Hello SAIL Community,
I'd like to take a moment to share a bit more about the person at the helm of this great SAIL adventure. That would be me, Tara Furiani, but let's dive beyond titles and get into the nitty-gritty. Who am I? What have I done? And most importantly, why am I here with you?
I'm a proud LGBTQ community member, a former corporate executive, a leadership development enthusiast, and an advocate for workplace fairness. I am a woman with a unique lived experience - an adopted white person raised by a Black Father and White Mother in predominantly white Orange County, CA. My upbringing has shaped me, but it's my experiences in the corporate world that have honed my leadership vision and fuelled the creation of SAIL.
I've spent 13 years as a Chief People Officer, diving into the mechanics of what makes people tick, what drives them, and what holds them back. I've seen leadership at its best and at its worst, and I've been in the trenches, fighting to change the game.
But my path wasn't always clear. Early in my career, I faced the trials of a broken culture at an organization harboring predators, despite previously having deep loyalty towards it. In my tenure there, I learned the power of my voice and the importance of creating an inclusive, empowering work environment. And so, my journey to building better workplace cultures began.
Throughout my career, I've trained in numerous leadership and behavioral programs, including Dale Carnegie, Langevin, Predictive Index, Franklin Covey, Landmark Learning, Ed Foreman, DiSC, Meyers Briggs, Now Discover Your Strengths, and Love Languages at Work, among others. These programs, coupled with my hands-on experience in workplaces, have shaped my approach to leadership and formed the foundation for SAIL.
Yet, I'm not just a collection of my experiences and credentials. I'm a person who believes in the power of authenticity and openness. I'm not afraid to share my own struggles with grief, overwork, and self-doubt. I've been there, in the thick of it, trying to balance my personal life with the demands of leadership. And it's through these challenges, that I've learned the value of self-care, the first pillar of SAIL.
The development of SAIL has been an exciting journey, combining my professional expertise with my personal experiences and vision for leadership. The aim of SAIL is not just to impart leadership skills but to inspire a transformation, a personal voyage towards self-empowerment, and effective, inclusive leadership.
And now, we are here, setting out on this SAIL voyage together. I am here not just to guide, but to learn from you, to share in your triumphs, to offer support in your challenges, and to cheer on your growth.
So, let's hoist the sails and chart this course together.
Our journey is only just beginning.
Tara Furiani
Founder, SAIL Leadership Program
