Koya Leadership Partners Expands Mission-Driven Recruiting Specialization
December 3, 2018 – Non-profit search specialist Koya Leadership Partners has expanded with the addition of Nicole Kamaleson as a managing director.
Based in Chicago, she will lead mission-driven executive searches globally, focusing on international development, advocacy, human rights and humanitarianism.
As part of Koya’s leadership team, Ms. Kamaleson will advise globally focused mission-driven organizations to manage leadership transitions.
“Koya has a strong presence nationally and has begun to increase its footprint globally. Nicole will help us expand our global impact with mission-driven organizations,” said Katie Bouton, founder and CEO of Koya. “Nicole has a rich background of living and working abroad. Her extensive experience helping mission-driven organizations find, place and retain top talent and her mission-driven approach to search aligns perfectly with Koya’s values and focus.”
Ms. Kamaleson specializes in global social impact, human capital, organizational development, good governance, human resources and executive search. She brings significant experience with clients spanning the globe from Thailand, Mozambique, India, Haiti, Korea to Bosnia. Previously, she was partner of the global non-profit practice for Perrett Laver, a global executive search firm advising private and public organizations. Before that, Ms. Kamaleson was a founding partner of Arcus Development, a management development consulting firm specializing in the microfinance sector. Before that, she was senior director, global HR and strategic advisor to the CEO for Futures Group, a company dedicated to the improvement of health and well-being of health and well-being of people world-wide in over 25 countries. Ms. Kamaleson also serves as a board member for the Global Fund for Children.
Global Experience
“Getting the global equation right is not just my day job, it’s my vocation and my calling,” said Ms. Kamaleson. “For more than 17 years, I’ve lived and worked around the world – in India, Romania, Kenya, London, Budapest, among other locales. In my experience, I’ve seen firsthand how the right people in the right place really make a positive impact – which aligns perfectly with Koya’s approach and methodology.”
“I’m impressed by Koya’s extraordinary level of attention, support, and guidance to both clients and candidates,” she continued. “The team genuinely cares about their clients and each other. There’s a lot of celebration around impact and innovation at Koya, and a real sense of joy here (a core value). Koya is connecting people to vital missions that have wide-reaching impact around the world.”
Non-Profit Specialists
Boston-based Koya Leadership Partners is a national executive search and human capital consulting firm that works exclusively with non-profits and social enterprises. This year, the firm was again recognized by Hunt Scanlon Media as one of the top 50 search firms in the Americas.
Koya has developed a national reputation for identifying executive directors and CEOs across the non-profit sector, including those for Hudson Webber Foundation, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois, Glazer Children’s Museum and Tourette Association of America, among many others.
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Just recently, Koya added Maureen Alphonse-Charles as managing director in Boston. Ms. Alphonse-Charles is expected to help strengthen the firm’s work across non-profits and mission-driven organizations, building a bridge between non-profits, the corporate sector, and corporate boards. Ms. Alphonse-Charles’ background includes more than 20 years of executive search experience. She is a pioneer in diversity, equity and inclusion work, and has broken tremendous barriers in the Boston area, said Koya. As the first African-American president of the Boston Club, Ms. Alphonse-Charles founded and chaired its Diversity & Inclusion Committee and is continuing to do important work in that role.
In September, Koya named Naree W.S. Viner as a managing director. Based in the New York City area, she works with museum clients and beyond, helping expand Koya’s art and culture portfolio. Ms. Viner has nearly 15 years of executive recruiting experience, with a focus on art museums and other cultural institutions. She was previously with Korn Ferry, where she placed chief executives and senior staff at regional, national, and international art, education and social service organizations.
Koya also acquired Commongood Careers, which specializes in recruiting leaders nationwide for organizations committed to social impact. The acquisition also enables Koya to partner with talent across the career lifespan. Commongood Careers, headquartered in Boston, specializes in recruiting leaders nationwide for positions from the manager level up to the C-suite at organizations committed to social impact. Commongood’s clients include GreenLight Fund, Center for Effective Philanthropy, New Profit, Tipping Point and many others.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
