Meet our global team

Carolina is an experienced executive search professional with over a decade of experience across sectors, including healthcare, public health, global NGOs, and both IT and non-IT industries. She has a strong track record of placing high-calibre candidates in leadership roles.

At Mission Talent, Carolina specialises in connecting top talent with organisations driving social impact. She excels in candidate management, interview coordination, and project oversight, ensuring that quality candidates are presented for every leadership search. Her ability to build strong relationships with consultants and candidates, combined with her extensive network, enables her to match professionals with mission-driven organisations. She also leads a remote team of researchers and administrative support staff.

Carolina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Psychology from Rizal Technological University and is based in Manila, Philippines.

Esther joined Mission Talent in 2023 as an Executive Coach, bringing over 15 years of experience in HR management, executive coaching, counselling psychology, and mediation. She helps individuals, teams, and organisations enhance performance, foster well-being, and resolve conflicts.

Before joining Mission Talent, she worked with organisations to optimise people strategies, align talent with business goals, and support leaders through transformation and change. Her work focuses on leadership development, conflict resolution, and creating inclusive workplace cultures where individuals and teams can thrive.

Passionate about building sustainable success, Esther supports high-performing leaders and guides teams through change and conflict. She is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Fida joined Mission Talent in 2021 and supports executive searches across the Middle East, North Africa, and Francophone countries. She has successfully placed senior leaders for organisations such as CBM, Aga Khan Foundation and WWF among others. She works closely with clients to understand their leadership needs and identify candidates who align with their mission and impact.

Before transitioning into executive search, Fida built a career in academia, research, and translation. She teaches specialised translation at university level and has published several articles as a humanities researcher. She holds a PhD in Linguistics and Translation Studies from Université Denis Diderot (Paris VII). She is fluent in Arabic, French, and English, and speaks conversational Spanish.

Originally from Lebanon, Fida lived there before moving to Paris, where she is now based.

Janien is responsible for interview reports and the psychometric analyses of candidates. As a certified Hogan Assessments practitioner, she brings deep insight into human behaviour, supporting Mission Talent’s robust interview and selection processes.

She joined Mission Talent in 2017 and quickly became an integral part of the team. Previously, she worked as Project Manager, overseeing organisational tasks, daily operations, and ensuring the timely delivery of quality outputs.

Before transitioning into executive search, Janien lectured at Stellenbosch University and coordinated study abroad programmes in South Africa for the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) and International Studies Abroad (ISA).

She holds a BA in Value and Policy Studies and an MA in International Studies from Stellenbosch University, as well as an MSc in Land Management and Land Tenure from the Technical University of Munich. Her research areas include food sovereignty, land reform, and spatial justice.

Originally from Cape Town, Janien spent four years living in Germany. She is fluent in English and Afrikaans.

For 15 years, Katja has led Mission Talent in partnering with organisations to identify and recruit senior leaders, filling key positions in 81 countries across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia. She leads her team in delivering high-quality executive searches while managing client relationships and ensuring alignment with each organisation’s needs and culture. She is strongly committed to identifying candidates from the Global South and East.

With more than 15 years of experience in international development, Katja holds a Master’s degree in Development Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Before moving into executive search, she worked in governance, public participation, and natural resource management for civil society organisations in South Africa.

Fluent in English and German, Katja is based between Johannesburg, Berlin, and Cape Town. In her free time, she enjoys exploring local architecture and sustainable design culture.

Laura Silva joined Mission Talent in November 2019, bringing over 14 years of
experience in executive recruitment, internal communications, and change
management across Europe and Latin America. She specialises in executive
searches for mission-driven organisations, partnering with clients such as
Amnesty International, Greenpeace Spain, WWF International, and Oxfam
México to build diverse and inclusive leadership teams.
As Change Management Consultant, Laura leads internal transformation
initiatives, strengthening Mission Talent’s strategy, operations, and
organisational development. Previously, as Senior Consultant, she advised C-
suite leaders and boards on leadership recruitment.
Before joining Mission Talent, Laura held senior roles in internal
communications and change management at Diageo, Cerealto Siro Foods, and
Mostaza Comunicación, leading projects and engagement initiatives impacting
thousands of employees worldwide.
She holds a Master’s in Corporate Communications from IE Business School
and speaks Spanish, English, and Portuguese.

Layth joined Mission Talent in 2022 and has partnered with EarthRights International, Asylum Access, One Earth Future Foundation, Amnesty International, CBM, NEEsT, and Oil Change International.

Born in Iraq and raised in Jordan, Layth believes in the power of social change and has collaborated with organisations supporting refugees and displaced communities. His work has connected him with leading activists, entrepreneurs, and international organisations driving impact worldwide.

With a strong network in international NGOs and global cultural institutions, Layth brings deep cross-sector expertise. As an award-winning musician, he has developed strong communication and facilitation skills through years of touring, leading panels, and giving music workshops around the world.

Fluent in Arabic, English, and Spanish, he is currently based in Madrid, Spain.

Lin specialises in senior-level searches in Southeast Asia, where she has worked in international development for almost 20 years. She joined Mission Talent in 2012 and is proud to be one of the team’s longest-serving consultants.

With a strong focus on inclusion, the environment, and animal welfare, Lin brings rigorous research skills and attention to detail to every search. She has led research and outreach processes for clients such as CBM, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (Indonesia), Right To Play (Thailand), and multiple searches for World Animal Protection and Greenpeace worldwide.

Before joining Mission Talent, Lin worked in human resources, finance, and operations for organisations including WWF, UNDP, CUSO, and CARE in Southeast Asia.

A national of Indonesia, Lin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and certifications in Human Resource Management, Development, and Strategy. She recently relocated to Ottawa, Canada, after living in Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia.

Mwende joined Mission Talent in 2016 and has more than ten years’ experience in international development. She is passionate about placing local leaders in global roles and has a strong network of contacts across East and Southern Africa.

She leads executive searches in Africa, identifying national, regional, and global leaders for roles across the continent. She has partnered with Greenpeace Africa, World Resources Institute, UNAIDS, Plan International, WaterAid, ActionAid International, WWF, Amnesty International, and Southern Africa Trust to place leadership that drives lasting impact.

Mwende brings an African perspective and a deep understanding of regional cultures and workplace norms, ensuring that home-grown leadership is placed in the global organisations Mission Talent serves. She is committed to building strong relationships with clients and candidates through personalised and open communication.

Before joining Mission Talent, Mwende worked for the United Nations in Nairobi and the African Union Foundation in various roles, including human resource and operations management, budgeting and finance, project management, and development communication. She holds a Master’s degree in New Media, Governance, and Democracy from the University of Leicester in the UK.

Originally from Kenya, Mwende lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Rhizzalyn joined Mission Talent in 2025 as an Operations Support Specialist, bringing a background in executive support, recruitment coordination, and project implementation across development programmes.

She has held key support roles in initiatives related to poverty, the environment, and local government development, particularly within donor-funded and multistakeholder programs. In the public sector, she contributed to recruitment processes as part of a merit selection and promotions board.

At Mission Talent, she ensures the smooth delivery of executive searches by supporting day-to-day operations, maintaining project systems, and coordinating across teams. Her strong organisational skills and attention to detail contribute to the efficiency and quality of the organisation’s work.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Development Management and is based in the Philippines.

Rosa joined Mission Talent in 2025 as a Research Associate, bringing extensive experience in executive search, academia, and social research. Before joining Mission Talent, she worked at Oxford HR, where she specialised in identifying senior leaders for organisations focused on international development, climate action, human rights, and social impact.

With a background in sociology and gender studies, Rosa previously conducted research on gender, violence, and masculinities, publishing articles and lecturing at Dublin City University. She holds a Master’s in Women’s and Gender Studies (GEMMA) and a Bachelor’s in Philosophy and Education Sciences.

Fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian, Rosa has lived and worked in Chile, Ireland, Italy, Poland and Spain, bringing a global perspective to leadership search. Now based in rural Spain, she enjoys an eco-conscious lifestyle, balancing her work with building insect hotels and pruning apple trees.

Shelmith joined Mission Talent in September 2025, bringing over a decade of experience in talent acquisition and management consulting. She is passionate about advancing global development by placing the right leaders in roles that drive sustainable, mission-aligned impact.

Shelmith has partnered with clients across Africa, North America, and Latin America, bringing deep cross-cultural competence and a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to every engagement. Her recent focus has been on delivering strategic talent solutions across international development themes such as economic development, climate and clean energy, food systems, and livelihoods.

In her previous role as Senior Consultant at Millar Cameron, she was responsible for managing the end-to-end executive search process, while also developing and sustaining strong client relationships. She also led consulting projects focused on remuneration benchmarking and the development of competency frameworks. Earlier in her career, she worked at Adept Systems, leading recruitment and other talent consulting engagements across multiple sectors with a strong focus on East Africa.

A certified psychometrist, Shelmith holds certifications in SHL and TMA talent assessments. She also brings expertise in job grading and broader HR advisory. Her strong understanding of HR and general operations enables her to provide clients with practical talent solutions.

Of African descent and based in Nairobi, Kenya, Shelmith brings local market insight combined with a global outlook. She is fluent in English and Swahili. Outside of work, she enjoys nature walks and cycling.

Wanjiku Gitagia joined Mission Talent in July 2025, bringing over nine years of experience in talent acquisition across East and Southern Africa. She is known for her strategic, inclusive, and results-driven approach to recruitment, supporting organisations across international development, consulting, and the private sector.

Before Mission Talent, Wanjiku worked as a Specialist in Global Talent Acquisition Executive Search at Save the Children International, where she led complex global and regional searches. She also served in key roles including Regional Recruitment Specialist for East and Southern Africa, Unconscious Bias Lead, and Interim HR Director for Mozambique. Across these positions, she built a reputation for trusted partnerships, recruitment innovation, and inclusive hiring practices.

Earlier in her career, she was a Senior Recruitment Consultant at Altima Africa, delivering executive search and talent advisory services across the Greater East African region. She worked closely with C-suite executives and HR leaders to shape recruitment strategies and develop market insights.

Wanjiku holds certifications in Unconscious Bias (Trainer of Trainers), Situational Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, and Managing for High Performance. She brings regional expertise, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for connecting exceptional talent with purpose-driven organisations.