Our Team
Christiane Baehr
Christiane Baehr
Christiane is the office chocaholic and an enthusiastic addition to any dancefloor. More often though, she expends her energy by running around after her two young daughters.
Christiane is Society’s Chief Operating Officer. She studied German at Leicester University before going on to do a European Business Diploma at Anglia Polytechnic (now Anglia Ruskin University). She started her career in high-end hotels, working for Forte in the front office of The Russell and The Strand Palace in London, and subsequently became General Manager of a small chain of gastro pubs. Eventually she decided to buy her own pub in Hampstead, which she ran with her husband for seven years. Christiane joined Society in 2014 as our Office Manager and Bookkeeper. Her remit now encompasses all areas of the company's global operations. She speaks fluent German and conversational French.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Blue’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ISFJ (‘The Defender’)(She/Her/Hers)
+44 (0)203 653 0472
christiane.baehr@society-search.com
LinkedIn
Vasile Boico
Vasile Boico
Vasile grew up in Romania and is now based in North West London. He enjoys cooking and reading. In his spare time, he can be found exploring the more idyllic areas of London, hiking in the countryside, and planning his next travel adventures.
Vasile graduated from the University of Birmingham with a first-class degree in Psychology. During his studies, he worked part-time for a multinational company within the transportation analytics sector, and also completed a research placement assessing the links between post-stroke cognition, hippocampus health, and dementia. He has since gained invaluable experience in the early careers recruitment industry, culminating in a secondment with Sky. Vasile is currently undertaking a part-time Master’s degree in Clinical Neuroscience at UCL, having been involved in a research project aimed at developing a digital group intervention for individuals with functional neurological disorder. Inspired by Society’s values, culture of transparency, and global outlook, Vasile joined the Higher Education team in 2022 as a Researcher. He now works on senior appointments across the Higher Education Practice. Vasile speaks fluent Ukrainian and Romanian.
Business Chemistry Profile: Guardian (‘Blue Green’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENFJ (‘The Protagonist’)(He/Him/His)
Phoebe Brereton
Phoebe Brereton
Phoebe lives in North London and is an ardent hobbyist. Current delectations include woodworking, tropical fish keeping, and an annual attempt to grow tomatoes (with mixed results).
Phoebe read Classics at Corpus Christi College, the University of Oxford, and has also completed a Masters in Classical Reception at UCL, with a dissertation on Rome on film in 20th Century Hollywood cinema, and the function of the star persona. Having completed an internship in executive search while at university, Phoebe went on to work in fashion. Specialising in streetcasting, Phoebe covered commercial and editorial briefs as a Researcher and also worked as a casting director on music videos and short films. Committed to Society's ethos of inclusivity, Phoebe joined the firm excited to be part of a purpose-driven force and to use skills honed in casting research to drive global change by placing game-changing individuals across the Schools and Colleges sector.
Business Chemistry Profile: Guardian (‘Blue Green’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: INFJ (‘The Advocate’)(She/Her/Hers)
+44 (0)203 653 0470
phoebe.brereton@society-search.com
LinkedIn
Myra Briggs
Myra Briggs
A textbook ambivert, you might find Myra holding court with a group of strangers at the airport, or dashing from a crowd opting to enjoy dinner for one. She’s the lady who goes to the movies by herself, but takes pride in hosting lavish dinner parties, fully embracing her role as the purveyor of fun…you know…balance.
Myra is an accomplished talent advocate, non-profit board consultant, equity educator, and global executive search leader with a proven record of success in fostering cultures of innovation, accountability, agility, and excellence. With transparent communication and intentional collaboration, her approach embeds diversity, equity, and inclusion into the policies, practices, and culture of boards of directors and executive teams of non-profit and for-profit organizations, social enterprises, federal agencies, NGOs and Foundations.
Myra is a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt and holds degrees and certifications from the University of Maryland, Villanova University, Harvard University, AIRS, and the American Staffing Association. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the safe-space community BLK + BRN Professionals.
Business Chemistry Profile: Pioneer (‘Yellow Green’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENFJ (‘The Protagonist’)(She/Her/Hers)
Alyce Brogan
Alyce Brogan
Alyce was born and raised in South London, and currently lives in Streatham with her young daughter, her husband, and their cat. She is a keen traveller and fine wine enthusiast, who also enjoys grisly crime novels.
After reading Business and Hispanic Studies at the University of Liverpool, Alyce began a career in international contingent recruitment, spanning both agency and internal roles across consultancy, banking, and energy. This included graduate level appointments up to C-suite, as well as an ongoing focus on process improvement and candidate attraction strategies. She has additionally supported on several executive search assignments in sub-Saharan Africa on a freelance basis, working within the Not-For-Profit sector. Alyce joined Society in 2022 as a Principal Researcher within our Not-For-Profit Practice.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Yellow’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENFJ (‘The Protagonist’)(She/Her/Hers)
Usma Collins
Usma Collins
Usma resides in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and her young daughter. She is actively involved locally as a School Governor. In her spare time, she loves playing netball.
Usma read Social Policy at Loughborough University and upon graduating she entered the charity sector as a Crisis Worker. Following the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, Usma also became a National Trainer, tackling issues linked to institutional racism by training and empowering change. She then worked as Deputy Chief Executive for Ealing CVS, set up a new charity supporting adults with learning disabilities, before becoming an Assistant Divisional Director for a national early years charity. Interested in widening her sector experience, Usma next spent several years recruiting for independent schools within the UK and overseas. She found that she thrives on placing people into roles that fit their skills and passions. During this period she was also a board member with a social housing charity, supporting their strategic direction and overseeing a large-scale merger. She is now a school Governor and safeguarding lead. Usma joined Society in 2022.
Business Chemistry Profile: Pioneer (‘Yellow Green’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENFJ (‘The Protagonist’)(She/Her/Hers)
Clare Davies
Clare Davies
Clare is a keen traveller and reader. She is at her happiest exploring remote paths with her family and daft dog in Cornwall and Wales. When not at work, Clare is kept busy with her young family and their various sporting and social pursuits.
After completing a BA in Sociology and French at Cardiff University, Clare joined a local authority in a role supporting vulnerable young people. Keen to spend a year working and travelling, she moved to Kenya for a year with UNICEF and FEMNET, a women’s rights charity. Clare then completed an MA in the Social Anthropology of Development at SOAS, which cultivated a lifelong interest in diversity, advocacy, and employability. Clare started her executive search career as a Researcher, specialising in clean and renewable technology, prior to working in-house for a few years for a multinational financial advisory group. She then spent eight years at Odgers Berndtson, specialising in executive and non-executive appointments in Higher Education. Prior to joining Society, Clare was a Consultant at the boutique board advisory firm Ridgeway Partners, supporting the appointment of non-executive directors for FTSE, AIM and Private Equity clients in the UK, Asia and the US. Clare joined Society in 2019 as our Head of Research and Talent. Her role is to lead on and coordinate project delivery within the firm, whilst helping to build, train, and develop the wider team.
Business Chemistry Profile: Guardian (‘Blue Green’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: INFJ (‘The Advocate’)(She/Her/Hers)
Christopher Egan
Christopher Egan
Born and raised in New Jersey, Chris is an avid sports fan. He lives in Hoboken with his girlfriend and their adopted American Bully. He’s always looking for the next best slice of pizza and an opportunity to get out on the golf course.
Chris graduated from the University of South Carolina. He soon joined WGN America in its advertising sales department, working on accounts for some of the biggest advertisers in the world. After a brief spell with The Nonprofit Times, Chris worked with PNP Staffing Group. There he handled temporary and permanent staffing needs for non-profit organizations across the United States, specialising in Development and Finance roles. Chris joined Society in early 2022 as our Head of Business Development for North America.
Business Chemistry Profile: Driver (‘Red Yellow’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENTP (‘The Debator’)(He/Him/His)
Sarah Engerer
Sarah Engerer
Sarah is a trained yoga instructor. She still teaches local community classes one evening a week and is a Trustee of Project Yogi. She lives in South-East London, with her husband, her kids, and a very boisterous dog.
Sarah was born in London, but grew up in Malta. She moved back to the UK in her late teens, studying Dance and Visual Performing Arts at the University of Brighton, and then taught English as a Foreign Language. After returning to London in 2010, she joined Gatenby Sanderson as one of two graduate trainees and she has worked in the field of executive search ever since with a focus on the not-for-profit and public sectors. Sarah joined Society in 2023 as the Head of our Not-For-Profit Practice. She was previously Head of the Board Practice at Oxford HR, where she built and developed a non-executive search offering from scratch, including board effectiveness reviews and skills gap audits. Prior to that she led client and candidate partnerships for search firms including Hays and Peridot Partners. Her personal search track record includes board and senior leadership appointments for a diverse and global portfolio of charities, development organizations, community interest companies, and foundations, always with a strong focus on openness and inclusivity.
Business Chemistry Profile: Pioneer (‘Yellow Green’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: INFJ (‘The Advocate’)(She/Her/Hers)
+44 (0)203 653 0474
sarah.engerer@society-search.com
LinkedIn
Monika Fryzicka
Monika Fryzicka
Monika lives in central London and enjoys an eclectic mix of hobbies including furniture restoration, horse riding and writing.
She read Law at the University of Birmingham and has worked in search and recruitment within the education sector since 2007, leading the international and independent schools consultancy division at The Times Educational Supplement (now TES Global) and subsequently for independent search firms and directly with schools. This has included working with individual schools, Boards and ‘not for profit’ organizations as well as large multinational school groups, investors, education providers and school brand international expansion & start up projects, appointing to both executive and senior support function roles. As such, her network covers both the educationalist and commercial & operational side of school leadership. Although she is based in London, she has spent significant time in the GCC and South East Asia.
Monika has also been a speaker at several international and domestic association events and conferences, hosting seminars on the international schools’ market, best practice recruitment, recruitment strategy & retention and process management.
Business Chemistry Profile: Pioneer (‘Yellow Green’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ESTP (‘The Entrepreneur’)(She/Her/Hers)
Phil Gifford
Phil Gifford
Phil and his partner live in Wapping, East London, where this local-history enthusiast is rapidly becoming a kind of unofficial tour guide. His interests outside work include cycling, photography, and Formula 1.
Phil was raised in the English Midlands and moved to London after graduating with a First Class degree in Philosophy and Music. He spent the first eight years of his career recruiting permanent candidates into senior schools roles around the world on behalf of Connaught Education, where he ultimately led a team of consultants. He is extensively networked within the independent education sector, and his personal search track record includes a wide range of academic and operational leadership appointments. Phil joined the Schools and Colleges Practice at Society in 2022. He brings experience of supporting charitable organizations, for-profit private schools, education consultancies, and independent school groups and associations, as well as of working directly with individual school owners and proprietors.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Yellow’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENFJ (‘The Protagonist’)(He/Him/His)
Sarika Gohil
Sarika Gohil
Based in Henlow with her husband and their daughter, Sarika loves to explore the great outdoors and to travel. She is also a crafting enthusiast who enjoys making cards, candles, and other creations for special occasions and family events.
Sarika grew up in Harrow. She graduated in 2006 with a degree in Business Management and French from the University of Manchester. As part of this course, she was able to spend a year in France in a small town called Nevers, teaching English to primary school children. Upon graduation, she became a Personal Assistant and spent 15 years working for companies including Microsoft, Lyle & Scott, and Vix Technology. She joined Society in 2021. As Executive Assistant & Head of Engagement, she provides support to our Managing Director and our Chief Operating Officer, whilst also overseeing the firm’s external communications and social media activity. Sarika speaks fluent Gujarati, degree level French, and basic German.
Business Chemistry Profile: Guardian (‘Blue Green’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ISFJ (‘The Defender’)(She/Her/Hers)
Mahfuza Koli Haque
Mahfuza Koli Haque
Mahfuza is an avid reader, a tennis lover, and a tea enthusiast. She's usually the mother hen of any group and enjoys a quiet night in with a movie and good company.
Born and brought up in London, Mahfuza read Religion, Philosophy and Ethics at King’s College, graduating with a 2:1. She learns Arabic in her spare time and speaks fluent Bengali.
Mahfuza joined Society in 2017 and formed a part of our global Higher Education team, undertaking research on assignments for clients based all over the world. Her experience spans a wide range of academic disciplines and levels of seniority.
In 2023, Mahfuza took on a new company-wide role as Project Support Administrator. She now plays a supprotive role and works closely with both researchers and consultants within the wider team to assist with administrative tasks.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Blue’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENFP (‘The Campaigner’)(She/Her/Hers)
+44 (0)203 653 0471
mahfuza.haque@society-search.com
LinkedIn
Kadean Jengelley
Kadean Jengelley
Kadean is the oldest of five siblings. She is currently training as a beauty technician in her spare time. In the rare gaps between work and school, she enjoys going on adventures in and around New York City.
Kadean holds an associate degree in Vocal Performance and recently graduated from a Business Administration apprenticeship. Prior to joining Society, she attained certificates in Marketing, Advertising, Management, and Operations. Her introduction to executive search came through working for Audeliss, which is where she met Myra Briggs, our Managing Director for the Americas. Kadean followed Myra to Society in 2023. She now works as the Project Support Administrator for our US office.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Blue’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: INFJ (‘The Advocate’)(She/Her/Hers)
James Lea
James Lea
James loves travelling and has worked all around the world. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the ever-expanding hotel and restaurant scene in the three cities where Society's offices are located.
James originates from Lancashire in the UK. He attended Stonyhurst College and later studied for a Hospitality HND at Thames Valley University (now the University of West London). Upon graduation he was enrolled onto the bespoke management training course at the Landmark London hotel. After a number of years, James relocated to Australia, where he became Corporate Events Sales Manager for the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney. He moved into recruitment in 2007 at Hudson Global Resources, handling appointments in the Accounting and Finance space, before moving to Hostec and opening their London office. Immediately prior to joining Society, James worked for Portfolio International, part of the PSD Group. James was the first Regional Director of our North American business, setting up our presence in New York. After two and a half years, he relocated to London to be the first point of contact for Society’s private sector client base across all sectors. In February 2021, James moved to Auckland to be the first Managing Director of our Asia-Pacific business, developing our work across all sectors. His personal search track record includes placing the CEO/Secretaries of the Athenaeum Club, the Lansdowne Club, the Hong Kong Club, and the Oriental Club. He has also completed multiple appointments for the likes of RMIT University, Peninsula Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Lastminte.com, Ebookers.com, Booking.com, and Expedia.
Business Chemistry Profile: Driver (‘Red Blue’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ESFJ (‘The Protagonist’)(He/Him/His)
Holly Lithgow
Holly Lithgow
Holly lives in Edinburgh with her young daughter, her husband, and a very fluffy cat. She loves good food, going to the cinema, and attending the odd yoga class. She is at her happiest when at the dinner table (ideally at a nice restaurant), surrounded by friends.
Holly grew up in the North East of Scotland and moved to Edinburgh to study Biology, followed by a Masters in Health Inequalities and Public Policy. After graduating, Holly worked in NHS Internal Audit, providing comprehensive assurance across several Scottish health boards. She then spent over seven years with an US-based global search firm specialising in Education and Life Sciences, working with universities across the UK, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. She has experience of appointing to positions across the breadth of the international Higher Education sector and is particularly knowledgeable about senior academic searches. Holly joined Society in 2023 as a Delivery Consultant in the Higher Education Practice.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Blue’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ESFJ (‘The Consul’)(She/Her/Hers)
Simon Lucas
Simon Lucas
Simon lives in North Hertfordshire with his wife, his two children, and a ridiculously large collection of DVDs. He is a bit of a history and politics buff, with a soft spot for deeply unfashionable 'classic' rock.
Simon is Society's Chief Executive and Founder. He is a passionate believer in the ability of leadership to have a transformative effect on organizations, and in the ability of responsible organizations to have a transformative impact on the wider world. Simon grew up in South Wales, and read Philosophy and Politics at the University of Warwick. Along the way, he was Head Boy of Olchfa Comprehensive School in Swansea, and President of the Students’ Union at Warwick. In 2005, he was hired as one of the first colleagues at the executive search firm Perrett Laver. He worked there for several years before setting up Society. Simon’s personal search track record includes handling Vice-Chancellor appointments for the University of Southampton and the University of Nottingham, Chief Executive appointments for the likes of WAC Arts, Membership Solutions Ltd (MSL), and the National Trust for Scotland, and Non-Executive appointments for HM Treasury, CAFCASS, and the British Exploring Society. Simon was a founding Trustee of The Society Foundation and is currently Vice-Chair of Hitchin Girls' School in Hertfordshire.
Business Chemistry Profile: Driver (‘Red Blue’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENTJ (‘The Commander’)(He/Him/His)
Salma Malik
Salma Malik
Born and raised in Pakistan, Salma currently lives in Auckland with her husband and two kids. She has a love of oil painting, and is a self-taught Arabic calligrapher, an amateur baker, an avid reader, a boardgames junkie, and an outdoor enthusiast.
Salma is naturally curious and inquisitive, with a passion for learning and discovery. Data and insights fascinate her, and this encouraged her to enrol in a doctorate degree at the University of Auckland. Her research focused on the use of online communication for the dissemination of political information amongst young New Zealanders. After completing her doctorate, Salma joined another leading executive search firm, where she was able to combine her flair for research with her interests in people and the transformational impact of leaders. She utilised her background in academia to find new and innovate ways of solving hiring challenges for a wide variety of clients. Salma loves helping people and finding out what makes them tick. She speaks English, Urdu, and Punjabi.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Yellow Green’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENFJ (‘The Protagonist’)(She/Her/Hers)
Jomar Mercado
Jomar Mercado
Jomar grew up in Puerto Rico and now lives in New York City. He particularly enjoys exploring the many different museums around New York’s five boroughs and is continually discovering new and unusual ones to visit.
Jomar graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Communication and worked with a variety of organizations in Puerto Rico, such as PR firms, not-for-profits, and government agencies. He relocated to New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and completed a distance learning Masters in Corporate Communication from the Open University of Catalonia. After five years in the Communications and Public Relations sector, he shifted into the executive search arena and joined Society in 2021. He now works as a generalist Senior Researcher, helping to lead assignments across North America and the wider world. Some of the clients that Jomar has worked with include Doctors Without Borders, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Glenstone Museum, and GLAAD. Jomar is a native Spanish speaker.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Blue’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: INFJ (‘The Advocate’)(He/Him/His)
Sabina Messent
Sabina Messent
A dog-lover, keen reader, and countryside enthusiast, Sabina loves walking and training their ex-stray dog, Nova.
Sabina read English Literature at the University of Exeter, which is where they discovered their love for Ealing Studios and queer theory. This adoration led to completing a master’s degree in English and Film, at Exeter, where Sabina wrote their thesis on performances by Alec Guinness in post-war Ealing comedies, exploring the ways these films queer form and identity. Between degrees, Sabina volunteered for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, full-time raising a Guide Dog puppy for 15 months, and they tutored English as a foreign language to students in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan. Sabina started their career in recruitment in the energy sector, working with mid-level engineers to fill temporary roles across Europe. In 2023, Sabina joined the Higher Education team at Society as a Researcher, focusing on global senior appointments.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Blue’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: INFJ (‘The Defender’)(They/Them/Theirs)
+44 (0) 20 3653 0485
sabina.messent@society-search.com
LinkedIn
Rahmat Ottun
Rahmat Ottun
Rahmat resides and was raised in South London and is a lover of books, music and good television! In her spare time, she enjoys attending dance classes and creative writing.
Rahmat is currently completing her undergraduate Global Liberal Arts degree at SOAS, University of London. Her areas of study within her degree include World Literature, World Philosophies, and Politics. Rahmat began her headhunting journey as a summer intern for Society in 2022 via the 10,000 Black Interns programme. During her internship, she learned about executive search, including research, candidate mapping and advocacy, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Following an enjoyable and enriching initial six weeks, Rahmat was then offered a role by the business on a part-time permanent basis as Assistant to the Head of Research. She has recently started learning her native language, Yoruba, in her spare time.
Business Chemistry Profile: Guardian (‘Blue Green’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENFJ (‘The Protagonist’)(She/Her/Hers)
Emily Payne
Emily Payne
Emily is a keen traveller and is at her happiest when hiking across remote areas of New Zealand’s South Island.
Emily has a Bachelor of Science in Physical Geography from the University of Leeds. During her time at University, she visited the Stubai Alps in Austria, where she co-authored and published a scientific report investigating the ablation rate of a rapidly shrinking glacier as a result of climate change. Emily grew up in London and spent several years working as a Researcher for a boutique board-level search firm that specialised in senior executive and non-executive appointments in London. She moved to New Zealand in 2021, joining Society as a Researcher. Today, she assists on a wide range of cross-sector assignments throughout the Asia Pacific region. Since joining Society, Emily has filled several senior leadership positions for clients such as the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, RMIT University, and The Vietnam Australia Centre.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Yellow’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENFJ (‘The Protagonist’)(She/Her/Hers)
Vikas Pota
Vikas Pota
Vikas has been a long-standing friend of the firm. He now sits on our Board of Advisors, helping to expand Society's reach into new areas, and advising our Managing Director on strategic issues.
Vikas Pota is the Founder and CEO of T4 Education, a digital media platform he established as a response to the challenges posed by the pandemic to education globally. T4 is building the world’s largest community of teachers and schools and is providing opportunities for educators to network, collaborate, share best practices, and support each other’s efforts to improve learning. T4 works to amplify teachers’ voices, because the world in which every child receives a good education will only be built by listening to those at the heart of education. Vikas was previously CEO of a philanthropic foundation, has been recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and as one of London’s 1,000 "most influential people". He was recently named European Regional Honouree for the 2022 YPO Global Impact Award.
Victoria Sanders-Clarke
Victoria Sanders-Clarke
Victoria was born in Oxford and now resides in Kingston, South West London with her husband and her young daughter. A real foody, Victoria is at her happiest when trying out some of the amazing restaurants London has to offer. She is also a voracious reader with a particular penchant love of crime novels.
Victoria read Economics, Banking and Finance at the University of the West of England in Bristol. It was during her degree that she got a taste for the world of executive search, having spent a year with an asset management boutique whilst on university placement. After graduating, Victoria joined a search firm as a Researcher specialising in Human Capital, HR, Talent and Leadership Consulting markets. She then spent two years with Sousou Partners, working on global searches for the real asset sectors, which included real estate, hospitality and leisure, infrastructure, energy, and private equity. Most recently, Victoria was a Consultant for King’s Search, the dedicated in-house search team at King’s College London. There she was responsible for hiring senior leaders across all nine of the College's academic faculties as well as across professional services. Victoria joined Society in 2022 as a Consultant in the Higher Education team.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Yellow’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENFJ (‘The Protagonist’)(She/Her/Hers)
+44 (0)203 653 2464
victoria.sanders-clarke@society-search.com
LinkedIn
Tanya Stevens
Tanya Stevens
Our chatty native New Yorker now calls London home with her husband and two children. In her spare time she can be found running, writing, (dreaming of) travelling, and doing yoga.
Tanya joined Society to lead and develop our work in the Not-For-Profit arena. She previously spent several years in charity executive search at Peridot Partners and TMP Worldwide, and prior to this worked for an internship provider placing American University students into roles across London. Tanya grew up on Long Island and studied International Relations and Journalism at Boston University, before moving to the UK. She also holds an MSc in Public Policy from University College London. Tanya leads Society’s board-level not-for-profit and global development work, including Chief Executive appointments for Stonewall, Leap Confronting Conflict, and RE:ACT, and Non-Executive appointments for Charleston, Coin Street, CAST and the Centre for Youth Impact. She has handled a myriad of cross-functional leadership appointments for clients such as Teenage Cancer Trust, West London Zone, Leonard Cheshire and the Aga Khan Foundation. Tanya is a Trustee of The Society Foundation, a former Trustee of Magpie Dance, and Chair of Society’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. She is passionate about designing and running open, inclusive recruitment processes that bring fresh talent into leadership and deliver an excellent candidate experience.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Blue’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: ENFP (‘The Campaigner’)(She/Her/Hers)
+44 (0)203 653 0467
tanya.stevens@society-search.com
LinkedIn
Barbara Taylor
Barbara Taylor
Barbara is a craft enthusiast who loves to spend time painting, crocheting, or sewing. She was born in Africa and, having lived in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya and Cyprus, she has an extended network to maintain through business contacts, friends and family spread around the globe.
Barbara is an international executive search generalist with experience across nearly all sectors, and from small to medium social enterprise start-ups to global financial institutions and multinational brands. In over 20 years’ in recruitment, she has worked on assignments in the UK, Asia Pacific, and the UAE, as well as in 44 of the countries in Africa. Barbara enjoys working with multiple stakeholders in diverse, multifaceted environments across varied functions and sectors. As a collaborative team member with a strong work ethic and a positive attitude and energy, Barbara possesses a deep understanding of the importance of due diligence, quality and speed to facilitate successful long-term placements. She joined Society in 2021 and works as a Principal Researcher in our global Hospitality and Leisure team, but she also handles assignments in other areas of the business. Since joining Society, Barbara has filled several senior leadership positions in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, FHHB Hospitality Limited, Guestline GmbH and The Lansdowne Club.
Business Chemistry Profile: Guardian (‘Blue Green’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: INFJ (‘The Advocate’)(She/Her/Hers)
+44 (0)203 653 0482
barbara.taylor@society-search.com
LinkedIn
Shehrazade Zafar-Arif
Shehrazade Zafar-Arif
Literature graduate, theatre goer and book lover, Shehrazade is the office authority on Shakespeare. She loves travelling, and is usually the person who drags everyone to inspect old ruins while on holiday.
Shehrazade grew up in Pakistan and moved to the UK to study English Literature at University College London. She subsequently completed a Masters in Shakespeare Studies at King’s College London. Her jobs prior to joining Society include working as a Content Researcher for Blippar, a visual discovery app, and as an editor for the online newspaper Urban Times. She has also tutored GCSE English on the side. Shehrazade leads the research for our Development and Fundraising practice, with a particular emphasis on appointments that cross traditional sector boundaries or have a significant international dimension. She speaks English, French, Urdu, and Hindi.
Business Chemistry Profile: Integrator (‘Green Yellow’)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: INFP (‘The Mediator’)(She/Her/Hers)
+44 (0)203 653 0483
shehrazade.zafar@society-search.com
LinkedIn