"Do Good, Kid."

Melissa Madzel

Founder & Principal, Do Good Connections

Do Good Connections started with three words spoken at a school bus stop. When Melissa's father told her every morning "Do good, kid", he wasn't just offering parental advice – he was planting the seeds of a vision. Observing her mother’s master networking skills crystallized that vision.

Melissa Madzel has transformed executive recruitment from a conventional talent search into an art form of intentional disruption and activism. The work has shifted, but the mission has always remained the same: Partnering with social justice organizations for Black, Brown, and Queer leaders to thrive.

Organizations like the Drug Policy Alliance, Groundswell Fund, the American LGBTQ+ Museum, and over 70 other nonprofits and foundations have turned to Melissa when they seek meaningful leadership transitions. She understands that true transformation starts with trust.

It's this distinctive blend of professional excellence and collaborative spirit that has shaped her journey from Managing Director at Koya Partners|Diversified Search Group to Managing Partner at Axis Talent Partners, and now to the helm of her own firm, Do Good Connections.

As Vice President on the Board of Directors for Stonewall Community Foundation, she puts her philosophy into practice: Leadership isn't just about who sits at the table; it's about who has the power to reshape it.

Melissa’s work transcends traditional leadership placement—it reimagines who gets to lead, and why that matters for all of us.

Melissa’s credentials speak to her expertise: a Master's in social work from the University of Pennsylvania, a BA in human services and theater performance from Northeastern University, and a BoardSource Certificate in Nonprofit Board Consulting. But Melissa's true gift lies in how she helps people and organizations see themselves more clearly, creating the conditions where both candor and compassion can coexist during transition moments where organizations are bringing in new leaders.

From her home base in Brooklyn, where she lives with her wife and two children, Melissa continues to orchestrate the kind of leadership transitions that don't just fill positions – they fundamentally transform organizations. Through partnerships where honesty meets understanding, where difficult truths spark practical change, everyone walks away feeling both challenged and supported on the journey ahead.

Download Melissa's Biography

“Proteus Fund engaged Melissa to do our first ever Board recruitment process using a firm and we could not be happier about the entire experience and the results. Melissa’s process is extremely inclusive and intentional, and really served as a training on best practice in Board recruitment. Her networks are also incredible which added robustly to the pool of individuals we were able to consider. The process resulted in three wonderful new Proteus Fund Board members – all of whom shared with us how taken care of by Melissa they felt during the entire process."

Paul DiDonato
President and CEO, Proteus Fund
"Melissa Madzel is an incredible hiring partner. Hiring is stressful, especially at the senior level. Everything feels make or break. Hiring with Melissa is just that, it is hiring with her. She redirects nervous or anxious energy into the hiring process be it through the questions, the screenings, or organization value testing. She is on call for any changes or hesitancies. An added bonus is that my junior hiring processes are stronger because of the work I’ve done with Melissa. She is not just invested in me coming back to her, she is invested in building better hiring process and candidate experience whether I work with her or not. Her market leadership is what we need as the world of work continues to stretch and become more dynamic."

Kassandra Frederique
Executive Director, Drug Policy Alliance
"Melissa is a master relationship builder. From beginning to end, I felt prepared and supported throughout the board recruitment process. It was clear that Melissa cared deeply about making the right match for both Groundswell and me."

Maria De La Cruz
Board Member, Groundswell Fund
"When colleagues tell me they are launching an executive search, my first recommendation is to reach out to Melissa. Having witnessed firsthand her ability to successfully structure equity-centered national searches, explore multiple candidate profiles, find diverse candidates who match those profiles, and help large and diverse boards fairly evaluate and find consensus on a candidate, I strongly recommend Melissa."

Lyle Matthew Kan
Former Interim Executive Director, CHANGE Philanthropy