovering their next career steps. As an alumna of the Mission Collaborative Fellowship, she has personally benefited from the career clarity this program offers. Dumari is deeply committed to helping others thrive while also embracing her passion for continuous personal growth through choosing joy.
Lindsay Dahl - Program Manager
Lindsay believes everyone should enjoy a career that lights them up and helps them live the life they want. After completing the Mission Collaborative fellowship in 2019, she became one of their first program managers and has supported over 1,300 career changers through this life-changing experience. Her background is in communications, though with the help of Mission Collaborative, she has since made moves into digital workplace consulting and, most recently, instructional design of professional development programs for a B2B media company. Lindsay loves to use her expertise in design thinking and communications to help people explore ways to create careers and lives they truly enjoy.
Sara Gerken - Program Manager
Sara Gerken has built a strong foundation in higher education and student affairs, specializing in change management and empowering individuals to thrive in dynamic environments. With a master’s degree and certification as a life coach, Sara has dedicated over 100 hours to coaching clients, ranging from entry-level professionals to seasoned leaders, helping them navigate the complexities of life and career. Her work is rooted in fostering authenticity and human connection, blending her strategic project management expertise with a passion for creating environments where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to be their true selves.
Paula Franicevich - Operations Support Associate
Paula is a dedicated professional with a curious nature and a deep enthusiasm for supporting others in their personal development.
Her diverse experience includes roles as an assistant at public organizations, a researcher and a teacher, where she endeavored to help individuals achieve their goals and fully leverage their talents.
“After going through the Fellowship, I feel like I know more about myself and what I’m looking for in a career.”
- Spring 2023 participant
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Melissa Shapiro - Program Manager
Melissa is a certified career coach passionate about helping professionals make career decisions that authentically align with their strengths and values.
She has led a team of 350 ICF Certified coaches globally at Skillsoft and managed the entire coach lifecycle and community. She's coached at organizations like 2U, Thinkful, and CareerFoundry, helping tech professionals get placed in creative organizations and solidifying employer partnerships. She has created and facilitated workshops, coached one-on-one, and guided professionals through all aspects of the job process, from gaining career clarity to job searching, interviewing, and ultimately landing a job offer. She also worked as a Creative Recruiter at Amazon, getting to experience the full recruitment life cycle.
Life is too short to be doing something that isn’t in alignment with your values. Coaching is the most rewarding work, and Melissa absolutely loves helping people.
When she's not coaching, you can find her singing and being goofy with her one-year-old daughter.
Paige del Rio - Program Manager
Paige is an instructional design and strategy leader with 10 years of experience running complex operations and initiatives. Having recently transitioned from nonprofit education work to the tech industry, she is eager to support others feeling overwhelmed by seemingly insurmountable transitions. More than anything, Paige believes in creating opportunities for self determination through learning, support, and access and is excited to parlay those passions and skills into supporting the Mission Collaborative community.
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