MADELEINE THAKUR

PRESIDENT & CEO, THE CHILDREN’S MOVEMENT OF FLORIDA, MIAMI

The Children’s Movement of Florida, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, is the state’s leading voice on early childhood. It works with elected leaders, business champions and parents and educators to align efforts to address early learning, children’s health care and parental support. Thakur has led its diverse, multigenerational team of 10 as CEO for two years, having served in senior leadership for eight years.

EDUCATION: University of Chicago (BA)

FIRST JOB: My first paid job was working for a litigation support company that blew up trial exhibits and facilitated electronic discovery. A large portion of the business came from a maritime law firm down the hall, so I learned a lot about cruise ship accidents.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: If I hadn’t gotten into this work, I would be a happy co-owner of a second-hand furniture shop with my mother. We used to spend a lot of time scouring vintage and thrift shops for pieces we wanted to refurbish for ourselves.

PASSION PROJECT: When we moved into our home in Miami, I wanted to change our small, urban garden to draw more water down into the aquifer instead of watering a lawn. I also wanted our future children to have a great variety of shapes of leaves to explore. We planted more than 50 species of Florida native plants that are thriving nine years later and are attracting many birds and butterflies for us to enjoy with two kids today!