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

Lauren Shiraka ‹ We are EF - 3

Ever have one of those I-can’t-believe-this-is-really-my-job moments? Brigid, Director of Sales for <a href="https://www.efcollegestudytours.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF College Study Tours</a> in Boston, Massachusetts, has had quite a few of these during her five years with EF Education First, but one experience stands out above the rest.
“When I first started at EF, I thought ‘this place is not real,’ and I still have those moments,” laughs Brigid. “I’ve been able to travel to places I literally never thought I would go. I’ll always remember the day that I snorkeled for the first time in the Galápagos Islands and saw sea turtles and sea lions up close.”
On this particular EF adventure, the Connecticut native joined a group of college students as they explored the flora and fauna of the remote archipelago, located more than 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. During this study abroad experience, the group stopped at key sites where the study of evolutionary biology began, including the historic home of the one-and-only Charles Darwin.
“Two students on the trip actually had different Darwin tattoos,” recalls Brigid. “So when we went to the Darwin Foundation, they thought it was the coolest thing ever. It was awesome to witness their enthusiasm as they watched the things they’ve studied for so long come to life—it brought a whole new dimension to the trip.”
Seeing firsthand how the power of studying abroad can transform students’ lives is what keeps Brigid connected to the work she does every day. Brigid, who studied education at the University of Connecticut, helps EF College Study Tours send students on life-changing adventures by working with university staff, professors, and deans to create short-term study abroad programs. In her role as Director of Sales, she also works one-on-one with team members to help them achieve their own career aspirations.
“I’m super motivated by team dynamics, and creating cohesiveness and harmony within a team environment,” says Brigid. “One of my strengths is my antenna. When I’m training team members, I’m able to zone into what motivates them as an individual. It’s one of the few benefits of growing up as a middle child.”
From a young age, Brigid says she was attuned to the needs of her siblings and took responsibility for helping them to communicate and advocate for themselves—a trait that she feels distinguishes her leadership style today.
“I’m really proud of having a huge impact on my teammates,” reflects Brigid. “I want them to know that I’ve been exactly where they are. I’m passionate about working with them to figure out what they want their careers at EF to look like and helping them take steps to achieve that.”
During her time at EF, Brigid has moved her career forward year after year, transitioning from Sales Trainer all the way to her current role as Director of Sales. Her secret to success? Raising her hand when a new opportunity arises and being prepared to roll up her sleeves and do the work.
“In the five years I’ve worked here, there have been opportunities I’ve raised my hand for, and also ones that have been given to me through hard work,” Brigid recalls. “I’ve been able to participate in orientations abroad, give presentations, meet so many customers—the list goes on.”
Through the work she does every day, whether it’s providing individual training and mentorship or developing new team-building exercises, Brigid urges her staff to remain focused on their mission and remember the reasons they chose EF.
“When you provide travel, you’re challenging people to be uncomfortable in the very best way—ways that will forever improve their lives,” she says. “For students, having a simple exchange with someone who speaks a different language can make all the difference. In my own experience, traveling with EF has opened me to see the world from new perspectives. It’s made me more empathetic and helped me become a better leader.”

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="data-instgrm-captioned" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BggOZ2pl0EE/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BggOZ2pl0EE/" style="color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">✏️ Lisbon pages slowly coming together. ? #workinprogress #lisbon #traveljournal</a>
<p style="color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bdrawsthings/" style="color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> B ✏️</a> (@bdrawsthings) on <time datetime="2018-03-19T11:42:25+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Mar 19, 2018 at 4:42am PDT</time>
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</blockquote><script async="async" defer src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js">/**/</script>Brigid is an avid illustrator, chronicling her daily life and world travels in the pages of her sketchbook. Follow her adventures at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bdrawsthings/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@bdrawsthings</a>.

Ever have one of those I-can’t-believe-this-is-really-my-job moments? Brigid, Director of Sales for EF College Study Tours, has had quite a few of these.

Bringing out the best in others: Brigid’s EF journey - We are EF

Bringing out the best in others: Brigid’s EF journey ‹ We are EF

Bringing out the best in others: Brigid’s EF journey

Bringing out the best in others brigids ef journey

Ardie isn’t afraid of uncertainty. Quite the opposite, actually. When the opportunity arises to create something from nothing (or to get “scrappy,” as Ardie likes to say), that’s when this <a href="https://www.ef.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Education First </a>Associate Director of Operations does his best work. It’s why he won the EF Core Value Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit, and the reason he’s been able to forge his own path to career success at EF.
“I knew EF was the right fit for me because of how they treat their people,” says Ardie, who hails from Worcester, Massachusetts and started his career as a Tour Consultant at <a href="https://www.efexploreamerica.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Explore America</a>, helping educators take students on tours throughout the U.S. and Canada. The new role was a big transition from Ardie’s previous life in the Boston restaurant industry, and although it was an entry-level position, he saw huge potential.
He explains, “On top of creating a fantastic workspace and culture, EF encourages you to step up and take ownership of any and everything you do. It’s a place where you can grab your career by the horns and ride it anywhere around the world.”
And that’s exactly what Ardie has done. In his early days as a Tour Consultant, he was primarily responsible for sales and customer service. But he also stepped back to observe the bigger picture. Without anyone asking, he took note of how he could better serve customers, improve internal communication, and create more efficient sales processes. This self-initiative opened the door to a new role created just for him and his unique skill set.
“The opportunity that had the most impact on my career was transitioning from a sales role to an operations role,” reflects Ardie. “While it might be a small change on paper, this transition helped propel my career to where it is today. It put me outside of my comfort zone, helped me learn new things, and made me invested in my work in a way I didn’t think was possible.”
Today, Ardie manages a team of Tour Experience Managers and Regional Product Managers responsible for creating dynamic tour itineraries and experiences. Ardie says he spends about half of his time establishing an operations roadmap for EF Explore America and the other half ensuring that his team and his suppliers are executing on those plans—all while keeping customers happy. Creative problem solving and collaboration are key to success, and luckily for his team, those are two areas where Ardie excels.
“I love thinking about work efficiency,” says Ardie, who studied business management and economics at Emmanuel College. “I’m always assessing how well we’re doing, and figuring out ways to help my team do an even better job than they’ve done before. I’m most excited when I’m able to contribute new ideas and create opportunities for others.”
Aside from the job’s many travel perks—which have brought him to exciting places like Australia, New Orleans, Louisiana, and most recently to Berlin for <a href="https://www.eftours.com/educational-tours/collections/student-summits" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF’s Global Student Leadership Summit</a>—Ardie’s favorite part of his job remains the people.
“The best part of my job is being able to work with all the different people involved in making our tours come to life,” he says, “whether it’s our Tour Consultants who work directly with our Group Leaders or Business Analysts who create innovative tools to improve how we interact with our suppliers.”
Outside of work, Ardie loves to cook—a craft he mastered during his days as a cook and restaurant manager in Boston’s North End and Mission Hill neighborhoods. Just as he enjoys perfecting EF’s business processes, he finds excitement in fine-tuning recipes for his own hot sauces and soups. His favorite thing to make? Chikhirtma—a lemon chicken soup native to the country of Georgia.
“I love the complexities,” explains Ardie. “How adding or subtracting one ingredient in the process can create an entirely new and dynamic flavor.” One thing’s for sure: In work and in life, navigating complexity comes naturally to Ardie. And he appreciates EF for giving him the space to keep growing his strengths and creating his own path.
“Working at EF has changed me in too many ways to count,” he says. “EF created an environment for me to be challenged, thrive, and figure out what I want to do with my life, in and outside of work.”

Ardie isn’t afraid of uncertainty. When the opportunity arises to create something from nothing, that’s when he does his best work.

Stepping up and seizing opportunity: Ardie’s EF journey - We are EF

Stepping up and seizing opportunity: Ardie’s EF journey ‹ We are EF

Stepping up and seizing opportunity: Ardie’s EF journey

Ardies ef journey

Stefan is a problem solver. Whether he’s figuring out how to backpack through 10 countries in seven weeks or how to increase quarterly revenue, when faced with a challenge, this ball-player-turned-financial-analyst isn’t one to back down. Instead, he asks big questions and works to find smart solutions. In other words, when things get tough, Stefan shines.
A former math student and pro baseball player, Stefan didn’t plan on a career in finance. After graduating from the University of Waterloo in Canada, he embarked on an epic, two-month tour of Europe. When he returned home to Canada, he discovered <a href="https://www.ef.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Education First</a>.
Initially attracted to EF’s culture (and travel perks), he began his journey as an analyst in Toronto for <a href="https://www.eftours.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Educational Tours</a>, which works with teachers to bring high school students on domestic and international tours. Not long after, he was asked to put his analytical skills to work for the finance team. Today, as a Financial Planning and Analysis Manager, Stefan uses his mathematical background to think in terms of EF’s bottom line and its big picture.
“Being an analyst allows you to tackle any problem in the business,” he says. “I’m able to jump in where I see issues, and from there, I use numbers to tell a story.”
While you might think finance is all about spreadsheets, this isn’t Stefan’s reality at EF. In fact, much of his day is focused on market research and strategic decision-making. That is, he’s constantly thinking about how EF can thrive by hiring the right teams, targeting the right markets and offering competitive itineraries. It’s a role that regularly requires Stefan to go beyond Excel sheets and collaborate with teams across departments and continents.
“I’m most excited when we’re faced with complex problems or challenges and we’re able to work effectively as a team to solve them,” reflects Stefan, who serves as a resource for teams when they’re struggling to make tough decisions. “People come to me after they’ve tried a lot of other options, and together we look at the numbers to see if we can come up with something creative.”
For instance, if a tour is in danger of being canceled, Stefan and his colleagues are called in to assist. Stefan examines questions like, “What happens if we change the travel dates?” or “Could we run this tour if we added more optional excursions?” or “What if we merge these two groups of travelers together?” After assessing every angle, more often than not, Stefan’s able to find a solution that satisfies both the customer and the business.
“It makes me happy when we’re able to find options that are good for both parties and still ensure our customers are able to travel,” he says. This people-first attitude underscores Stefan’s approach to making important financial decisions. Because to Stefan, the numbers are more than figures—they represent opportunities to help teachers share the world with their students.
“When you’re staring at the numbers, it’s important to remember your impact on the traveler,” says Stefan. “We’re the strongest when we keep the customer at the forefront. If the teachers and students who choose to travel with us are happy, everyone is happy.”

A former math student and pro baseball player, Stefan didn’t plan on a career in finance––until he found EF Education First.

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