Emily Plahanski Named ‘Future of the Executive Search Profession’

Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants Future of the Profession presented at annual global conference in New York City  

Today at their annual AESC Global Conference in New York, the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) bestowed Emily Plahanski, Stanton Chase Director and Global Practice Lead, E-Commerce and Direct-To-Consumer, with the AESC Future of the Profession award for significant accomplishments, work ethic, and impact on the profession at an early stage in her career. 

Stanton Chase Global Chair Kristof Reynvoet says, “As a leading executive search firm, Stanton Chase is dedicated to promoting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that upholds values like gender equality and intergenerational diversity both internally and throughout our wider community. We are thrilled to announce that Emily Plahanski, one of our esteemed colleagues, has been recognized with the prestigious AESC 2023 Future of the Profession award, a testament to her exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication to our core values and culture.” 

Most recently, Emily has played a key role in driving Stanton Chase’s new international commercial strategy toward success, leading the multi-pronged and fully integrated sales, marketing and business development go-to-market refresh. Her efforts have already resulted in elevated search opportunities and improved client satisfaction.  

Additionally, she volunteers to mentor and is deeply involved in the development of human capital and talent management best practices within the organization worldwide. Emily even led a global team on creating new internal and external documentation and marketing materials that articulate Stanton Chase’s best practices.  

One colleague calls Emily “the epitome of the future of our firm and our profession–proactive, creative and always driving to do better.” 

In addition to her efforts within her firm, Emily has proved her dedication and value to clients through her leadership, “grit, creativity, and tenacity.” One past colleague says that Emily is a natural “people person” who “innately understands the psychology of people,” which has allowed her to build “high-trust relationships” with clients. One client explains, “From the very beginning, Emily impressed us with her professionalism, expertise, and dedication to finding the best possible candidates for our company. She took the time to really understand our company culture, our business goals, and the specific qualities we were looking for in these new positions.” 

Another client who worked with Emily states, “During our work together, Emily displayed amazing talent and forward-thinking leadership. She is a trailblazer in her profession and always brings innovative solutions to every situation. Emily stood out to me from the beginning because of her determination, open communication style and hard work ethic. Most importantly, she succeeded in helping us find the best-fit candidates for some hard-to-fill roles.” 

Emily also:  

• Serves on the board of the TEARS Foundation of Maryland 
• Was awarded Howard County’s Finest 39 Under 39 
• Is an active committee member of Executive Alliance for Women in Maryland 
• Holds two advanced certificates from AESC and Cornell University’s ILR School 
• Is certified as a Hogan Assessment Consultant 

Prior to joining Stanton Chase, Emily was a Managing Director at SHIFT Recruiting, Director of Strategic Partnerships at SIG, an Alera Group Company, a leading national employee benefits firm. She has also worked for Roth Staffing Companies and Robert Half International. She holds a B.S. in business management and marketing from St. John Fisher University’s Bittner School of Business, which is an accredited member of AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. 

Reynvoet explains, “Emily is not only a credit to Stanton Chase, but she has also made significant contributions to the executive search and leadership advisory profession. Her achievements have left an indelible mark on the world. She consistently demonstrates a relentless commitment to delivering exceptional results for our clients, engaging collaboratively with colleagues from all corners of the globe, and exemplifying the very best of Stanton Chase. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Emily on this well-deserved accolade.” 

Karen Greenbaum, AESC President & CEO, commented: “Emily Plahanski truly represents the future of the profession, with her expertise, energy, integrity, and creativity. It is a privilege to recognize her with AESC’s Future of the Profession Award.”   

About the AESC Future of the Profession Award  

Awarded since 2015, the AESC Future of the Profession Award is designed to recognize the next generation of leaders in executive search and leadership consulting. It honors innovation and forward-thinking leadership and recipients are viewed as trailblazers in the profession. 

About the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants  

Since 1959, AESC has set the quality standard for the executive search and leadership consulting profession. AESC Members represent 16,000+ trusted professionals in 1,200+ offices, spanning 70+ countries. AESC Members are recognized experts providing consulting services in the areas of leaders, teams and culture to the world’s leading organizations. They leverage their access and expertise to place more than 100,000 executives each year in board of directors and C-level positions across industry sectors. Dedicated to strengthening leadership together, AESC and its members share a deep commitment to the highest quality standards in executive search and leadership consulting—for the benefit of clients and the profession. We Shape. Connect. Educate. Innovate. Learn more about us at aesc.org. For AESC’s career service connecting executive-level candidates to the world’s leading executive search firms, visit bluesteps.com.