Career Coaching, Events, and Resources

I've been a CEO for 15+ years and one of the top jobs of a CEO is to grow employees, advance their career, not just in your company but prepare them for after. I have helped advanced the careers of hundreds of employees, all of which have stayed and colleagues, friends and mentees. Perhaps this one small principle will make you see that I am different than most other people. In all of my companies I've had a rule where there can't be any job that doesn't have a path to grow. How about my executive assistant then? In most companies EA's stay in one job forever. All EA I've had, had a career path from EA to customer support, to account management to sales. I've grown so many administrative assistants to be sales people, and they are eternally grateful. Even the simplest job has to have a growth path otherwise employees are unhappy. I have never seen an employee leave working for me that I didn't want to see leave. It's these small but important principles that make it happen.

Fiona Taft is an exceptional career development coach with a proven history of guiding graduate students and executives toward meaningful and high-impact career outcomes. At UC Berkeley’s Master of Financial Engineering Program, she has successfully coached hundreds of students in career discovery, networking, interview preparation, and offer negotiation, contributing to industry-leading placement rates year after year. Her strategic use of data analytics to inform coaching practices, coupled with her ability to align career services with evolving industry demands, has consistently produced measurable results. At Stanford University, she coached executive education participants in enhancing their professional trajectories, helping them leverage business acumen and leadership skills for advancement. Fiona’s holistic and personalized coaching approach, grounded in deep institutional knowledge and employer engagement, makes her a standout leader in career development.

For professionals from early career through mid-level — including career pivoters and those re-entering the workforce. Career growth isn’t always linear — and that’s okay. Whether you’re just starting out, navigating a pivot, or returning after a break, I’ll help you make sense of where you are and where you want to go next. We’ll focus on positioning your story, building confidence, and approaching interviews, transitions, or re-entries with clarity and purpose. My coaching draws on 20+ years of experience hiring, mentoring, and developing professionals across multiple countries and industries — helping you move forward with structure, focus, and calm direction.

Welcome to my profile! With a unique journey from civil and environmental engineering to leading roles at top tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft, I specialize in helping individuals with non-traditional backgrounds navigate their career paths. My experience as a Technical Program Manager has equipped me with the skills to guide you in leveraging your transferrable skills and achieving your career goals. Whether you're looking to break into tech or advance within your current field, I'm here to provide personalized coaching and strategic insights. Let's work together to unlock your potential and craft a successful career trajectory. Reach out to start your journey today!

Welcome to my profile! As a career development coach with over two decades of career development experience, I specialize in helping professionals gain clarity, build confidence, and take meaningful steps toward their next career move. Throughout my HR leadership roles, I partnered with executives to develop key talent and led career development conversations as part of succession planning, team leadership, and organizational growth. Today, I bring that same strategic insight and personal support to my coaching clients—whether they’re navigating a pivot, pursuing promotion, or strengthening their leadership skills. Known for an insightful and encouraging approach, I help clients turn potential into progress. In addition, my top CliftonStrengths theme, “Developer,” reflects my natural ability to see the potential in others and my passion for helping others grow—and it's the foundation of everything I do.

As a strategic HR and recruiting leader and certified executive coach with over 15 years of experience, I specialize in partnering with high achievers to land their dream job and thrive in it. My career spans diverse industries and roles, including serving as a trusted advisor to startup CEOs and Fortune 500 leaders, recruiting top leadership talent to drive IPO success, and implementing people-focused strategies that deliver measurable results. Combining expertise in executive coaching, recruiting, management consulting, HR, and psychology, I help my clients navigate complex career challenges. Whether you’re making a career pivot, transitioning roles, or positioning yourself for a promotion, I provide actionable insights, accountability, practical tools, and personalized strategies to help you achieve your goals with confidence.

My diverse experiences—from corporate boardrooms and high-growth tech startups to the halls of higher education—have uniquely equipped me to guide MBA applicants in gaining admission to top-tier programs and to empower MBA candidates to launch extraordinary careers. The results speak for themselves: 90% of my clients have been admitted to at least one M7 program. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗕𝗔 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Applying to an MBA program involves more than simply meeting requirements—it’s about telling a story that resonates. The most competitive candidates start early, conduct in-depth research, and devote careful attention to every component of their application. Your overarching goal: present a consistent, forward-looking narrative that emphasizes both what you’ll gain from an MBA and how you’ll contribute to your future cohort. I’m passionate about guiding high-potential applicants toward successful MBA, PTMBA, EMBA, and Deferred MBA admissions. My approach is highly personalized. We’ll start with an in-depth conversation about your background, experiences, and aspirations. I’ll help you identify the schools that best fit your goals, coach you through every step of the application process, and provide honest, actionable feedback. With my support, you’ll approach each application component—essays, recommendations, resumes, and interviews—with confidence, showcasing your full potential. The results speak for themselves. My clients have gained admission to HBS, Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, Wharton, MIT Sloan, Yale SOM, Berkeley Haas, Stanford GSB, Fuqua, and Tuck among others. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 My services are designed to help you navigate the MBA admissions process with confidence and clarity. Whether you’re just starting to explore options or polishing the final details of your application, I’ll serve as your strategic partner, helping you stand out in a competitive field. Whether through comprehensive packages or hourly coaching, I'm your trusted partner in your application journey. • Comprehensive, highly-personalized application strategy and plan. • Personalized school selection based on your background and career ambitions. • Thorough essay brainstorming, editing, and narrative development. • Résumé revision that highlights academic excellence, leadership, and professional promise. • Guidance on selecting and preparing recommenders for maximum impact. • Comprehensive interview preparation, including mock sessions and feedback. • Ongoing strategic counsel throughout the entire admissions cycle. When I’m not strategizing over essays or refining resumes, you’ll find me exploring Paris and Tokyo—my two happy places—and collecting photo-books. And here’s a twist: I design pearl jewelry for men, with clients including Justin Timberlake and Steph Curry.

I bring a uniquely diverse background spanning industry, clinical practice, and academic research, equipping me with a comprehensive perspective on professional growth and development. With degrees in medicine, neuroscience, psychology, and business, I have cultivated a deep understanding of human behavior, strategic thinking, and scientific analysis. My experience ranges from working as a medical science liaison in the industry, conducting cutting-edge research in regenerative medicine, and training as a plastic surgery resident, to mentoring individuals on academic and professional pathways. For over 12 years, I have been coaching clients in career development, helping them recognize their strengths, define their ambitions, and create structured roadmaps to achieve their goals. My approach is personalized, strategic, and empowering—I believe that true success stems from aligning personal passions with professional aspirations. Whether navigating career transitions, refining skills, or strategizing for long-term growth, I am committed to guiding individuals to unlock their full potential.

With over a decade of experience in career development and executive coaching, I specialize in empowering rising leaders to achieve their professional goals. Whether you're at the start, in a mid-career transition or defining your career as an executive, I use a special design-thinking focused framework to help you uncover your deepest values and align them with your skillset to find or enhance your career journey. Together, we will explore the career progression you want and work on next steps to make sure your energy is directed towards a career you are excited to create.

Hi, I’m Daisha (dy-ee-shuh) — career coach, people strategist, and passionate advocate for professionals looking to unlock their full potential. Over the past decade, I’ve guided leaders, career changers, and emerging talent across tech, nonprofit, and healthcare sectors to find clarity, build confidence, and take bold steps forward. I take a personal and strategic approach to career growth. Whether you’re navigating a transition, preparing for a promotion, or seeking greater fulfillment in your work, I’m here to help you align your career with your values and goals — without losing yourself in the process. I believe in actionable plans, honest conversations, and powerful mindset shifts. Clients often tell me they walk away with renewed energy, sharper focus, and a clear sense of direction. I have over a decade of experience leading people and culture strategies at companies like Google and social justice nonprofits. But what lights me up the most is the one-on-one work — helping you to quiet the noise, own your story, and make intentional and empowered career moves.