Staying focused on people: Eleacia’s EF journey

in People· 4 min read

28 years | 11 roles | 5 divisions | 1 location

Eleacia Fredette's EF journey spans 28 years, 11 roles, and 5 divisions, all rooted in one location: Boston. Through it all she's shown a deep passion for people: in both the customer experience and the staff experience. From starting in sales as a Tour Consultant with EF Educational Tours to now leading a People team at EF Academy, Eleacia has built a meaningful career across multiple divisions.

In this Q&A, Eleacia reflects on the pivotal moments, lessons, and opportunities that have defined her path here, and what keeps her excited to come to work.

How did you first find out about EF, and how did you start working here?

Back in the day, job postings were in the Boston Globe. I saw an ad that said, "Do you like to travel?" and I thought, "yes". I came to the interview, and we talked about travel, which was so fun. At the time, I didn't know I was interviewing for a sales job that sold travel. Come to find out, I was pretty good at it.

Celebrating our EF Academy top performers in California

Can you tell us a little bit about your career trajectory? Where did you start, and how did you get to where you are today?

I started my career at EF in sales as a Tour Consultant for EF Educational Tours and rose through the ranks of sales and sales leadership. Early on, I realized that the key to my success was a deep passion for the customer experience.

In addition to my time at EF, I’ve also owned a hotel, which reinforced a hospitality mindset I bring to everything I do — anticipating needs, sweating the details, and thinking of work as an experience, not a process. That perspective helped shape how I built my sales career around what I still affectionately call the “3 Rs”: Repeat business, Referrals, and Reputation.

From sales, I moved into customer relations and then market development, where I helped create, refine, and strengthen our full product offering. I was later asked to lead a transformation for another division, again focused on putting the customer at the center and ensuring our people, processes, and technology were aligned to support that vision.

While my work always centered on the customer, I knew our people were the true drivers of success, which ultimately led me to work in people teams at EF. Today, as Head of People for EF Academy, I’m able to bring together my passion for both the student and staff experience.

The biggest insights come with actually getting to know our customers, like Sister Christine, our all-time biggest EF Educational Tours Group Leader

On location in Paris scouting fun activities for our students to do while on tour

EF Academy leadership team dressed up for an offsite in California

How have job opportunities happened for you during your time at EF?

Opportunities happen at EF when you step up and take initiative. Show your passion for something and start contributing even before you have the next role. The last 3 roles I have had at EF didn't exist before I stepped into them. Do good work. Always. And let your contributions speak for themselves.

Looking back over your time at EF, what are some pivotal moments that shaped your career path?

At EF, we are often given responsibilities that may feel too big in the moment, but the leaders I have worked with have trusted me and seen my potential and ability, maybe even before I could. I took on big roles where I felt "growing pains" but that is when I truly knew I was being stretched and challenged and that has been a gift.

One example of a very "EF" moment was when I was tasked with being part of bringing EF's 50th anniversary events to life. I left my regular job for a year and joined a small but mighty group of EFers who created a global event that eventually got us into the Guinness Book of World Records. We also got an EF flag into space at the International Space Station, hosted a day with world leaders in Boston, and choreographed an EF dance that employees around the world performed.

The EF flag in space

Is there a specific moment or project that’s stood out as the most rewarding in your career?

One of the most rewarding experiences of my career was being selected as one of five staff members to conduct a cross-departmental review of our most popular program. We examined it end-to-end, looking at how it was sold and produced to how it was delivered and measured. That work ultimately set the standard for evaluating our entire portfolio.

We even went undercover to observe students in real time, including watching how they engaged in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. Those insights led to meaningful changes that improved the student and teacher experience and how we structured our teams internally.

What was really impactful was the trust placed in us by leadership. We had freedom to challenge assumptions and drive real change. That culture of curiosity and continuous improvement is a big reason I’ve stayed at EF for so long, and this project remains a true highlight of my career.

The team reviewing our top-selling program

One of the worksheets, examining the program and how it could be improved

What is the best part of your job?

The work we do is life-changing. Being about to positively impact the trajectory of a young person's world, and see them come into their own is inspiring.

Throughout your career and across multiple divisions, what keeps you passionate about working at EF?

It's the opportunity to work with smart, talented, engaged, and energetic colleagues who bring out the best in you, either while working on a challenging project or laughing until we cry. There is always someone to cheer you on, and I love being that person for others when they need it too. Also, whenever you go to another EF office to visit colleagues, it feels like home.

Bonding with leadership teams at kickoff events and offsites

What does work-life balance mean to you? How have you been able to find that at EF?

This has meant different things to me at different times. Because EF is full of passionate, driven people (in all time zones around the globe), I find it hard sometimes to "turn off" during the week. However, I fully embrace the downtime when I get it and recently I enjoyed an additional 4-week sabbatical—a benefit EF offer to staff when they reach their ten year anniversary—this was an incredible opportunity to rest, recharge, and spend time with family.

What makes working at EF different from other companies?

The products we offer are life-changing, the people you work with are some of the smartest and most passionate people I have ever known (with many becoming close friends), and you can build a meaningful career here.

Enjoying the beach with family in St John, Virgin Islands, while on sabbatical

Eleacia's daughter heading to Costa Rica with her EF backpack—truly an EF family affair!

Any advice for someone navigating their own career?

Be a force for good and say yes as much as you can. Say yes to a project, yes to a new role, yes to leading your colleagues, yes to the difficult conversation. You may not know what you are doing in the moment, but someone believes in you enough to extend trust that you can do it. So go for it and enjoy those "growing pains."

With my sister, Erin, who also works at EF, at a kickoff event in Fire Canyon, Nevada

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About EF journey stories

No two EF careers are the same. People switch products, explore new functions, move across continents, or choose to stay and grow in the same area for decades. We’re purpose built to encourage entrepreneurialism, which means there’s always something new and exciting to work on—and you can do it all while staying within the same company. There are limitless opportunities. You’re free to steer your own course, and go as far and as high as your talent will take you. These are just some of those stories.