In My Shoes
- Location: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
- Website: https://liveinmyshoes.org/
- Hiring for: Executive Director
About In My Shoes
In My Shoes, a faith-based maternity home serving pregnant women experiencing homelessness founded in 2016, has grown over the past decade into a thriving and supportive community for women all over the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. This organization has become a refuge for women in need, equipping them with financial and educational resources, as well as emotional and spiritual resources. Committed to fulfilling the short-term and long-term needs of the women in their care, the team at In My Shoes is devoted to helping women and children build better futures through compassionate care and support.
At its center was Founder and Executive Director Maria Puccini, in 2016 she created In My Shoes from the ground up, created the vision, and was the first employee. Over the last decade she was an excellent fundraiser, a visionary leader, and constantly put others before herself, but in more recent years Maria welcomed a major change in her own life. Becoming a mother herself gave Maria a new perspective to her mission with In My Shoes, but this perspective led her to realize her own desire to focus on her family and raising her young children. In My Shoes had been her biggest passion, and now Maria was faced with the task of finding someone who shared that same passion and could carry on the mission of In My Shoes.
Strategy and timing
When In My Shoes Founder and Executive Director Maria Puccini was faced with the decision to take a step back and retire from her position, she knew she wanted to leave In My Shoes in the hands of someone as capable, qualified, and passionate as her. Maria decided to join the rest of the team at In My Shoes on the search to find her successor, bringing valuable perspective and insight to what would be best for the organization. When the team reached out to Vanderbloemen, Director of Client Relations Ivette Naron was assigned the case, and due to her valuable experience in Women’s Ministry, there was nobody more capable than Ivette to lead this search. Alongside Ivette was Recruiting Operations Manager Emily Hernandez-Basquez, having worked with Ivette on a number of searches in the past, Emily was confident that between the two of them, these “Vander-ladies” would bring together an excellent slate of qualified candidates for In My Shoes. Appearing on this stellar slate was standout candidate Saundra Halstead.
About Saundra Halstead
Saundra Halstead was the standout candidate of the search. Her professional background and personal life experiences drive her determination and dedication to breaking cycles of poverty and empowering women in crisis. She’s an experienced nonprofit leader with a heart for serving single mothers and their children. Saundra’s valuable experience, fresh perspective and new ideas for the future of the organization, as well as her unbridled passion for the greater mission of In My Shoes, made her stand out to Maria Puccini as someone who could continue the organization she had created.
While Mariah Puccini may have taken a step back from the organization she founded, we are sure In My Shoes is in the hands of a capable successor. We look forward to hearing of all that is accomplished with Saundra Halstead at the helm.
