Jessica Efird (A.B. '05, Psychology and History double major, English minor) has over 10 years of experience as an HR Generalist and holds PHR, SHRM-CP, and PHR-CA certifications. Her career has included roles in HR, academic editing, and account management, so she has personal experience in making career transitions. Jessica is currently self-employed/an independent contractor in both HR and editing roles. 

Dana founded Hudson Gate Partners in 2010. Hudson Gate is a 100% female owned, New York based, boutique executive search firm with deep expertise in placing talent at leading private equity firms, hedge funds, VC firms, investment managers, fintechs and banks. Before founding Hudson Gate, Dana previously spent over ten years at Lehman Brothers, in both New York and London, where she served as a senior strategic business partner to both the Investment Management and Investment Banking divisions. Dana has an MBA from Stanford University and a BA from Duke University.

Alex Smith is head of Strategy and Execution HCM Public Sector at Oracle. Nationally Recognized Cross-Industry HR Innovator. 2019 TN SHRM  HR Management Excellence Award Recipient. Business leader with public and private sector HR experience, who has demonstrated the ability to transform the diversity composition of top senior leadership teams, develop strategies to hire 1000s of employees, drive HR transformation and culture change.

I am currently an analyst in the Industrial Practice at Spencer Stuart, meaning I mainly serve clients in the Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Manufacturing, and Chemicals industries. I am passionate about finding the right executives to improve organizations as they address important issues like diversity and sustainability.

Ralph’s expertise is all aspects of human resources management. He is able to provide insights to the HR function that will assist in the job search process including networking, job interviews, and assessing cultural fit. Additional insights are provided to assist those with minimal HR skills in navigating careers after onboarding an organization. This includes employment branding and engagement; employee relations, diversity, and compliance; reward systems and strategies; leadership and succession planning; and the workplace impact of information technology.  Ralph volunteers his services and there is no charge to Duke Alumni.

People professional with deep business partner experience. Career experience has spanned recruitment, generalist, and internal communications responsibilities within fashion, sports, and non-profit organizations. 

Patricia Elias is Chief People and Places Officer at CSG Systems, responsible for all aspects of human resources and workplace management, attracting and retaining top talent, and building a safe, inclusive, and diverse work environment for CSG employees worldwide.  Prior to CSG, Patricia served as Chief People and Legal Officer for ServiceSource International, overseeing global human resources and all legal and compliance matters for the company.  She also served as corporate counsel for ViaWest and Flextronics, and as a full-time lecturer of law and public policy at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business. Patricia began her career practicing corporate and securities law at the firms Hogan Lovells; Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison; and Holland & Hart. She holds a J.D. from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Psychology from Duke University.  In her free time, she enjoys hiking and in-line skating, and supports the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado. 

An Executive, Life, and Leadership Coach, I work with bright, motivated people who want to live more powerful, less stressful lives. Whether you are embarking on your career, are at the pinnacle (so far) of your professional life, or are somewhere in between, you have ample opportunities for growth and increased fulfillment. 

Knowing who you are and what you really truly want is where it all begins. Early in our engagement, you'll be given the Energy Leadership Index™ (ELI) Assessment, which captures how you currently perceive and approach work and life. Through your personalized debrief, you'll learn practical strategies to fortify what's working and shift what's not.

Together we'll embark on a rich process of creating a life you love. Expect to be deeply listened to, heard, valued, challenged, and supported as I bring my full intuitive self and nearly 20 years of experience as a business consultant and coach. For the rest of your life, you can enjoy the benefits of our work. 

I offer a 15% discount for Duke students, alumni, and staff.

Certifications: Certified Professional Coach, Certified Leadership Coach, Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and Graduate of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC).