About Suzanne

About Suzanne McFarlin

Suzanne McFarlin, PCC, BCC, is a professional certified and board certified coach, specializing in executive and leadership coaching. Suzanne studied coaching and became a certified coach with Dr. Martha Beck, best-selling author, speaker, coach, and columnist for O Magazine. She also earned the Board Certified Coach credential with the Center for Credentialing and Education and the International Coach Federation Professional Certified Coach credential with the International Coach Academy. Through the American Society for Training and Development, Suzanne received professional certificates for training services and is trained in the StrengthsFinder and Four Lenses Assessments. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from the University of Michigan.  At the University of Arizona, she is a Professional Leadership Coach.

Suzanne McFarlin

Suzanne has also served as a career coach and instructed MBA students in Management Communication at the Eller College of Management. She is a leadership coach at Raytheon Missile Systems and has been a leadership coach for the Flinn-Brown Leadership Academy, in addition to other private and public sector clients. She is the former executive director and leadership coach for Greater Tucson Leadership, a community leadership program.

Suzanne brings outstanding interpersonal, presentation, networking, and leadership skills to self-directed projects in industry, service, and academics. She is experienced in leadership, executive, life, and career 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.

Practical Experience

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. She works with clients to see the best in themselves and stand tall in their capabilities. “Speak Up Step Up” is a personal motto that has shaped her life and career and is the basis for her leadership development methods. Her style reflects a balance between intuition and practicality, in the various approaches and techniques she uses to help people achieve their best.

Client List

Her client list includes Raytheon Missile Systems, The University of Arizona, R. E. Darling, Tucson Electric Power, Arizona Center for Civic Leadership, FL Smidth Krebs, BE Aerospace, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Community Foundation For Southern Arizona, Tucson Unified School District, Raytheon Missile Systems, Managed Health Network, Business and Education Roundtable, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Southern Arizona, Intuit, Constellation Wines, Hollingsworth Law Firm, Breault Research Organization, University of Arizona College of Medicine, University of Phoenix, ABA Architects, Tucson Urban League, Pima Youth Partnership, DeGrazia Foundation, First American Title, St. Michael’s Parish Day School and many individuals whom she has had the privilege of coaching.

Community Involvement

Involved in community organizations and causes, Suzanne serves as Vice President of Outreach & Partnerships for the International Coaching Federation Arizona, a mentor for the Emerging Leaders Council and for the Social Venture Partners Fast Pitch, and a member of 100+ Women Who Care.  She has served as an Honorary Commander for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and is currently a member of the alumni Desert Thunder Squadron. She has served on the board of The Arizona Town Hall. She is a Public Voices Thought Leadership Fellow through the University of Arizona and has served on their Executive Committee.

Additionally, Suzanne has participated in the following roles:

  • Graduate, Board Member, Executive Director, and President: Greater Tucson Leadership
  • Co-founder: Desert Doula Childbirth Services
  • National Trainer/Sustainer Chair/Local Board Vice President: National Charity League of Tucson
  • Board Member: Angel Charity for Children, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tucson, Arizona State University Tucson Advisory, Carondelet St. Mary’s Heart and Vascular Institute Advisory, The Fund for Civility Respect and Understanding
  • Committee Chair: St. Michael’s Parish Day School
  • Volunteer Facilitator: YWCA Women’s Leadership Class and Conference; Designer/Facilitator: “Take the Lead in Your Life” coaching program

Award Recipient

Greater Tucson Leadership 2005 Brigadier General Ronald L. Kurth Merit Award for Leadership and 2018 Alumni Excellence Award, 2018 Tucson Woman of Influence Award