Leading the Way

We are the industry leading provider of creating thriving cultures for organizations through accelerating and diversifying leadership pipelines. With nearly 20 years of experience in developing diverse talent, we have been here since the beginning.  SOAR boasts over 150 clients in almost every industry, including Fortune and Global 500 companies that have trusted us as their leadership development partner. From gender-specific programming to customized internal inclusion leadership programming, SOAR has a proven track record of preparing and advancing women and minorities to senior leadership roles.

OUR WHY

To be a catalyst for changing the face of corporate leadership

  • Respect

    We honor differences by acting with propriety and integrity in all of our relationships.

  • Collaboration

    We believe that working together as one team inspires mutual cooperation and trust.

  • Perseverance

    We believe that our passion for our work and the energy we bring drives our success.

  • Continuous Improvement

    We believe that every day gives us an opportunity to become better than the day before.

  • Accountability

    We believe in delivering excellence in all we say and do.

Meet The Founder

Almost two decades ago, Sally Schott founded SOAR after an inspired conversation with one of her mentors. She was simply asked: “what are you going to do for women?” Sally's enduring commitment to empowering women and propelling them towards more gratifying careers has been a constant driving force. Prompted by that pivotal discussion, she resolved to channel her lifelong passion. Leveraging her extensive experience and networks, Sally has successfully created programs that effectively address the leadership development needs of today’s complex workplace. Her efforts are aimed at bridging gender and diversity gaps and preparing emerging leaders ready for promotion and career advancement.

SOAR Founder and CEO

Meet The SOAR Leadership Team

  • Sally Schott

    Founder and CEO

  • Allen Cawley

    COO and Chief Content Officer

  • Oz Davis

    CFO

  • Kimberly Code, PhD

    Chief of Staff

  • Mandy Learn

    VP of Marketing

  • Kim Stone Yonts

    Program Director

  • Roberta Davis

    Operations General Manager

Meet the SOAR Facilitators

The SOAR Story

  • 1994

    Peer Exchange Network, the first generation of SOAR, begins and aims to fulfill the requirements of the business world by uniting business leaders in a peer-to-peer learning setting, facilitating mutual learning and knowledge sharing.

  • 2005

    SOAR becomes the first company in the country to deliver leadership development that focuses specifically on women earlier in their careers to address the leaky pipeline related to retention and advancement.

  • 2011

    Following several years of remarkable collaboration with SOAR, UPS joins forces with us to design a comprehensive and personalized internal program aimed at tackling the specific hurdles they face in establishing a strong pipeline of diverse emerging talent.

  • 2013

    Understanding the need for and the lack of programming in the market, SOAR launches ULAS (now SOAR for Black Men), in partnership with UPS and Louisville Urban League. Today SOAR delivers SOAR for Black Men in mulitple markets.

  • 2014

    Expanding upon the achievements of prioritizing women and minorities, SOAR now embarks on crafting tailored internal programs for inclusive organizations ready to incorporate DE&I initiatives into their core and cultivate a wider array of diverse leaders.

  • 2016

    Between several partnerships with multinational companies, SOAR extends our reach internationally and begins to develop and deliver programming globally enabling us to scale our delivery footprint.

  • 2020

    SOAR quickly adapts and pivots to an all virtual format to continue to deliver our programming during the global pandemic. This eventually leads SOAR to offer hybrid programming options and adds flexibility to organizations and participants.

  • 2021

    Understanding the distinct challenges and requisites essential for providing comprehensive support, fostering growth, and advancing the progress of Black women in today’s workplace, SOAR introduces the SOAR for Black Women program.

  • 2024

    Coming soon! SOAR introduces the development of SOAR Plus+, marking the next phase in the leadership journey for our program alumni, nearly two decades after the inception of the original SOAR program.

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