Kandace Elam

With over a decade of executive placement experience, Kandace has been dubbed a “ninja of recruiting” by her peers. As Director of GTM Talent at Menlo, she spends her time cultivating relationships with top sales and marketing executives across Menlo’s focus areas, concentrating on SaaS, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. She also plays a critical role in helping founders build out their boards, with an eye toward diversity. Kandace views talent placement as fitting pieces into the larger puzzle of an organization, so her approach is thoughtful and methodical. She looks for candidates that can help the business meet its long-term goals, who have the personal fortitude to push through tough moments. In addition, she asks, “Are they a good storyteller?” She believes that a sign of a great executive is someone who can take complex ideas and paint a picture that anyone can understand.

Kandace’s first exposure to executive search was through an internship at Heidrick & Struggles during her junior year of college. Upon graduation, she joined Daversa Partners, where she spent 10 years as an executive recruiter. In her most recent role as Head of Talent Networks, Kandace helped build a new division within Daversa called Dreamscape, creating more Black representation at the board and executive levels of tech companies.

Kandace earned her bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia and completed additional coursework at Black Venture Institute—a program dedicated to teaching Black operators how to become angel and venture investors—hosted by UC Berkeley in partnership with BLCK VC, Operator Collective, and Salesforce Ventures. Based on the East Coast, she spends her free time chasing adventure and staying active, whether it’s trail riding, bouldering, or practicing yoga.