Experience

Strategic Leadership Ventures

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CEO

  • Jan 2018 - Present

  Unleash your team's potential! You understand the value of having team members aligned and collaborating to execute effectively. However, you also realize that team misalignment, lack of communication, and collaboration result in overwork, overwhelm, and poor execution. We work with clients to help them unleash their teams' potential and turn strategy from well-intentioned ideas to aligned execution producing breakthrough results. Unleash your team's potential! You understand the value of having team members aligned and collaborating to execute effectively. However, you also realize that team misalignment, lack of communication, and collaboration result in overwork, overwhelm, and poor execution. We work with clients to help them unleash their teams' potential and turn strategy from well-intentioned ideas to aligned execution producing breakthrough results.



Partnering Leadership

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services

• Podcast Host

  • Oct 2020 - Present

  Partnering Leadership is a top global podcast sharing the leadership journey of purpose-driven CEOs & leadership insights from top global thought leaders and best-selling leadership book authors. The host, Mahan Tavakoli, has over 25 years of executive leadership experience and is a consultant and coach to some of the highest-performing organizations and CEOs. In the twice-a-week conversations, you can learn from the leadership journeys of successful CEOs and the latest in leadership thinking from top global thought leaders. Purpose-driven leaders, including David Rubenstein, Jean Case, Marty Rodgers, Rosie Allen-Herring, David Gardner, Charito Kruvant, Tien Wong, Diane Hoskins, Dan Simons, Bill Novelli, Hakeem Oluseyi, Irma Becerra, Richard Bynum, Nicole Lynn Lewis, Ernie Jarvis, Tony Pierce, Stephanie Linnartz, Chuck Robb, Alex Orfinger and Linda Rabbitt. Global thought leaders and best-selling leadership book authors, including Ken Blanchard, John Kotter, Charlene Li, Steven M.R. Covey, Ram Charan, Gary Bolles, Aaron Hurst, Natalie Nixon, Greg Satell, Azeem Azhar, Rich Diviney, Maz Jobrani, Whitney Johnson, David Marquet, Ranjay Gulati, Vanessa Bohns, Patrick McGinnis, Jim Detert, Tim Clark and Michele Wucker. Partnering Leadership podcast is available on all podcast platforms and at partneringleadership.com. Show less



Genesys Works National Capital Region

• Founding Executive Director

  • Jan 2016 - Dec 2017

  Planned and executed launch of social enterprise in the Greater Washington Metropolitan, focusing on establishing partnerships, business development, client service, marketing, sales, fundraising and program management. Successfully launched by recruiting corporate clients, securing funding, program management, social media, PR, networking and partnering with school systems to provide pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences and impactful relationships. -Fastest first year ramp up with the most first year clients and internships of any site. -Secured diverse clients including Accenture, AT&T, Intelsat, Kirkland & Ellis, Kratos Defense and Strayer. -100% intern retention and matriculation to college. -Successful business marketing and public relations PR/media outreach with coverage on radio, TV and print media including the Washington Post. Below, you can hear a six minute interview from What's Working in Washington, read one of the articles from the Washington Post or watch a piece that aired on WJLA-ABC. Show less



Dale Carnegie Training

• United States
• Professional Training and Coaching
• 700 & Above Employee

• Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Diversity Officer

  • Sep 2013 - Dec 2015

  Senior Executive, responsible for establishing vision, strategy and direction for all US and global Dale Carnegie operations spanning 90+ countries and leading organizational change. Concurrently appointed to position of Chief Diversity Officer, the organization’s executive level diversity and inclusion strategist. Held both roles while continuing to manage Latin America region..

• Vice President International Operations

  • Sep 2010 - Dec 2015

  *Collaborated with leadership in various countries to identify opportunities and develop growth plans.*Rapidly established credibility in new markets and gained the trust of key decision-makers in Fortune 500 and mid-sized organizations.*Led record-breaking growth by international operations. *Planned and launched marketing strategies and PR tailored to culturally diverse markets.*Thought leader, speaking publicly on business strategy and execution to senior leaders at dozens of conferences and events worldwide.*Identified, recruited, coached, and developed top performers committed to quality and responsiveness.*Created a cohesive and unified culture fostering teamwork, accountability, and ownership.*Retained key talent and developed future leaders through coaching and performance feedback.*Aligned internal and external (client) operations to achieve key business objectives.*Oversaw all core functions, including sales, marketing, P&L, finance, administration, human resources, and professional services delivery.*Spearheaded process improvement and facilitated change and adoption of new approaches. Show less

• Director International Operations

  • May 2001 - Aug 2010

  Recruited local partners, helped establish strategic direction and supported new business development, sales, marketing, human resources, technology, and professional service delivery.*Collaborated to identify growth strategies, product strategy and marketing communications.*Launched 10+ new franchise operations in untapped markets including India, Egypt, and Romania.*Recruited, staffed, and trained operational, sales, and consulting staffs.*Developed positioning, financial targets and forecasting, along with go to market strategies. *Set policies, determined staffing and accountability for successful achievement of targets. Show less

• Managing Director

  • Jan 1995 - May 2001

  Exemplary leader with full accountability for the Dale Carnegie Center of Excellence in the greater Washington metropolitan area, with special focus on financial performance, sales management, establishing regional partnerships, client service and leading regional business development, business marketing and sales. Responsible for performance metrics, budgeting, financial management, meeting financial targets and profitability.*Orchestrated turnaround strategies for a money losing operation, and led it to the most profitable center in the organization in less than 1 year.*Managed all aspects of operations including strategic planning, P&L, staffing and service delivery.*Strong focus on sales management and recruiting/coaching sales staff on strategic and tactical sales.*Increased collaboration and teamwork raising employee engagement and effectiveness.*Expanded opportunities for the brand regionally through networking and public speaking.*Skilled business builder, forging new relationships while effectively cultivating existing accounts.*Started Federal Government sales division and public affairs.*Earned recognition for 6 consecutive years for revenue growth, operational excellence and best business practices by the parent company and external agencies such as Accenture. Show less

• Director Corporate Solutions

  • Jun 1993 - Jan 1995

  Managed corporate solutions account sales and delivery.Held client-facing role leading program management, driving business development, sales and delivery of customized training solutions to companies in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. *Significantly increased revenue and customer satisfaction by helping organizations achieve strategic objectives, optimize employee engagement and articulate a future vision.*Worked with diverse clientele to identify needs, goals, budgets, priorities and timelines.*Collaborated in cross-functional teams to accomplish world-class implementations of solutions on-time and within budget, despite aggressive timelines and shifting priorities. Show less