Professional Responsibilities
Tawana is the Vice President of Sales and currently responsible for overseeing and helping the sales team generate revenue.  She also provided support to all departments within the company ensuring business runs smoothly both from a sales perspective and an operations perspective.  Tawana is also responsible for building and maintaining relationships with internal and external business partners.

In her words…

Hobbies
Meditation, reading, and writing poetry

What is a common preconceived assumption of you that is false? 
That I am passive.

Childhood
I was raised by my mom and stepdad (who I had no clue that he was not my biological dad until I was 16) My mom was an addict and I never knew my dialogical father. My childhood was filled with lies, chaos and disfunction.  I never have had a good relationship with my mom.  To be respectful I can say she is a good grandmother even though she was never a mother. At least not to me.  I spent 2 years homeless with my sister who was 5 at the time. Let’s say my life has been like an episode of the Oprah show. 

Are there any childhood contributing factors or events that led you to the success you have today?
Absolutely.  The drive to not be anything like my mother has given me the passion to push myself to be everything she told me I would never be or achieve. As a teenager I was very self-destructive and as I got older and realized that I only had myself, I used that as motivation to be the best version of myself as possible.

Career History
I started out working for a small IT company that sold new and refurbished hardware, maintenance, and managed services as a Logistics coordinator. During my employment with this IT company, I was promoted to the Logistics Manager and shortly after was promoted to operations manager. After being with that company for over seven years I took an offer at a larger company in the same industry as an operations manager who managed the logistics team, warehouse management, technical management and reported to the VP of operations.  After 8 years I left that company and moved to a slightly different type of company as the Director of Operations.  My title was Director of Operations, However, I was the company’s business development person as well as one of the (unofficial) top federal sales reps. This company was also in the IT industry, but this was an IBM business partner that sold hardware, software, and services to the federal government. I remained at this company for 11 years prior to me coming to Blue Light. 

What have you sacrificed both professionally and personally at each stage of your career?
I sacrificed my strength during the early stages of my career. Being in a position that is dominated by males, I have often suppressed my strong options with the fear of being seen as the angry black girl.  I would say this was more of a lesson than sacrifice because I learned to work with others to determine the best approach in all situations and that listening to other options can change my view as well. 

How do you balance “domestic life” (wife/motherhood) and a career?  
I still have not discovered how to balance my domestic life and career.  I give my career 200 percent during my work hours and usually late at night.  I try to divide my time between my husband and son which seems to be more challenging then splitting up my time for work and family.  I have been working on being present in EVERY moment of my life.  I have been on this mission for the past 5 years.  This means that I must quiet my mind and pay attention to what is going on in that very moment.  I am not always successful, but I am mindful during my time with my family that I want to give them my undivided attention and that is a work in progress I set aside and hour after work to decompress and then put on my Mom/Wife hat. 

How do you push through your worst times?
I remember all the trial and tribulations that I have overcome and know that there is a lesson to be learned in every life experience, Good and Bad. 

What are your success habits? 
Always give 100 percent.  Think before you speak. Read as much as you can as often as you can.  Communication is key. Giving up is not an option.

What advice would you give to women trying to achieve your role and responsibilities?  
To surround yourself with positive people.  Learn from leaders around you. Be a leader whenever you have the opportunity.  Never settle. Always go above and beyond.

What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership? 
Being taken seriously.

As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career?
Doubt in my capabilities

What woman inspires you? Why? 
Dr. Maya Angelou.  First, I love poetry.  Dr. Maya Angelou camefrom a very poor background and some say she was an unwanted child. She used her pain and joy to inspire others through her poetry.  She gives voices to the voiceless and hope to the hopeless through her words. She spent many of her childhood years as a mute due to childhood trauma and later in life became the voice for many women!  Her poem “Still I rise.” is one of my very favorite poems. 

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? 
To always use your voice and to not just work hard to be the woman others expect you to be.

Do you experience resistance when leading men?  If yes, how do you handle it? 
Yes, I do.  I stand up in a very respectful way and give my option.

What is some advice you would share with young women entering a male dominated profession? 
Use your intuition to determine the best approach to every situation you are faced with in your career.  Never underestimate your abilities.  Never compare yourself to anyone else.  Do all you can to continue to become the best version of yourself. 

What is the most important characteristic, trait, behavior and/or skill a leader can possess? 
Ambition

Anything else you would like to add?…
Invest in yourself.

Tawana Farley
Vice President of Sales

For more information or to inquire about a speaking engagement with Tawana, contact us now!