Paula Fazli
Paula Hurley Fazli co-founded Sage Search Partners in 1999 and co-led the firm for the next 25 years. In March 2024, Paula began a new chapter for herself and Sage Search by becoming Senior Vice President and Higher Education Co-Lead at Lindauer. In this senior leadership role, Paula carries forward the legacy of Sage Search as she continues to guide organizations through leadership transitions and positions them for future success.
Over the course of her respected career in executive search, Paula has partnered with hundreds of higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and foundations to recruit exceptional individuals for a range of leadership positions including presidents and others in academic affairs, student affairs, enrollment management, administration and finance, human resources, research administration, and institutional planning. Strategic and insightful, Paula has extensive experience collaborating with search committees and decision-makers at the highest level and helping her institutional clients to navigate leadership transitions.
She has conducted searches for academic and top administrative leaders at a number of leading colleges, education-related nonprofits, and music and art conservatories, including Beloit College, Berklee College of Music, Boston Arts Academy, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Earlham College, Emerson College, Harvard University, Longy School of Music, MIT, Princeton University, and Stanford University.
Paula graduated from Harvard University, cum laude, and received her Master’s degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Early in her career, she worked in production management at the American Repertory Theatre. She then joined Orion Consultants, a market research and executive search firm with clients in the financial services industry. After graduate school, Paula held a variety of administrative positions, including Career Specialist at the Boston Private Industry Council, Founding Program Director for the National Academy Foundation’s programs in the Boston Public Schools, and Chief of Staff to the High School Superintendent in Boston. She has served on boards and committees of local and national organizations and is an avid tennis and platform tennis player.
Over the course of her respected career in executive search, Paula has partnered with hundreds of higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and foundations to recruit exceptional individuals for a range of leadership positions including presidents and others in academic affairs, student affairs, enrollment management, administration and finance, human resources, research administration, and institutional planning. Strategic and insightful, Paula has extensive experience collaborating with search committees and decision-makers at the highest level and helping her institutional clients to navigate leadership transitions.
She has conducted searches for academic and top administrative leaders at a number of leading colleges, education-related nonprofits, and music and art conservatories, including Beloit College, Berklee College of Music, Boston Arts Academy, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Earlham College, Emerson College, Harvard University, Longy School of Music, MIT, Princeton University, and Stanford University.
Paula graduated from Harvard University, cum laude, and received her Master’s degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Early in her career, she worked in production management at the American Repertory Theatre. She then joined Orion Consultants, a market research and executive search firm with clients in the financial services industry. After graduate school, Paula held a variety of administrative positions, including Career Specialist at the Boston Private Industry Council, Founding Program Director for the National Academy Foundation’s programs in the Boston Public Schools, and Chief of Staff to the High School Superintendent in Boston. She has served on boards and committees of local and national organizations and is an avid tennis and platform tennis player.
