Mikaela Ann Smith
About Mikaela Ann Smith
Mikaela Ann Smith is a founding member and CEO of Smith & Whitten, with extensive experience in executive search and recruitment across various tech companies. She is fluent in multiple languages and has a passion for organizational design, alongside personal interests in yoga, travel, and gardening.
Work at Women Defining AI
Mikaela Ann Smith serves as a Founding Member at Women Defining AI, a role she has held since 2023. This organization focuses on empowering women in the field of artificial intelligence, promoting diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. Her involvement reflects her commitment to fostering a supportive community for women professionals in AI.
Professional Experience
Mikaela has extensive experience in recruitment and talent acquisition across various high-profile companies. She worked at Twitter as Lead International Recruiter from 2012 to 2015 and held multiple roles at Slack, including Global Director of Executive Search and Leadership Recruiting from 2018 to 2021. She also served as Senior Director of Global Executive Search at Salesforce after its acquisition of Slack. Her career includes positions at Vudu, TAC Worldwide @ Microsoft, and Chainalysis Inc., where she was Global Vice President of Talent.
Education and Expertise
Mikaela studied at Cabrillo College, where she developed foundational skills that contributed to her career in recruitment and organizational design. She is fluent in French and English, with additional proficiency in Spanish and Italian. Her passion for organizational design is evident in her approach to recruitment, where she emphasizes the importance of aligning talent with organizational needs.
Background and Interests
Mikaela enjoys yoga, travel, and exploring different cultures in her personal time. She also engages in growing her own fruits and vegetables as a hobby. Her diverse interests contribute to her holistic approach to work and life, emphasizing balance and well-being.
Achievements in Recruitment
Throughout her career, Mikaela has held significant roles that have shaped recruitment strategies in various organizations. At Slack, she was involved in leading technical recruiting efforts and served as Co-Lead of the Mahogany Employee Resource Group. Her work has contributed to enhancing diversity and inclusion in hiring practices across the tech industry.