With Fazli’s arrival, Lindauer carries forward the legacy of Sage Search Partners, a national retained executive search firm Fazli co-founded in 1999 and has led for the past 25 years.
Lindauer, one of the world’s leading retained executive search firms serving nonprofits, has announced the arrival of Paula Fazli as Senior Vice President. Bringing an extensive track record of client success and complementary search expertise, Fazli will co-lead the firm’s Higher Education practice with Faith Montgomery and will expand its executive recruitment and talent services.
As co-founder of Sage Search Partners, Fazli has partnered with hundreds of higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and foundations to recruit exceptional individuals for a variety of leadership positions, from provosts, deans, and department chairs to senior leaders in human resources, finance, diversity and inclusion, academic affairs, student affairs, research administration, educational development, and enrollment management. She is also known for her expertise in the arts and a range of other programmatic and administrative roles across the nonprofit sector.
Taking a comprehensive approach tailored to each client’s unique needs, goals, and circumstances, Fazli is nationally recognized for high-touch service that guides organizations through leadership transitions and positions them for future success.
“Throughout her respected career in executive search, Paula has helped some of the most prestigious institutions in the country navigate periods of change and bring in leaders who shape future generations,” said Lindauer CEO Deb Taft. “Her commitment to serving as a trusted client partner in every aspect of an executive search aligns strongly with Lindauer’s own philosophy. Our shared values, overlapping client rosters, and combined networks create energizing opportunities to deepen and expand the services Lindauer offers institutions in higher education and across the nonprofit landscape. I am thrilled to welcome Paula as a senior leader of our firm.”
Founded in 1997, Lindauer has historic roots in conducting rigorous national searches in fundraising and advancement—for which it still holds the top market share in the United States. In recent years, the firm has broadened its geographic scope and expanded its recruitment services to a range of executive leadership and C-Suite roles, serving clients across the US and on five continents.
In joining Lindauer, Fazli strengthens the firm’s strategic ability to respond to increasing demand for top nonprofit leaders and talent management solutions that unlock the potential of people and organizations.
“I’m delighted to carry on the legacy of Sage Search Partners with Lindauer, a firm that I have long admired in the nonprofit executive search field,” said Paula Fazli. “Lindauer consultants serve many of the world’s leading causes and offer their personalized, values-aligned solutions to an impressive array of clients. Behind every Lindauer search is an expert infrastructure of research, data, marketing, and administrative support that drives client success. I’m looking forward to bringing Sage Search Partners’ 25 years into this exciting next chapter with Lindauer.”
Faith Montgomery, Lindauer Vice President and Managing Director, notes the impact Fazli will have on Lindauer’s Higher Education practice, which the two will co-lead.
“Paula arrives at a moment when the landscape is shifting dramatically for our clients in higher education,” said Montgomery. “To achieve their goals during this time of dramatic change, educational institutions are doubling down on recruiting high-performing senior leadership teams. With Paula’s arrival, we’re expanding our cross-functional expertise and coordinating our executive recruitment services for a range of roles in higher education, ensuring cohesion within and across the teams we recruit, engage, and develop in partnership with our clients.”
About Lindauer
Lindauer is one of the world’s leading retained executive search firms focused on nonprofits. Perennially recognized on Forbes’ list of best executive recruiting firms, Lindauer has been a recruitment partner and trusted advisor to organizations of all sizes and maturities across the arts, education, healthcare, science, advocacy, policy, and charity sectors. With renowned expertise in fundraising and advancement, Lindauer today offers a wide range of search, leadership, and talent management services to clients across the United States and on five continents.