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A blog that looks behind the scenes at how we bring our mission to life, every day

CJ McCartin ‹ We are EF Blog | Careers

Here at <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/">EF Education First,</a> 
we have many strong women leaders across our global business—in fact, over half of our senior managers are women. In honor of International Women’s Day, we asked 11 EF leaders what advice they would give their younger selves. 

<h1>What advice would you give your younger self? </h1> 

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“Looking back, I would give myself 5 pieces of advice: 1) You don't know what you don't know. All sorts of unexpected challenges are going to pop up along your way; the best way is to keep an open mind, stay resourceful, and believe in yourself. 
2) Laughter and sleep are the best medicine for any troubles. 
3) The people you work with matter. You spend more time with them than your family, so be mindful that the space you create at work will be the one you live in. 
4) You are in charge of your own life. Be the main character. 
5) You will evolve in terms of your habits, likes, dislikes. You can either flow with it or fight it. Choose to flow.” 
 Ming Chen, Chief Culture Officer 


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“Trust yourself. Don't let anyone tell you to be someone you're not. You know best who you are, so don't try to mold yourself to fit someone else's idea of who you should be!” 
 Anna Frolander, Chief of Staff, <a href="https://www.ef.edu/ils/"> EF International Language Campuses </a> 


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“Believe in yourself, trust your abilities, and have confidence in your decisions. Be brave, follow your passion, and don’t let fear hold you back from pursuing your dreams and taking risks. Embrace all opportunities. Live in the present and take care of yourself. Don’t dwell on the past or worry too much – focus on making the most of each moment and appreciating the blessings in your life. Make time for self-care and recharge your energy.” 
 Wendy Li, Director of Global Recruitment and Employee Development 


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“You are BEAUTIFUL. When you enter complicated spaces that are not serving you well, it's okay to let them go. You don't have to be strong for everyone, just yourself.” 
 Patrice Malone, Director of <a href=" https://www.ef.com/wwen/about-us/impact/articles/deib/">Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging North America</a> 


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“Embrace change and welcome it. The path toward your goals isn't always a straight line. By being flexible and adaptable, you'll navigate the twists and turns with ease, and ultimately reach your personal and/or professional goals.” 
 Clare Mifsud, Vice President of Operations, <a href=" https://www.worldjourneys.com/"> EF World Journeys </a> 


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“Slow down and take a minute to think things through. When I was younger, especially when I first started my career, I defined my success by my output—doing more and doing it quickly. Over time I set the standard for myself––I’d rather do things well or not do them at all. My work got stronger, and ironically, I could take on more.” 
Brooke Parker, Director of Marketing, <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/en/">EF Academy</a> 
 

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“Embrace your passions. Always keep exploring and let each journey, whether smooth or challenging, enrich your life and teach you about the world and yourself.” 
 Dana Santucci, Executive Vice President, EF Properties 


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“Work hard, play hard and do something that makes you love Monday. Life's too short not to.” 
 Nikki Thomas, Product Director, <a href=" https://englishlive.ef.com/en/"> EF English Live </a> 


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“Your unique power is inside you—all you need to do is see that it's there. Nobody else can give it to you, and nobody else can take it away. Don't spend your energy worried about what other people think about you. Spend your energy being kind, doing things you're proud of, and being open to everything the world has to offer.” 

 Amy Van Aarle, Executive Vice President, EF Education First 



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“The best way to connect is to be open and vulnerable. Trying so hard to project a perfect image is not only exhausting, but it can also create barriers to real relationships.” 

 Lori Van Dam, CEO of <a href="https://www.hultprize.org/">Hult Prize</a> 


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“Say yes, even when you are a little bit scared. Escaping your comfort zone is where there is the most opportunity for growth, and it will prove to you just how much you are capable of." 
 Laura Vitiello, Director of Recruitment & Employee Development, <a href="https://culturalcare.com/"> Cultural Care Au Pair</a> 

 
 The leaders featured in this article are team members at EF Education First or organizations associated with EF.

Here at EF Education First, we have many strong women leaders across our global business, and on this International Women’s Day, we asked them to empower their younger selves. Check out the advice EF leaders would give their younger selves if they had the chance...

Empowering your younger self: Advice from 11 EF leaders

Empowering your younger self: Advice from 11 woman leaders at EF

Growing up in the small farming town of Belleville, Kansas, Heidi Durflinger's life changed when she was in the fourth grade. Her family decided to host an international high school student in their home for the school year, opening Heidi's eyes to the world beyond Belleville. "Every year for the next nine years, my family hosted a student from a different part of the world," Heidi recalls. "It completely expanded my horizons when my family brought the world to my small community. Now, I have sisters all over the world!" 


 Her early-on introduction to the impacts of global education and travel ignited what would become a lifelong passion for Heidi, who accepted a job at <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/">EF Education First </a> as an entry-level Tour Consultant and is now President of one of the biggest adult tour operators in North America, <a href="https://www.worldjourneys.com/">EF World Journeys.</a> EF World Journeys is a family of travel brands that includes <a href="https://www.goaheadtours.com/" >EF Go Ahead Tours</a> and <a href="https://www.efultimatebreak.com/" >EF Ultimate Break.</a> 

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 It is rare today for someone to spend their entire career at one company. However, staying at EF felt natural for Heidi because of her passion for our mission—opening the world through education. "Getting the chance to help people see the world and learn about it in a culturally immersive way is rewarding and inspiring," Heidi notes. 

 Heidi first found EF through an ad for an EF Go Ahead Tours Tour Consultant position at the <a href="https://we-are-ef.ef.com/things-to-know-about-living-in-boston/" >EF Boston office.</a> "I remember the advertisement so clearly: Do you love to travel? Do you love talking about travel? Are you the organizer of all your friends?" Heidi recalls. "I was like, yes, yes, yes! I never realized that a job like that existed. I applied, and from the moment I walked through the door for my interview, I could feel the vibrancy and the energy that makes EF, EF." 


 Starting in sales gave her fundamental skills that she utilizes nearly 20 years later. "When I was a Tour Consultant, I loved talking to people all day about traveling the world and learning how to sell," Heidi shares. "While I was in school, I didn't imagine myself in sales, but once I experienced it, I realized that sales is an incredible career path. Those fundamental skills have been critically helpful in leading a business." 
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 "Getting the chance to help people see the world and learn about it in a culturally immersive way is rewarding and inspiring." </h4>
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 After starting as a Tour Consultant, Heidi had many stops along her journey to becoming the President of EF World Journeys. "I love creating a big, bold goal to go after and then figuring out how to get there. But in retrospect, becoming the President of EF World Journeys wasn't my goal when I first started here," says Heidi. "Shortly after I started selling for EF Go Ahead Tours, I realized I wanted to be a sales manager, and then I wanted to be the Vice President of Sales. I shared that goal with my manager at the time, and they helped me understand what I needed to do to grow in that direction." 


 Heidi went from Tour Consultant to Assistant Manager and Sales Trainer, where she honed her leadership skills. "I learned how to motivate, coach, and invest in people development," Heidi says. "From that point, I moved into a manager role and later a director role, where I started to learn how to set a strategy, how to execute a plan, how to track progress, and how to think bigger about where we could go instead of just what we need to deliver now." Heidi was eventually named Vice President of Sales and Customer Experience for EF Go Ahead Tours and later promoted to Executive Vice President. 
 

 Her resume shows that Heidi has an incredible work ethic, which she credits to her parents. "My parents are the best mentors I could ask for," Heidi says. "As small business owners themselves, they taught me to value work ethic, believing in myself, and making sure I'm taking care of my community. I've brought a small business, small town work ethic to a global organization, and I've found that goes a long way." 
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<div class="caption">Heidi's passion for gelato deepens with every spoonful she has while on tour!</div>
 It was Heidi's dad who encouraged her to pursue becoming President of EF Go Ahead Tours. "I remember talking to my dad about my career journey, and he asked me, 'Why not work towards President?' I remember saying I wasn't sure if that would happen for me, and he said, 'Why not? You can do that.' I hadn't asked myself that before. Why not me? I started looking into what I needed to learn to make that happen." 


 Shortly after becoming President of EF Go Ahead Tours in 2014, Heidi admits she felt a sense of imposter syndrome. "I had the moment of, 'Am I ready for this?' I've learned now that imposter syndrome is something that everybody struggles with, and I mean everybody," Heidi says. "I think, in some ways, it's pushed me to continue to grow and develop myself. Now, it fuels me to ensure I'm not becoming stagnant." 

 Imposter syndrome can shake your confidence, an essential element to being a good leader. "I think it can be difficult to establish confidence and recognize our superpowers," Heidi reflects. "The key to establishing my confidence has been connecting with people. That was a great skill I learned in sales. If you focus on asking questions and learning about someone, it will more effectively help you help that person. That will make you more confident in your ability to be a leader." 

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<blockquote><h4>
 "I hadn't asked myself that before. Why not me?" </h4>
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 With her 20th anniversary at EF on the horizon, Heidi is focusing on the future rather than the past. "It's critically important that I stay fresh; It's easy to lean on what always has been, but that's not how we're going to grow and evolve," Heidi says. "That's what keeps me passionate about working here. There's never an end to how we can improve what we're delivering, how we can inspire more people to travel, and what types of trips we can offer." 

 
 The tourism industry generally consists of a male-dominated executive field, and it isn't lost on Heidi that being a female leader of one of the biggest tour operators in the world is a step forward for a new generation of executive women business leaders. When it comes to supporting the growth of this next generation, Heidi has many role models at EF over the past 20 years to look up to. "We've always had strong women leaders at EF that have created a supportive and encouraging environment," Heidi reflects. " I've learned from those I've reported into, those I've worked alongside of, those I've managed—we work with so many incredible people who have different superpower strengths.” 

 
 The COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging personal and business event for many of us, and for Heidi, this crisis in the tourism industry was no exception. "The pandemic was the hardest time in my career, but I think what I'm most proud about that time is the way the team came together," Heidi reflects. "We leaned on each other to be creative, to think differently about how to support customers and our teams, and to figure out how to bounce back stronger and better." 

 
 The EF Go Ahead Tours team united to build a hopeful future in a time of unprecedented uncertainty. "Our teams continued to market and sell throughout the pandemic," Heidi says. "We managed to sell in a way that would help people envision a future when we would be traveling again." Her team's efforts were rewarded: EF was one of the first tour companies to have travelers on the road again after the pandemic. "We took lemons and made lemonade," Heidi says. 


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<div class="caption">"One of my favorite parts of the job is meeting our customers on tour and convention, to truly understand their why for travel, the impact our tours have had on their lives, and how we can continue to improve the experience and inspire more people to travel."- Heidi</div>
 
 Looking towards the future and the next generation of leaders, Heidi has three main pieces of advice. "First, I would say that what you put into something is what you get out of it. When you put your heart into something, you'll get so much more from it," Heidi says. "Of course, there's going to be hard moments and ups and downs, but in the long run, you'll see more growth and be able to take more pride in the successes that will inevitably come from your hard work and dedication." 

 
 "The second is to speak up. If you have a point of view, share it," Heidi shares. "It might bring a new perspective to the conversation, which will help the team make a better decision." 

 
 "The third piece of advice is to seek feedback, absorb it, and act on it. Feedback is how we learn and grow," Heidi notes. "I am a big believer in the idea that growth and development must come from you. EF has an amazing network of people that want to support that journey, but ultimately, it's up to you to grow."

Heidi Durflinger accepted a job at EF Education First as an entry-level Tour Consultant and is now President of one of the biggest adult tour operators in North America, EF World Journeys. EF World Journeys is a family of travel brands that includes EF Go Ahead Tours and EF Ultimate Break.

From Kansas to World Journeys President: Heidi's EF Journey

From Kansas to President of EF World Journeys: Meet Heidi Durflinger

From Kansas to World Journeys President: Heidi's EF Journey   

To spread knowledge and create better understanding, we need people to advocate for those who are not able to advocate for themselves. One person at <a href=" https://www.ef.com/wwen/">EF Education First</a> advocating for the deaf and hard of hearing community is Bobby, Customer Loyalty & Engagement Specialist for <a href="https://www.goaheadtours.com/">EF Go Ahead Tours</a> in Denver, Colorado. 

 Bobby knows what it is like to live with a disability—he was born deaf. He is one of more than 1.5 billion people with hearing loss— 

<a href=" https://www.who.int/health-topics/hearing-loss#tab=tab_1"> nearly 20% of the global population.</a> At 18 months old, Bobby received a <a href=" https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/cochlear-implants"> cochlear implant.</a> This electronic device helps provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing. 

 Growing up in Boston, Massachusetts, Bobby attended mainstream schools for most of his life, meaning he was typically the only deaf student in the classroom. "I was the only deaf student at school for nine years of my education, from elementary school through my high school graduation," Bobby recalls, and he is grateful for the way his parents always advocated for him. "My parents were diligent enough to advocate for me and make sure I had my access needs met in school,” Bobby says. “As I got older, I knew I needed to self-advocate, which eventually turned into advocacy for others." 

 Bobby attended Rochester Institute of Technology and pursued a bachelor's degree in environmental science and a master's degree in public policy. "One of the reasons that I chose RIT is because they have a large deaf and hard of hearing population there. About 10% of students are hard of hearing out of a population of about 18,000," Bobby notes. "After nine years of school with little to no contact with other deaf students, I wanted to reintegrate into the community." 

 Bobby's advocacy began at RIT, where he pursued student government and advocated for change to university policies and the use of accessible technology. "To me, being an advocate means you are always looking out for excluded people or groups, and you actively do something about it," Bobby says. 

 After working at RIT during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bobby had his mind set on finding a job at EF, specifically the <a href=" https://we-are-ef.ef.com/meet-the-ef-denver-office-the-top-things-to-know-about-living-and-working-in-denver/"> EF Denver office. </a> "Growing up in Boston, I always saw the <a href=" https://we-are-ef.ef.com/sailing-pink-in-support-of-community-boating-inc-cbi/"> pink EF sailboats</a> on the Charles River. I also had the opportunity to travel to Paris and Spain with <a href=" https://www.eftours.com/"> EF Educational Tours</a> during high school. Since then, I always wanted to work at EF," Bobby reflects. "When I saw Denver was hiring, I applied to a Traveler Support role and started at EF in August of 2021." 


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 During his training, Bobby realized EF Go Ahead Tours needed an accessibility advocate. "I knew after training that I wanted to help us get to a place where we can say yes to people," Bobby says, "rather than saying no because accommodations for certain disabilities aren't available. My managers at the time guided me on how to raise awareness about accessibility amongst EF staff, and I started the group Accessibility @EF to start those conversations." 

 Accessibility @EF is an affinity group for US-based EF staff members to come together, promote, and advocate for accessibility in the workplace. The group gathers to discuss ways to make the workplace more accessible for staff with disabilities here at EF. Bobby was happy to create an outlet for staff, and soon he started focusing his efforts on the customer experience. "I started focusing solely on product development more than our internal staff experience," Bobby reflects. "I think that's the biggest business opportunity, the biggest need, and where my passion ultimately lies." 

 Eight months into his EF career, Bobby moved to the Customer Loyalty & Engagement Team as a Customer Loyalty & Engagement Specialist. "My favorite part of my role is how collaborative it is," Bobby notes. "Every day, I work with teammates across different departments and offices. Fortunately, my supervisor gives me the bandwidth to work on accessibility-related projects in addition to my other work." 

 Bobby got first-hand customer experience when he went on his first EF Go Ahead Tour as a staff member. "On the tour we used earbud headphones, which were virtually useless to me as a cochlear implant user," Bobby explains. "With my cochlear implant, I don't hear out of my ear canal. Over-ear headphones are usable but are not the most beneficial way of hearing. And for anybody with an ear deformity, sometimes their ears aren't fully developed physically, so over-ear headphones and earbuds may not be physically compatible." 

 Bobby got more confirmation from other EF Go Ahead Tours customers that change was necessary. "Through my job taking customer feedback, I heard similar stories from our travelers who use hearing aids," Bobby says. "The use of hearing aids is common with the EF Go Ahead Tours demographic, so I realized that an accessible hearing device was a good place to start to make the customer experience more accessible." 

 Bobby reached out to the operations team at EF when he got back from tour to see what could be done. He worked with Tom Benoit, a Senior Market Analyst, on crafting a proposal. "Tom helped me turn my idea into a tangible proposal that outlined the impacts, potential costs, and more," Bobby says. Tom and Bobby identified what specific tours would benefit the most from having an additional option for hard-of-hearing travelers. They then worked with VOX to bring the induction loop headset to EF tours. The induction loop headset connects via Bluetooth to cochlear implants and hearing aids. 

 Adding an additional hearing option for customers was no easy feat. "The two biggest challenges were patience and coordination," Bobby says. "I had a lot of different ideas in the beginning, and it was hard to be sent back to the drawing board a few times. I learned to focus on small, immediate changes we could make, and the headset project was the best place to start." 


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 The VOX induction loops are now available on all tours that offer headsets. "The reception from staff and travelers has been phenomenal," Bobby says. "So many people have told me how important this work is to them, and many travelers have taken advantage of the additional headset option and benefitted from it. We also have staff eager to bring their deaf or hard-of-hearing family members on tour now,” Bobby says. “The root of all this was to create another level of inclusion, and we've succeeded in doing that." 

 Bringing his passion for accessibility to work has changed how Bobby views his job and his work life at EF. "It has made me a lot more confident," Bobby explains. "Being able to talk about accessibility at work and bring my perspective as a deaf person allowed me to become an advocate for others like me. Coworkers feel comfortable and confident coming to me with questions, and it feels good to know that there are hearing people and people without disabilities who care about the initiative just as much as I do. That motivates me to keep going every day." 

 Bobby plans to continue expanding access for EF customers. "Down the line, the biggest change I would like to see is changing our phrasing from 'this is why we may not be a good fit for you…' to 'this is what we can do for you,'" Bobby says. "But of course, it is about the power of starting small. My next step would be to expand the headsets to the rest of our tour portfolio so that all of our tours offer them."

To spread knowledge and create better understanding, we need people to advocate for those who are not able to advocate for themselves. One person at EF Education First advocating for the deaf and hard of hearing community is Bobby, Customer Loyalty & Engagement Specialist for 

Ripples of change: Advocating and innovating with Bobby EF Go Ahead Tours in Denver, Colorado. 

Ripples of change: Advocating and innovating with Bobby 

<a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/">EF Education First</a> is a family of businesses with two things in common: our mission of opening the world through education, and our logo. The EF logo has a history that might surprise you, whether you work for EF or study or travel with us. 

 1. The EF in EF Education First stands for 'Europeiska Ferieskolan.' 

Did you know our logo’s two letters are an acronym for a Swedish phrase, and do not stand for “education first”? We were originally called “Europeiska Ferieskolan,” Swedish for “European holiday school.” As we expanded into new markets with new programs and new schools, our name changed to reflect our growth, and we became EF Education First. 

 2. American graphic design legend <a href="https://www.paulrand.design/work/Logos.html">Paul Rand</a> designed the logo we have today. 

 EF’s logo was <a href="https://www.paulrand.design/work/Education-First.html">created in the early 1990s</a> by Paul Rand, one of the twentieth century’s most influential figures in graphic design. Rand created iconic logos for companies like IBM, UPS, and the American Broadcasting Company. ‘EF’ and its rings have identified our brand ever since. 

 3. The rings represent more than just an aesthetically pleasing design. 

 The custom, hand-drawn rings in the EF logo represent communication and a ripple of impact. Communication is the bridge that helps us understand one another, and at EF we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. There is also a ripple of impact in every EF moment. At the center of an EF experience is a person whose understanding of the world and themselves is changed forever. That change in perspective often leads to enhanced understanding for others, including friends, families, and even communities. 

 4. The angled letters are more than what meets the eye. 

 The angled italic letters in the EF logo represent travel—like EF customers, students, and team members worldwide they are in motion. Travel encourages people to work together and create cross-cultural connections. EF Chairman Philip Hult <a href=" https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/world-quotient-seeing-through-someone-elses-eyes-philip-hult/?trackingId=Xas4IY86S0qKcFkXFHzXmA%3D%3D">noted,</a> “When people meet, they learn to empathize with each other. They don’t always agree. And they don’t have to. But hopefully, they become a bit better at seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.” 

 5. There have been five variations of the logo since 1965. 

 EF’s humble beginnings in 1965 featured a slightly different EF logo. The logo changed three more times in the 70s and 80s before becoming the Paul Rand logo we have today. Check out the note below to see a letter that Paul Rand wrote to Philip Hult during the final logo design process. 
<img alt="Letter that Paul Rand wrote to Philip Hult." src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/204637/612x792/dbf8dbe498/paul-rand-letter.png" >

EF Education First is a family of businesses with two things in common: our mission of opening the world through education, and our logo. The EF logo has a history that might surprise you, whether you work for EF or study or travel with us. EF's logo was created in the early 1990s by Paul Rand...

5 facts about the EF logo you might not know

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to support a team, develop out-of-the-box sales tactics, and have a job where every day is a new adventure? Meet Cherie, Manager of Traveler Support for <a href="https://www.eftours.com/">EF Educational Tours</a> at the <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/">EF Education First</a> Austin office. Many customer support manager jobs exist, but at EF, your career can be something different. 

 How would you describe your job? 
 I manage and develop our team, ensuring customers get the support they need for their trips across different communication channels. I also assist our sales team by providing policy guidance and tactical support, all while finding solutions that benefit our customers and the business. 

 What does a typical day at work look like? 
 My days are always different. Sometimes, I work with multiple people on customer support scenarios, other times I work exclusively with one staff member to achieve a goal. Although I have objectives and things I'm trying to achieve daily, weekly, monthly, and beyond, my job can be unpredictable—there is never a dull moment! 
 

 What made you apply for a job at EF? 
 I went on an <a href="https://www.efexploreamerica.com/">EF Explore America</a> tour to Washington, D.C., in the 7th grade, so I knew the brand and the logo. I started showing interest in an EF career when studying travel tourism in college. I applied for the Tour Consultant role but did not get it. I was redirected to a Traveler Support role; the rest is history. 

 Describe EF with 3-5 adjectives. 
 Fun, dynamic, unpredictable, challenging, and otherworldly. 

 What has been your favorite experience at EF so far? 
 An all-time favorite was participating and being a facilitator in the 2019 <a href="https://www.eftours.com/educational-tours/collections/student-summits/">EF Global Leadership Summit</a> in Davos, Switzerland. Summit is an event where students are grouped and tasked with solving a global problem, and the winning projects are exhibited in the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. 
 Nothing beats watching students who are strangers become best friends while designing, thinking, and then presenting their prototype on stage. They exude pride, passion, and energy– I wish we could bottle that up! 

 What, in your opinion, makes your job unique? 
 I know my job is unique when I try to explain what I do for work to a stranger or family member. Although my full-time role is managing staff in traveler support, I also support on–tour issues and emergencies, and I travel with Group Leaders often. My family and friends will say, 'Cherie, you're going to Europe for work again?' And I get to say, –– ‘yes, I am!’ 

 
 Any advice for someone joining EF? 
 Dive in. Ask questions. Be vulnerable. Be adaptable. EF has been up and running for a long time, but it’s always reiterated here that there is room for improvement and fresh perspectives. Raise your hand, get involved, and give feedback! Show interest in the tough stuff, get out of your comfort zone, and try new things—it will not go unnoticed. 

 What, in your opinion, makes EF different? 
 EF's size can be overwhelming, but our global presence is felt in all corners of the world, which is comforting. Working at EF truly feels like you are making significant changes for the good of the world. I am proud to work with the people I work with, and so many moments bring me energy; you would have to make it your mission to get bored here.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to support a team, develop out-of-the-box sales tactics, and have a job where every day is a new adventure? Meet Cherie, Manager of Traveler Support for EF Educational Tours at EF Education First. Many customer support manager jobs exist, but at EF, your

Tell us what you do: Something different with Cherie

During the summer of 2023, <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/">EF Education First</a> embarked on a journey to create a new employer brand campaign, capturing how a career at EF differs from careers anywhere else. Because of the wide variety of places our teammates live, the opportunities they have, and the people they meet and work with worldwide, careers at EF have a unique energy and vibrancy. We asked our world-class creative team to turn the idea of “something different” into something visual. Many talented creatives came together to make this campaign happen, and Senior Art Director Kay Klos was the obvious choice to lead this creative challenge. 

 Kay feels deeply connected to EF's mission—opening the world through education—which makes them feel connected to their work. "The mission of EF is very authentic to me—by learning about one another and being open to different perspectives and experiences, we make the world a better place," says Kay. From Kay's perspective, being creative at EF is challenging in all the right ways. “I get the chance to work with many different businesses and people, so I never get bored." 

 When Kay joined EF's creative team in Zurich, one of their first projects was creating the Something Different campaign, communicating EF's values, culture, and mission in a clear and impactful way. "I had a lot of freedom," Kay notes, "which was very important for me and my creative process to best capture the thought behind the visuals." 

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 EF’s Worldwide Creative Officer Joel Hladecek knew Kay was a great choice for the job, both due to their skills and their ability to evaluate EF’s employer brand without bias. “Aside from Kay’s great natural skills, their newness to EF turned out to be a perfect qualification for this particular project,” Joel said. “It meant Kay was fresh to the idea of evaluating our company and what it would take to capture attention. Additionally, it meant they weren’t beholden to any corporate groupthink. The resulting wildness of this design approach was exactly what we needed to bust through the din of boring brands. EF is the most aspirational brand I know and deserves such strong representation.” 

 Kay's creative process requires a focused environment and research. "I wish I had a switch that turns on my creative mode, but unfortunately, that’s not how it works," Kay jokes. "I start with research—I want to learn as much as possible about the project, audience, and background. Knowledge is the basis of my approach to design. For this project, I needed to focus on what it is like to work here at EF, and how to translate that feeling visually." 

 A key stakeholder in the Something Different campaign was Brooke Parker, Director of Marketing and Content. “When we briefed the creative team on this project, our goal was to establish a distinctive visual identity for EF as an employer that reflects continuous learning and career growth,” Brooke said. “We needed a dynamic and global solution to highlight what a career at EF feels like.” 

 Kay notes that when creating the look and feel for the Something Different campaign, "The key visual itself is very dynamic and colorful because that is EF. Working here is colorful and surprising every step of the way, so the campaign needed to replicate that." 

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 The campaign showcases the variety of people and personalities in our offices and schools, and the individuals in the organization inspired the campaign visuals. "Our jobs can have traditional elements—we have technical and business-focused roles like any other company,” Kay said. “But at EF, we add something different, something creative, bold, and witty to our careers. We have Excel Slayers and Front-end Magicians at EF. These people inspired the idea to adapt the iconic rings of Paul Rand's EF logo to visually represent the different career paths you can have at EF." 

 Making an employer brand stand out in today's oversaturated market is no easy feat. “Great people can work almost anywhere they choose,” Amy Van Aarle, Executive Vice President of EF, said. “Working at EF is truly special, so to stand out to applicants, we needed a campaign to convey that. A palpable, positive, dynamic energy runs through EF— an energy created by the people who work here and their passion for our mission. This new campaign perfectly captures that feeling and helps us stand out in a crowded employer brand marketplace.” 

 Creating the Something Different campaign was unlike other projects Kay worked on in the past. "I think this campaign is distinguished by its incredible openness, great dynamism, and unapologetic approach, especially for an employer branding campaign," Kay said. "Usually, campaigns like this can be much more constrained, but we wanted to do–something different!" 

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During the summer of 2023, EF Education First embarked on a journey to create a new employer brand campaign, capturing how a career at EF differs from careers anywhere else. Because of the wide variety of places our teammates live, the opportunities they have

A Senior Art Director’s perspective: Kay on creating Something Different

Here at <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/">EF Education First</a>, one person can work in multiple locations and hold various roles, all while working towards one mission—opening the world through education. Lori van Dam, the Chief Executive Officer of <a href=" https://www.hultprize.org/">Hult Prize</a>, knows this well. 

 As the daughter of two educators, learning in the classroom and from the world around her were core parts of her upbringing in Barrington, Rhode Island. "My dad went on two sabbaticals while I was growing up," Lori recalls. "When I was seven, we lived in Holland for a year, and when I was 13, we lived in Switzerland for a year." 

 This early exposure to experiential learning impacted her view of education, especially when learning new languages—Lori can speak five. In addition to her native English, she learned Dutch the year her family lived in Holland and during the summers she spent there afterward. She learned French and German while living and attending school in Switzerland and she studied Swedish as an early EF team member. "I do not take credit for the languages that I speak," Lori reflects. "They were given to me as a gift." 

<img alt="Lori at work" src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/204637/2000x1333/a79d06a5f3/hult-prize-9.jpg"style="width:600px;height:400px;"> 

 After attending Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and working for a startup, Lori found EF through her best friend. Lori’s first project at EF turned into one of EF's associated organizations: "I started what became <a href=" https://culturalcare.com/">Cultural Care Au Pair.</a> Having had that radical opportunity so young was quite an adventure." She chuckles, saying, "Looking back now, I was allowed to do things I had no business doing." 

 Lori spent the next 20 years of her career in the EF family of companies. One of her favorite experiences was reporting directly to EF's founder, Bertil Hult. "It was something different daily,” Lori says. “I learned so much from him." He influenced her leadership style, and she reflects that Bertil "has a true humility about him. One of the things baked into who he is, is the belief in continual improvement and the idea that you can constantly reevaluate and learn from mistakes." 

 Lori left EF to lead organizations in the nonprofit space. She was the Executive Director of One Fund Boston, the nonprofit established by Mayor Thomas Menino and Governor Deval Patrick in the aftermath of the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Lori oversaw the distribution of more than $20 million to survivors and families who lost loved ones, which came a year after the initial distribution of nearly $61 million. She was also an executive at Susan G. Komen, the world's leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, for nearly seven years. "I have always cared about doing something with a mission,” Lori said. “If you're a person who has an interest in humanity and wants to make the world a better place, you can do that in many ways.” 

 In 2021, Lori brought her nonprofit expertise back to the community of people she grew up with professionally when she signed on as the CEO of Hult Prize. Lori describes it as "a global student social entrepreneurship competition with a million-dollar prize." Hult Prize's mission, members, and global impact energize and inspire Lori daily. 

 “We have a campus director in Sudan named Maiy," Lori notes. "She won best campus director in the program last year out of the 2,000 campus directors worldwide. She ran a program at her university while the entire country was at war. There was fighting in the streets, and there was no electricity, no water, and definitely no Wi-Fi. Despite this, she and her organizing committee got over 200 student proposals for an on-campus pitching event. Their world was in chaos, but she had so much perseverance in the face of obstacles that I cannot even visualize, and she pulled off an amazing program." 

<img alt="Lori and Maiy" src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/204637/4016x6016/165053d835/lori-and-maiy.JPG" style="width:400px;height:550px;"> 

 Maiy's story and countless others fuel Lori’s passion for pushing Hult Prize forward. "Hult Prize offers participants who might not have many opportunities, and certainly do not have the opportunities that I have had, a path to become part of a bigger community, to envision themselves as entrepreneurs, and to give them agency in their futures," she says. "Being able to do that as my job? That is an incredible privilege." 

 Hult Prize fuels social entrepreneurship, and Lori believes the nonprofit's most significant impact is through its ripple of awareness. "We have over a million alumni, which means that there are over a million people out there who, over the last 14 years, have understood social entrepreneurship and how they can be a part of it," Lori says. "They walk away understanding they can take steps in their own lives and improve the world. That is a big ripple effect, and I think that is our biggest impact." 

 The 2023 Hult Prize Challenge was "redesigning fashion," and encouraged teams to launch an innovative social venture in the clothing and fashion industry to make it more sustainable. The finals occurred in Paris, France, on September 22, 2023, and the winner was Banofi Leather, a startup making vegan leather from banana crop waste. 

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 Reflecting on her early days at EF, Lori advises anyone starting their career not to sweat the small stuff and to stay open-minded. "I did not know where my career would lead me when I started, nor did I know that this would be a job that I would even one day be considered for. I try to teach my kids to be open to possibilities. Say yes more than you say no because you never know where it might lead you."

Here at EF Education First, one person can work in multiple locations and hold various roles, all while working towards one mission—opening the world through education. Lori van Dam, the Chief Executive Officer of Hult Prize, knows this well.

Work that matters: Lori's EF journey

Incorporating sustainable habits into your daily life is essential, but figuring out where to start can be intimidating. Luckily, there are people in the world and at <a href"https://www.ef.com/wwen/"> EF Education First </a> like Millie. Millie is a Senior Tour Consultant at EF Educational Tours the global captain of the EF Green Team, and she is inspiring EFers at the EF Austin office and beyond with her passion for creating a sustainable future.
Millie is a lifelong nature lover, a passion rooted in her childhood in rural Pennsylvania. "I grew up before cellphones and laptops, and we didn't have cable TV, so I played outside in the woods all the time," Millie reflects. "That is really where my love of being in nature comes from."
She also credits her parents for influencing her sustainable habits. "My parents were ahead of their time—we composted and recycled almost everything. Our family of four created very little waste, to the point where we did not have garbage pickup, and my dad could take our waste every couple of months."
Millie found EF after spending a few years teaching English in Thailand, and she started her EF journey with EF Educational Tours at the <a href="https://we-are-ef.ef.com/meet-the-ef-denver-office-the-top-things-to-know-about-living-and-working-in-denver/"> EF Denver office</a>. It was in Denver where Millie first joined the EF Green Team, a staff collective focused on inspiring eco-conscious habits at EF and beyond. To Millie, "The EF Green Team is a group of people who care about protecting the planet and protecting people."

<h2>"It is special that EF allows us to bring our passions outside the office and incorporate them into our in-office culture. Having that in the workplace is rare.”</h2>

When offered the opportunity to help open the <a href="https://we-are-ef.ef.com/ef-office-in-austin-texas/"> EF Austin office </a> in the fall of 2021, Millie traded in her hiking boots for what she classifies as the best tacos and live music in the US. Of course, creating an EF Austin Green Team was at the top of her list of things to do. "It is a community that I did not want to give up, so creating that in Austin was a big priority for me."

Co-founding the EF Austin Green Team gave Millie a chance to directly influence the culture of the new office from the start. "It is special that EF allows us to bring our passions outside the office and incorporate them into our in-office culture. Having that in the workplace is rare."
<h2>"The awareness we create in our office makes a broader impact.”</h2>
From turning the Austin office compost-friendly to hosting sustainable clothing events, the EF Austin Green Team is doing its part to make a difference in the Austin office and beyond. The most significant indicator of the team's success in Millie's eyes is their ripple of impact on the community.

"What makes me the proudest and most aware of our impact is when one of my colleagues tells me they started composting at home, or convinced their family to start recycling, or stopped buying clothes from fast fashion sites. That's when I realize the awareness we create in our office makes a broader impact. "

Millie recently became the EF Green Team global lead. She will host quarterly meetings for EFers to come together and share what is happening in our offices and schools, what is working, and how to approach any challenges. "I think it really helps for people to feel like they are part of a bigger movement here at EF."

For the first time, Millie will attend the <a href="https://www.eftours.com/educational-tours/collections/student-summits"> EF Global Leadership Summit </a> in Berlin this summer, a three-day conference EF hosts that asks students from across the globe to create a solution to a global problem. The winning team's prototype is displayed at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.

This year's Summit theme, creating a sustainable future, speaks directly to Millie's passion, and she hopes to come back inspired by the next generation. "I am so curious to hear what solutions the students will come up with, and I am excited to learn more about their vision for the future. I want to bring some of that passion and some of those ideas back to Austin and use that to continue to inspire me in my work."

<h2>“It is not just about the impact we are making with events we are hosting; it is also about making structural and long-lasting changes in our offices."</h2>

In addition to inspiring her coworkers and community, Millie focuses on creating changes that will last. "In Austin, I want to be at the forefront of helping get this building running on renewable energy. When I talk to other EF Green Team captains, they think similarly. So, it is not just about the impact we are making with events we are hosting; it is also about making structural and long-lasting changes in our offices."

If you are looking for a way to start incorporating more sustainable habits into your everyday life, Millie suggests starting small and specific. She references Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's <a href="https://www.ayanaelizabeth.com/climatevenn"> Climate Action Venn Diagram </a> designed to help individuals address the climate crisis.

"It is not a one size fits all solution," Millie notes. "We need people doing different things that work towards sustainability and decrease emissions in different ways. That is how you can figure out where you can make the biggest impact and have the largest ripple effect in your community."

Living sustainably starts with small changes, and Millie, a global captain of EF's Green Teams, understands this well. As an active member of the EF Austin Office and her local community, Millie is driving change toward a greener future.

Ripples of change: Making a difference with Millie

Have you ever wondered what creating unforgettable experiences for your coworkers would be like, from curating the office's rainy Monday playlist to filling a grocery cart full of ice cream for a surprise treat? Meet Hannah, Office Life & Events Specialist at the <a href=" https://www.ef.com/wwen/">EF Education First</a> Austin office. Many employee experience and office life jobs exist, but at EF, you can expect an exciting career that is truly something different. 

 How would you describe your job? 

 As the Office Life & Events Specialist for EF Austin, I try to make sure my fellow team members love working at EF and that any guest of EF feels the impact of our mission. We constantly strive to make their experience as positive as possible. Many things fall into my job description to make that happen. Still, at the end of the day, whether it's giving a new hire a welcome tour or organizing an event, my main goal is to create an environment that's fun, allows people to be their authentic selves, and is a conducive space for people learn and grow in their careers. 

 What does a typical day at work look like? 

 I start my days by opening the office, making sure everything is in tip-top shape from the front desk to the kitchen, and even matching the lobby playlist to the vibe of the day (we have come to love our Rainy Monday playlist). I greet guests, new hires, or visiting team members to ensure they are set up and ready for their day. 

 Then I dive into my projects! Some days, I am making a list of potential venues for our holiday party, booking site visits, and researching catering vendors. On other days, I work with a local contractor to install a new water machine. Yesterday, I ran to the grocery store, bought out a full freezer of Ben & Jerry's for an office "surprise & delight," and decorated our utility cart like an ice cream truck. 

 What made you apply for a job at EF? 

 My first experience with EF was back in 8th grade when my class went on a tour to Philadelphia & Washington D.C. Fast forward about ten years later when it came time for me to search for full-time jobs shortly after graduating college, I crossed paths with EF again. 

 My dad visited the EF Boston office, and he raved about how lively and vibrant it was. He noted that everyone was genuine and welcoming—everything I wanted in my ideal work environment. I immediately remembered how much I loved my experience with EF as a student and thought, how could I not at least check it out? 

 While browsing <a href=" https://careers.ef.com/">the EF careers site,</a> I saw the listing for an Employee Experience Coordinator (what would become my first EF job), and I could not apply fast enough. The idea of contributing to people's first impressions of EF and helping create the culture in the office was so exciting to me and still is the biggest reason why I am passionate about what I do. 

 Describe EF with 3-5 adjectives. 

 Fun, welcoming, dynamic, creative, and mission driven. 

 What has been your favorite experience at EF so far? 

 The opportunity to open our brand-new Austin office and build our office culture alongside my manager Kelsey has been a rewarding and impactful experience for me personally and professionally. Just in the past year, I got to go on my first staff tour (and my first time in Europe!) to Portugal & Spain, celebrate EF Austin's first birthday with two-step dance lessons from a local instructor, and plan and execute our first holiday party and summer party. I'm about to go to the EF Global Leadership Summit. 

 However, my favorite memory was hosting Employee Appreciation Day in full gameshow host garb, handing out treats and prizes, and playing games throughout the day. The pure laughter we got from team members walking into the office is why I do what I do. 

 What, in your opinion, makes your job unique? 

 While many people work with customers outside of the EF offices, I take pride in the fact that a key part of my role is to make the EF employee experience great. As my career evolves and grows, I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with more community members, customers, and global staff as well. I could not do what I do without the ideas, feedback, and support of my colleagues, who contribute to our office's success and push me to continue to improve. 

 Any advice for someone joining EF? 

 Lean into the entire experience, be bold, and branch out and get to know people outside your immediate team. It is natural to want to stick with your start class initially, but making connections and understanding other sides of the business will enrich your overall experience in the long run.

Meet Hannah, Office Life & Events Specialist at the EF Education First Austin office. Many employee experience and office life jobs exist, but at EF, you can expect an exciting career that is truly something different.

Tell us what you do: Something different with Hannah

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an expert travel advisor, support customers as they prepare for transformative travel, and become a traveler yourself at work? Meet Adrian, Traveler Support Specialist for <a href="https://www.efexploreamerica.com/"> EF Explore America </a> at the <a href="https://www.ef.com/"> EF Education First</a> Austin office. Many customer support specialist jobs exist, but at EF, you can expect an exciting career that’s truly something different.
How long have you worked at EF?

I just hit my first anniversary in July!

How would you describe your job?

As EF travel experts, we give travelers the information they need to prepare for their trip. Our role goes beyond a typical customer service representative by combining communication skills, sales instincts, and a solution-oriented attitude to give our customers the best experience possible. I work with teammates from all departments within EF Explore America – sales, travel, and operations – to resolve traveler issues and provide outstanding customer service. My day-to-day tasks vary from giving IT help to supporting a traveler as they prepare for an upcoming trip.

What made you apply for a job at EF?
I saw an advertisement for EF Ultimate Break, and thought it would be super fun to travel with EF. I was exploring the website and came across the careers site. I looked at careers in my area and saw an IT position in Austin, so I applied for it and got a call from EF the following week. The interview process was terrific— I had never had such a warm and welcoming experience.

Although I did not get that position, I did not let that discourage me. I saw a spot for a Traveler Support Specialist the following week. I filled out the application and again had a speedy interview, and I got the job!

What was your favorite experience at EF so far?

My first staff travel experience! I got to tag along on our Washington D.C. and New York City tours. A teammate from the Boston office also came. During the tour, I got to know him better. He was from New York and showed me around the city during our free time. It was a unique experience—I enjoyed touring the cities, seeing new things, and making new friends.

What, in your opinion, makes your job unique?

The ability to get to know the customers—every person I talk to has their own story.

Any advice for someone joining EF?

Be yourself, have fun, and come in with an open mind!

Tell us what you do: Something different with Adrian

In the spring of 2022, Sabrina was finishing her master's degree in international management and working for a startup in Switzerland when she first came across<a href="https://www.ef.com/"> EF Education First's </a> flagship trainee program, the <a href="https://careers.ef.com/categories/ef360-global-management-trainee-program/"> EF360 Global Management Trainee Program </a>. The one-year management trainee program gives recent graduates a chance to be mentored by an EF senior leader and have firsthand experience in multiple facets of the business. At the end of the year, trainees earn a position at EF that best suits their unique talents and strengths.

Sabrina knew applying meant facing significant competition—there are only 11 spots available in the program with applicants from across the world. Nonetheless, she applied, and her decision was twofold. First, the program perfectly captured what she was looking for in a professional career. "All my life, tourism, education, and languages have been some of my biggest passions," Sabrina notes.

The second reason she applied was that she knew EF well—the organization is part of her family history. "I am an EF baby! My parents met in 1988 on an EF language program in San Diego, California,” Sabrina says. “A year later, they were married and are still together to this day."

Sabrina embarked on an EF language program herself, spending a summer in Santa Barbara, California when she was 16. Sabrina’s experience was transformative, and she was able to form a lasting bond with her host family. She says, "I became a part of their family. I visited them almost every year after that trip."

When Sabrina was accepted into the EF360 Global Management Trainee Program, she was excited to officially be part of EF, saying "I felt like I was coming home. That is what is so great about EF—it is such a good community, and I get a sense of belonging here working with so many different people from all around the world. When you walk into any of our offices, whether in Hong Kong, Nigeria, London, Zurich, or Boston, you have people you are connected with."

Sabrina's year as an EF360 has been a whirlwind filled with travel, opportunity, and connection. She notes that “as an EF360, you get a great grasp of the business. I've traveled to nearly ten different places in the last year and worked on about 20 different projects!”

Sabrina's year has been special because she has worked with two different businesses in the EF family of companies. “My mentor was in EF High School Exchange Year when I started,” she reflects. “He moved over to <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/en/"> EF Academy </a> during the year, so I moved with him. It was a huge learning curve, seeing two businesses within such a short time at EF is unique. Not many 360s can work with two EF businesses within one year."

Her favorite work trip was the mid-year EF360 summit in Austin, Texas, saying “It was so cool to connect with all the other 360s worldwide. And Austin itself is so vibrant!"

As for what she loves most about working here so far, her answer is classic EF: "My favorite part is the people. There are so many different people here who have so many different experiences and cultural backgrounds. Working with a diverse team helps you open your mind and see different points of view."

Sabrina has two pieces of advice for future applicants: "First and foremost, be authentic. When you come here, you realize you are encouraged to be yourself at work. And most importantly, ask questions! ‘Why do we do this? How do we do this?' Is there a more efficient way to do this?’ That will help you succeed and make an impact."

Sabrina's connection to EF is unique, which extends to her passion for EF's mission: to open the world through education. She believes working towards that mission will create a better world and future.

"For me, opening the world through education means working towards true globalization and helping people understand each other. My world has opened through education—I have been lucky enough to study abroad in Singapore, Sweden, London, and the US, which ultimately helped me get outside my comfort zone. And I think in the world we live in now, it has never been more needed to understand other people, cultures, and languages to create a better global future."

“Working with a diverse team helps you open your mind and see different points of view.” - Sabrina

During her time at EF, Sabrina has collaborated with colleagues around the world and worked on language and education projects she’s passionate about. Learn more about how one year transformed her perspective.

Travel, opportunity, connection: Sabrina’s EF journey

True or false:<a href="https://www.ef.com/"> EF Education First </a> owns professional cycling teams.

If you answered true, congratulations, you are correct!
True or False: Johannes, the Senior Marketing Manager for <a href="https://efprocycling.com/"> EF Pro Cycling</a>, found EF through his dog-sitting job while he was in college.
Also true!

Johannes's EF journey is anything but traditional, and like a wheel on a bicycle, it has many full-circle moments.

Travel has always been part of Johannes's life—he was born and raised in Switzerland, lived in Korea, went to college in Colorado, and currently lives in Utah.

"Home for me is wherever my house is at the moment! When I was young, traveling was how I saw my family," Johannes reflects. "Now, it's fun to travel to see new places. And there is no better way to see a place than from a bike."

While majoring in political science and economics at Colorado College in the US and competing for the swim team, Johannes was unsure what he wanted to do after graduating. He knew he wanted to work in sports.

"My dad was an athlete, and I always played sports, so I always knew I wanted to work in sports. If you had asked me what my dream job was, I would have said a job where I get to travel, work in sports, and work with cool people." Spoiler alert: he says he gets the trifecta at EF. 

Johannes became a huge cycling fan when he discovered a YouTube channel called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTaETsuCOkJ0H_GAztWt0Q"> Global Cycling Network.</a> "I love cycling because you meet so many super passionate people. Also, from the outside, cycling looks like an individual sport, but the team aspect of it is so essential. The first thing any winner will say is, 'This wouldn't be possible without my teammates.'"

Johannes worked for the Colorado Classic cycling race between his junior and senior years. At the race, he met "this guy Matt," the Marketing and Communication Director for EF Pro Cycling. Matt asked Johannes to dog-sit his German Shorthaired Pointer named Bird. Johannes said yes, and once he graduated a year later, Johannes asked Matt if he had any openings on his team. After starting as a contractor at EF, he moved to Boston to intern in the <a href="https://we-are-ef.ef.com/things-to-know-about-living-in-boston/"> EF Boston </a> office before becoming a full-time marketing manager for the pro cycling team.

Today, as senior marketing manager, Johannes says his goal is to humanize the riders through storytelling. "My job is to tell stories. Sometimes in sports, especially when athletes do such incredible things, fans see them as superheroes. At the end of the day, we are all human. Even the best rider in the world is a person at home. Telling those stories is my job."

EF's men's pro cycling team has 32 riders and 21 nationalities, and there are 11 languages spoken on the team. The women's team has 16 riders and 10 nationalities, with seven languages spoken. Johannes thinks this sets EF apart from the other pro teams. "What is unique about our current cyclists is the philosophy EF brought to the team. EF's core belief is that the world is a better place when people try to understand one another, and our cycling team is a diverse group of elite riders from all over the world. Each team member brings their own culture and experiences. Seeing everyone come together and learn from one another is amazing."

Johannes is working his third Tour de France this summer. The iconic event, which he describes as "a big traveling circus," gives Johannes a unique perspective on his journey. "Last year, the Tour de France route went right in front of the house I grew up in. I was standing there working for the team, and it was such a full-circle moment. It felt surreal that I was there watching the race a few years ago and wishing I knew the riders' names –– now I am working for a team!"

The men's cycling team was recently featured in the new Netflix series <a href="https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81153133"> Tour de France: Unchained</a>. The series provides an in-depth look at the sport of cycling in hopes of making it more widely understood. Johannes worked directly with the production team and thinks the series is an exciting opportunity for the sport. "People who have never watched cycling will get a good look at what the sport is like from the inside, and hardcore fans will get a look into what goes on behind the scenes."

Johannes followed his instincts and found a role at EF where he is pushed outside of his comfort zone daily ––and he would encourage others to find the same. "If your gut is telling you something is right, and you truly believe you will make the most out of the opportunity –– you should do it. It is not always fun or comfortable. I was a contractor and moved to Boston without knowing a single person, which was kind of scary. But it turned out to be the best experience of my life."

Ever imagined that being a dog-sitter could get you a marketing manager role with a pro cycling team? Meet Johannes, whose career path at EF has been anything but ordinary. Read more about his journey beyond his comfort zone.

CJ McCartin

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