Deacon Spotlight: Maggie Kuhn
Maggie Kuhn (2021, BA in Sociology and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies)
Associate Director, Workforce Strategy at Braven in New York, NY
Tell us about your current job role and employer. What are you currently working on?
As of March 2026, I am Associate Director, Workforce Strategy at Braven! Braven is a national nonprofit that prepares college students to secure a strong first opportunity after college graduation through a career-accelerating program. In my role, I support students towards strong post-college career outcomes through individual career coaching, strategic engagement, and intentional student programming. My current focus is getting to know Braven and settling into my new role with my team!
What key personal and/or career experiences led you to where you are today?
I’ve noticed that my most pivotal life decisions are always informed by my relationships and potential opportunities for growth. Looking back, I can pinpoint specific moments when I chose to go with what “felt right,” which, when I really break that down, means the decision I made aligned with my two biggest values: connection with others and curiosity.
Like many alumni after graduation, I needed some direction, so I started signing up for APCDC programs. Not only did I benefit from the reflective guidance of the Young Alumni Mentoring Group and helpful career workshops, but I also cultivated a close relationship with the team. When a role opened to work for the APCDC, I jumped on it, which ultimately led to my working at Wake!
As an alum and staff member, I really leaned in and soaked up as much as I could. After almost two years of working at Wake and getting my feet underneath me as an “adult,” I felt ready for something new, so I set a goal to move to a new city.
After about six months of intense job searching and countless coffee chats, I landed a role at Columbia and headed up to New York in the ceremonial U-Haul. I worked in Alumni Relations for about a year and learned a lot about program management, mentorship, and relationships.
Now, I am super excited to be beginning my new role at Braven! Underpinning a general aptitude for hard work and dedication to a goal, I credit my growth to leading with curiosity and cultivating a strong network. I would not be where I am without the drive to learn and build relationships.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job? How do you navigate that challenge?
Time management is always tricky. With many different projects and initiatives, it can be difficult to decide where to start and discern what is most important. Getting clear on how my work fits into overarching goals helps clarify my priorities, which I can then translate into lists. Lots and lots of lists.
I’ve learned to work with my brain, which, for me, means setting a series of reminders to maintain my focus throughout the week or month, depending on the project’s scope.
Additionally, I’ve found that I can save mental energy by “closing the loop” on smaller tasks as they pop up. Instead of putting off a response to an email, I’ll take two minutes to finish the task while it’s top of mind.
What advice would you give to Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?
First thing, take it all one step at a time and ask good questions. Curiosity can sometimes open doors you didn’t know were there!
Second, writing is thinking. If you can’t put your thoughts into words, you may not even know what you think.
We know that relationships are important for any kind of development. How do you build and maintain your network?
In all relationships, leading with curiosity sets the stage for a deeper connection. I ask intentional questions because I believe it is the most effective way of getting to know someone. Taking the time to dig deeper demonstrates you really care, value their insights, and want to be present with them.
To that point, building quality connections with people, both personally and professionally, requires showing up. Be intentional about the time you spend with others. You don’t need to say yes to everything (and you shouldn’t), but there has never been a time I truly regretted showing up for someone or something I care about (no matter any inconvenience)!
Tell us about your mentoring relationships. What impact have these relationships had on your career and life?
Mentoring has become the defining piece of my day-to-day work, although I have actually never had a formal mentor. For me, mentorship has shown up more informally across many different relationships, both as a mentor and mentee myself.
I have different people for different things, like my own informal mentorship web. I know who to call with questions about job searching, apartment hunting in NYC, or setting goals at work. Building mentoring relationships has shaped my perspective, encouraged my growth, and played a crucial role in my career path so far.
What advice would you give to current Wake Forest students and/or young alumni who are interested in working in your industry?
Take control over your own personal and/or career growth! Find someone doing something that seems interesting to you and reach out to them. Our world is so relational, and it’s up to us to take advantage of that.
What’s next for your career? What future goals or plans are you pursuing?
Ultimately, I would love to manage a team and continue honing in on mentoring and career education. I am excited to continue growing in my career! I am proud of the path I’ve taken and look forward to exploring what’s next for me.
Story published in May 2026. For current updates about Maggie, visit her LinkedIn profile.