Megan Gawlak

Mighty proud of her Polish heritage and having been born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Megan Gawlak now calls Washington DC her home, where she holds a senior position with WeWork, the worldwide coworking enterprise. Her presence on the NPAFE board gives us access to her remarkable business know-how, including her special skill at defining which goals ought to come first, which should come next, and the right strategy and tactics for achieving them.

A truly energetic human being with a non-stop smile coupled with an unending passion for discovering new places, people, and friendships, Megan often speaks of how rewarding it is when she is challenged by the time and place of wherever she might be to discover the unexpected and then incorporate that new knowledge into her life and work.

Asked who stands out as a mentor who helps shape her perspective on business management and how to get things done, Megan’s response is both surprising and compelling: “No one person, really. What I have always relished is facing a challenge head on and the chance it gives me to figure out the solution on my own.”

That appetite to take on the unknown carries over to her impact on shaping NPAFE’s value proposition for the performing arts. Megan points to the often stark differences she sees between the business world in which she lives and NPAFE’s mission and its day-to-day work, but also what those two worlds commonly share. “NPAFE is really unlike anything I’ve ever been involved with. On the one hand, I’m learning so much that I never expected would be part of my world. And on the other, recognizing the opportunities NPAFE has and what it must do to take advantage of them is very much like the ones that are part of my own daily workfare.”

That Megan is willing to actively lend us the time of her mind and her business experience is indeed NPAFE’s good fortune.

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