Tara Welch

I help organizations thrive and operate at their best. Since July, I've been the Chief of Staff at Choose Chicago, where I'm part of the Executive Leadership Team and advise the President and CEO on strategic matters. I'm all about collaboration and work across the organization to improve planning, processes, and outcomes, boosting internal and external alignment, productivity, and success. At my previous company, Bloomberg Philanthropies, I scaled a global initiative to over 50 cities worldwide. I built strong relationships in cities such as Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires, Paris, and Miami. I introduced new technology to streamline operations, save time and money, and enhance the partner experience. I led a companywide Salesforce CRM implementation with a 100% adoption rate. This made the organization more data-driven and set the foundation for a strong data culture. I'm also passionate about mentoring and built an internship program, which serves as a diverse talent pipeline. Before Bloomberg Philanthropies, I worked at Robin Hood, New York City’s largest poverty-fighting organization. Prior to that, I taught sixth grade at Chicago Public Schools. In addition, I serve on iMentor’s National Alumni Council and am a member of Impact Grants Chicago, a collective women’s giving organization. I am known as someone who brings people together to get things done. I thrive on keeping the trains running on time, headed in the right direction, and focused on the mission. My values include excellence, growth, innovation, diversity, and making a positive impact. Fun fact: I climbed a mountain in the India Himalayas (20,182 feet)!