Talena Mara

• Facilitates workshops for global clients, fostering collaboration and shared learning experiences among participants.
• Assist leadership teams with building shared beliefs and attitudes across organizational structures for stronger governance and equity.
• Builds strategic partnerships across multiple business segments to help executives, senior leaders, and the workforce improve management structures and team cohesiveness.
• Evaluates client performance metrics, identifying areas for improvement and developing targeted action plans.
• Coaches leaders in important skills underpinning current leadership and mostly Agriculture-related management goals.
• Creates business plans for growth and expansion
• Develops customized training modules for clients, resulting in improved organizational effectiveness.
• Equips executives and senior managers with effective leadership skills
• Fosters diversity and inclusion within organizations by offering training sessions covering topics such as unconscious bias, gender equity, microaggressions, and cultural competence.
• Guides executive teams through strategic planning exercises and change management strategies..
• Facilitates workshops on communication skills, conflict resolution, and team collaboration to enhance overall productivity.
• Coaches executives on decision-making techniques, leading to better business outcomes and increased profits.
• Guides leaders in the development of their brand, enhancing their visibility within the organization and industry.
• Delivers keynote presentations at conferences and events on topics related to leadership, organizational culture, and industry trends.
• Assists leadership teams with building shared beliefs and attitudes across organizational structures.
• Helps clients develop customized internal strategies for promoting and developing leadership skills in the current workforce.
• Builds strategic partnerships across multiple business segments to help executives and senior leaders improve management structures and team cohesiveness.
• Develops long-term business strategies to position companies for success in competitive markets.
• Streamlines operational efficiency through the development of strategic plans and identification of growth opportunities.
• Collaborates with stakeholders to develop key performance indicators that measure success and inform future decisions.
• Expands client base by identifying and targeting new markets for international business opportunities.
• Develops long-term business strategies to position organization for success in the competitive local and global market.

• Facilitates workshops for global clients, fostering collaboration and shared learning experiences among participants.
• Organize integration of critical leadership competencies into existing workflows.
• Assist leadership teams with building shared beliefs and attitudes across organizational structures for stronger governance and equity.
• Builds strategic partnerships across multiple business segments to help executives, senior leaders, and the workforce improve management structures and team cohesiveness.
• Evaluates client performance metrics, identifying areas for improvement and developing targeted action plans.
• Coaches leaders in important skills underpinning current leadership and mostly Agriculture-related management goals.
• Optimize resource allocation by strategically planning project timelines and priorities.
• Implements innovative solutions, enabling clients to overcome complex challenges and achieve their goals.
• Creates business plans for growth and expansion
• Conducts educational workshops to spearhead employee training on available tools and optimal strategies.
• Develops customized training modules for clients, resulting in improved organizational effectiveness.
• Equips executives and senior managers with effective leadership skills through the development and deployment of targeted training programs.
• Fosters diversity and inclusion within organizations by offering training sessions covering topics such as unconscious bias, gender equity, microaggressions, and cultural competence.
• Streamline company processes by guiding executive teams through strategic planning exercises and change management efforts.
• Fosters diversity and inclusion within organizations by offering training sessions covering topics such as unconscious bias, microaggressions, and cultural competence.
• Facilitates workshops on communication skills, conflict resolution, and team collaboration to enhance overall productivity.
• Enhances team performance by implementing effective leadership development programs and strategies.
• Coaches executives on decision-making techniques, leading to better business outcomes and increased profits.
• Guides leaders in the development of their brand, enhancing their visibility within the organization and industry.
• Delivers keynote presentations at conferences and events on topics related to leadership, organizational culture, and industry trends, further establishing credibility as a trusted consultant.
• Establishes team priorities, maintains schedules, and monitors performance.
• Defines clear targets and objectives and communicates with other team members.
• Develops detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
• Assists leadership teams with building shared beliefs and attitudes across organizational structures.
• Helps clients develop customized internal strategies for promoting and developing leadership skills in the current workforce.
• Builds strategic partnerships across multiple business segments to help executives and senior leaders improve management structures and team cohesiveness.
• Develops long-term business strategies to position companies for success in competitive markets.
• Optimizes financial performance by implementing budgetary controls and monitoring expenditures against targets.
• Conducts assessments and counseled clients regarding controls, risks, process issues, and productivity inefficiencies.
• Mentors junior staff by guiding best practices in consulting methodologies, aiding professional growth, and career development.
• Streamlines operational efficiency through the development of strategic plans and identification of growth opportunities.
• Fosters a culture of continuous improvement by promoting innovation, learning from mistakes, and embracing change as an opportunity for growth.
• Collaborates with stakeholders to develop key performance indicators that measure success and inform future decisions.
• Evaluated vendor proposals, negotiated contracts, and managed outsourcing partnerships to maximize value creation for clients.
• Developed long-term business strategies to position organization for success in the competitive New York City market.

• Directed community development and educational programming, guiding collaborative relationships with internal leadership and teams, as well as external community partners to advance the arts and education
• Built a creative culture around arts in education programming through innovative program delivery with a team of 200 advisors/volunteers for 2,300+ annual events
• Member of the SCFTA Senior Leadership team
• Managed a complex $3.5M budget, assisting in large fundraising efforts, and overseeing funding compliance
• Worked closely with the Board of Directors, and a large Board Education Committee, and led in establishing the vision and mission of the organization as well as cross-organization execution through strategy development
• Direct responsibility for education grant soliciting for over $17M annually accounting for 60% of SCFTA's fundraising goal and 25% of the Center's annual operating budget of $68M
• Co-Project Investigator on the National Science Foundation's Equitable Science Curriculum for Integrating Arts in Public Education (ESCAPE) $6.5M Arts + STEM grant – NSF's most highly funded arts-related grant
• Hired managed and trained a team of professionals and over 150 contractors to create and deliver arts in education programs reaching more than 300,000 students across a regional population of 15 million.
• Developed, built, and implemented the nation's largest direct services arts in education programs, oversaw the involvement, training, and support to offer award-winning arts programs extending the brand and visibility across national and international markets, positioning it as a leading education thought leader.
• Official representative and liaison for SCFTA externally in coordinating with external partners, government agencies, peer organizations, and the media
• Provided governance and oversight leadership across the organization on behalf of the president
• Cultivated strong relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, vendors, regulators, and community leaders to promote collaboration and long-term success.
• Led cross-functional teams for the successful completion of major projects, resulting in increased efficiency and client satisfaction.
• Demonstrated proficient leadership skills to motivate employees and build competent teams.
• Collaborated with senior management to develop strategic initiatives and long-term goals.
• Negotiated high-value contracts that maximized profitability while mitigating risks for the organization.
• Managed financial planning and budgeting processes, ensuring fiscal responsibility and maximizing return on investments.
• Established a culture of continuous improvement, fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth across the organization.
• Identified opportunities to improve business process flow and productivity.
• Enhanced company profitability by implementing strategic business plans and optimizing operational processes.
• Built high-performance teams through effective recruitment practices focused on competency alignment coupled with ongoing performance management processes.
• Championed talent development programs, promoting employee engagement and retention while enhancing overall workforce capabilities.
• Delivered strong financial performance by executing prudent risk management strategies throughout all aspects of business operations.
• Spearheaded organizational restructuring initiatives, streamlining operations and reducing overhead costs.
• Increased company growth through interdepartmental collaboration.
• Established and directed successful programs focused on student growth and achievement along with teacher/school/district success
• Represented the organization at industry conferences and events.
• Cultivated a company-wide culture of innovation and collaboration.
• Formulated and executed strategic initiatives to improve programming offerings.
• Devised and presented business plans and forecasts to the board of directors.
• Initiated strategy to drive company growth and increase market share and profitability.

• Chaired Faculty Council, established program policies, created an advisory board and programming delivery
• Developed Arts History curriculum with a global cultural focus, which was adopted as a core requirement
• Taught audience presentation and impact skills classes for advanced level students and directed/conducted choral program
• Oversaw hiring processes, selecting top-tier candidates to join the department's talented team of educators.
• Observed, coached and mentored department staff.
• Built smooth and productive working relations positively impacting department operations.
• Planned and executed professional development sessions for department faculty and staff.
• Enhanced department reputation by implementing innovative teaching methods and curriculum improvements.
• Mentored junior faculty members to develop their pedagogical skills and career trajectories in academia.
• Spearheaded interdisciplinary collaborations to foster a well-rounded educational experience for students.
• Reinforced and maintained culture of high achievement by focusing on discipline as opportunity for learning, growth and community-building.
• Built collaborative team of adults dedicated to joint attainment of department goals.

• Led large-scale education programs and innovative school and community partnerships to further the organization's mission and reach the five boroughs of NYC and beyond, serving vast ethnic/racially diverse populations in the area
• Directed and supervised 45 school programs geared toward educational reform and improving test scores in partner schools
• Managed staff of 20 and a $1M budget taking programs to 25,000 New York City students
• Created the first overseas education program for NYCO, designing and implementing a tour to Japan requiring cross-cultural leadership and diplomacy across multi-cultural contexts
• Directed the development, curatorial services, and video production for 4 in-house lecture series and 1 off-premise series produced at the Guggenheim Museum
• Chaired the company's Education Task Force, raising $500K in donations, edited publications, and served as a national/international organizational representative and spokesperson
• Oversaw development and implementation of quality educational programs.
• Developed engaging and effective curricula for students grades K-12.
• Proactively identified areas where additional resources were needed; secured funding through grants or reallocating existing budgets.
• Partnered with external stakeholders, such as local businesses and non-profit organizations, to develop programs that would benefit the school community while providing students with real-world learning opportunities.
• Planned successful events, enhancing community engagement in education programs and raising awareness about school offerings.
• Established strong relationships with community organizations, promoting partnerships that enriched student learning experiences.
• Championed diversity initiatives within the institution, ensuring an inclusive learning environment for all students.
• Managed staff development initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement among educators.

• Provided education program leadership by designing and delivering more than 500 performance events serving traditionally underserved NYC students and families
• As faculty, prepared 150 graduate students to be impactful arts educators
• Directed partnership operations, overseeing $250K budget development
• Secured funding to successfully develop innovative distance learning programs
• Cultivated donor relationships and designed an education program that traveled in conjunction with an MSM Orchestra Tour to South America

• Managed more than $2M in scholarships, oversaw distribution, compliance, reporting, correspondence, and the annual budget that ensured donor terms and academic policies were met, annual audits were passed, and ongoing funding support was secured.
• Conducted comprehensive assessments of existing donor relations strategies, identifying areas for growth and improvement opportunities.
• Ensured compliance with funder requirements by maintaining accurate records and submitting timely reports on project progress.
• Created compelling case statements and fundraising materials to effectively communicate organizational impact and garner support.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams on event planning and execution, resulting in increased engagement and support from key stakeholders.
• Boosted donor retention rates through the implementation of personalized stewardship plans.
• Provided leadership to junior development staff by sharing expertise and best practices, driving team success.
• Managed a diverse portfolio of major gift prospects, fostering strong relationships to maximize giving potential.
• Proposed fundraising opportunities to potential donors to increase sources of funding.

• Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering staff and students to voice their ideas.
• Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
• Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
• Proactively identified potential risks and implemented mitigation strategies to minimize negative impacts on projects or business operations.
• Pioneered the adoption of sustainable practices, leading to industry recognition and awards.
• Transformed organizational culture to embrace continuous improvement, leading by example and mentoring teams.

studied