Biography
Suzanne McFarlin, PCC, BCC, founder of Step Up Leaders, is a board-certified coach specializing in executive coaching and leadership development. Suzanne became a certified coach with best-selling author Dr. Martha Beck. She also earned the International Coach Federation Professional Certified Coach credential. Through the American Society for Training and Development, she received professional certificates for training services and is trained in the StrengthsFinder assessment and certified in the Four Lenses assessment. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from the University of Michigan. At the University of Arizona, she is the Executive Coach for the Executive MBA Programs, and has been a Professional Leadership Coach and Instructor for MBA students at the Eller College of Management.
Suzanne brings outstanding interpersonal, presentation, networking and leadership skills to self-directed projects in industry, service and academics. She is experienced in executive coaching, organizational effectiveness, communication training, community development and marketing planning and implementation marked by creative, detail-oriented solutions. She builds connections with innovation and impact to enable individuals and groups to prosper and grow.
A combination of life experience, education and work history shaped Suzanne’s coaching and consulting practice. The ability and inability of people to handle change intrigues and challenges Suzanne to use her best skills to help a client shape his/her future. She is also fascinated with human potential and the spirit it takes to maximize it. Her style reflects a balance between intuition and practicality, in the various methods and techniques she uses to help people achieve their best.
For several years, she facilitated a task force for Tucson Unified School District that resulted in over $2.5M in savings and revenue enhancement. Her ability to build bridges and find common ground amongst diverse groups was critical to this outcome. She served as Tucson Regional Town Hall Director and as follow-up, consulted with the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona and Business Education Roundtable on launching literacy and education initiatives in the Tucson region.
Involved in community organizations and causes, Suzanne was awarded the 2018 Greater Tucson Leadership Alumni Excellence Award and is a 2018 Tucson Women of Influence Finalist. She served as an Alumni Honorary Commander for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. She is vice president for Outreach & Partnerships for International Coaching Federation Arizona, a mentor for the Emerging Leaders Council, a member of 100+ Women Who Care and a Fast Pitch mentor for Social Venture Partners. She is a Public Voices Thought Leadership Fellow and past Executive Committee member through the University of Arizona. She has served as the Sustainer Chair for the National Charity League of Tucson, as a national trainer and on the local board of directors. She co-founded Desert Doula Childbirth Services and has served on the boards of Angel Charity for Children, Arizona Town Hall, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tucson, Carondelet St. Mary’s Heart and Vascular Institute Advisory Board, and The Fund for Civility Respect and Understanding, as well as chaired committees for St. Michael’s Parish Day School. She has designed and delivered workshops for the YWCA of Tucson. She is a graduate, board member, former Executive Director, Leadership Coach, and Past President of Greater Tucson Leadership, and the 2005 recipient of the Brigadier General Ronald L. Kurth Merit Award for Leadership.