Career Path of a Chief of Staff at an Education Non-Profit
Brian's career path, beginning with college work in a Writing Center, unexpectedly led to a passion for education, culminating in 6 years at Teach for America where they "saw the impact...and a desire to see impact at scale." This passion propelled further roles in school district leadership and education consulting, ultimately culminating in their current Chief of Staff position at a policy and advocacy non-profit focused on maximizing "effectiveness and impact for students."
Education, Leadership Development, Non-profit, Career Transition, Impact
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Brian Gilson
Chief of Staff
Education Non-Profit
Denison University, 2007
Education, Lipscomb Unviersity
English
Education
Operations and Project Management
Video Highlights
1. Brian's career path highlights the importance of starting with roles that develop a passion for education. His experience in the Writing Center and then as a teacher with Teach For America solidified his interest in education and its impact. He highlights the importance of working in roles where you can see the direct impact you have on students.
2. Brian's career trajectory showcases the value of diverse experiences. He transitioned from teaching to roles in leadership development, HR, and consulting, showcasing his ability to adapt and learn new skills. This adaptability makes him a strong candidate for diverse roles and highlights the potential for career growth.
3. Brian's career demonstrates the impact of seeking opportunities to work at scale. His transition from working directly with students and teachers to roles in coaching, leadership, and consulting reflects a conscious effort to increase his impact on the education system. His current role as Chief of Staff allows him to influence the organization's effectiveness and amplify its impact.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
My experiences in college really shaped my career path. I worked in the Writing Center, which gave me great experience working with students and sparked a passion for education and teaching.
Even though I come from a family of teachers—a fourth generation, in fact—I never thought I would go into education myself. However, after college, I started working as a teacher through Teach for America.
That experience was extremely challenging but also incredibly fulfilling. It truly shaped the rest of my career over the last 15 years. I could obviously talk a lot about that time.
After Teach for America, I moved on to work for the organization in several different roles. I coached teachers, did leadership development work, and was even the interim executive director for a short period.
I was compelled by a desire to see impact in the education space at scale and to continue positively impacting many students. After about six years on staff, I was ready for a change.
I received a fellowship and worked for a school district in the Memphis area. I was essentially the head of HR for a small group of schools, which was another great, albeit challenging, experience where I learned a ton.
One of the lessons I learned early in my career, which I still hold close today, is the significant impact of teachers and leaders on schools and students. This has been a driving force throughout my career.
For personal reasons, I moved from Tennessee to Texas. There, I started working for an organization called the Holder Center, which focuses on developing leaders in the education space within public school districts across Texas.
In a consulting capacity, I used my experience in leadership development and HR to help school districts think more strategically about developing and retaining their talent, similar to how private sector companies operate.
Recently, within the past few months, I transitioned to the Pi Network as Chief of Staff. I've learned over time that I'm good at and enjoy helping people and organizations maximize their effectiveness and impact.
My role at Pi Network is to continue maximizing the effectiveness of our organization and our staff and leaders. This allows us to amplify our impact for students.
We work with policy and advocacy organizations in states and localities around the country, ultimately impacting students. That's where we are now.
Advizer Personal Links
no