ELLEN C. TAAFFE is a Clinical Professor and Director of Women’s Leadership at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where she teaches leadership courses and seminars. After many successful decades in corporations like PepsiCo, Royal Caribbean, and Whirlpool, Taaffe now serves as a Corporate Board Director, Executive Coach, and speaker. She is the owner of Ellen Taaffe Consulting LLC, earned her MBA from Kellogg and a B.S. from the University of Florida.

How do you impact your clients?

I coach individuals and teams to know who they are, to clarify their strengths, values, and goals. They set a vision for the future and identify how to get there. The feedback I most frequently hear is that I provide a trusted space and sounding board that helps people expand their mindset of what’s possible, identify their purpose, overcome self-doubt, and find the courage to step into and create a more meaningful, impactful future.

What influenced your path to success?

I once interviewed for a CEO role. After the interview, I said my goodbyes knowing that it wasn’t a fit. The recruiter called the next day confirming this with praise and an offhanded remark. They were surprised (and disappointed) that I answered their questions with people results first then business results. I bristled at first. A few days later, it hit me—what I care most about is the people; they drive the business. That clarity led me to become an Executive Coach, an advocate for board diversity, a professor, and soon an author.

What advice would you give to future Power Women?

Powerful women can take care and take charge. By doing so, we can change lives, including our own.

For more information, visit ellentaaffe.com.