We have lived in your shoes and are passionate about creating a pipeline of technical leaders

“We are driven to achieve a future where 100% of technical talent operates at their fullest potential, unlocking limitless innovation, growth, and productivity for organizations and individuals globally.”

Dr. D Sangeeta
Founder and CEO of Gotara

About us

Meet Our Founder

A leader with a clear mission to close the talent gap is behind this innovative upskilling program for technical talent

D Sangeeta, PhD Founder and CEO of Gotara As a C-suite STEM+ leader, Sangeeta managed global teams of 5,000+, so she knows firsthand what happens when these women leave. Sangeeta left her role at Amazon as VP of Connections in 2020 to launch Gotara. Yes, it was in the middle of the pandemic, but Sangeeta has been an innovator and pioneer all her life. Putting her dream on hold wasn’t an option.

D Sangeeta, PhD

 

Founder and CEO of Gotara

I kicked off my career with a Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry and landed a job at GE. Initially, I saw myself as a dedicated lab scientist. But everything changed when a leader tapped me on the shoulder and encouraged me to step into a leadership role. Since then, I’ve taken on C-suite leadership positions at Nielsen and Amazon, which has given me the perfect foundation to lead Gotara.

At Gotara, our relentless pursuit of impact drives us to deliver real, tangible results in both organizational success and individual careers. I have lived in the shoes of technical leaders, and been through the experiences that these organizations and individuals have faced and continue to face today.

Her dream is to make ground-breaking impact in the global technical landscape.

She was inspired by two career-defining moments.

Isolated Without
a Safe Space

As a first-time manager, Sangeeta stood her ground on an extremely tough decision, even though she expected she would have to quit or be fired.

“Two months later, my decision was approved by upper management, but during that time, I was under incredible stress, and there wasn‘t anyone I could talk to. If I had a trusted external advisor, I would have felt less vulnerable, and the situation would have resolved itself.”

Dr. D Sangeeta
Founder and CEO of Gotara

D Sangeeta, PhD Founder and CEO of Gotara As a C-suite STEM+ leader, Sangeeta managed global teams of 5,000+, so she knows firsthand what happens when these women leave. Sangeeta left her role at Amazon as VP of Connections in 2020 to launch Gotara. Yes, it was in the middle of the pandemic, but Sangeeta has been an innovator and pioneer all her life. Putting her dream on hold wasn’t an option.

Bridging the
Leadership Gap

Later, when Sangeeta became an executive leader, she experienced a challenge that many leaders face when building a diverse team.

Although 50 percent of her staff were women, she needed more of them in middle management and senior positions to fill her pipeline.

“I decided to focus on promoting women from lower levels, providing the opportunity for them to perform at their highest potential and generate the business results I wanted. I coached and mentored them, and they went on to become the organization’s top senior talent.”

Dr. D Sangeeta
Founder and CEO of Gotara

From Vision to Global Impact

When Sangeeta reflected upon her career, she realized that she had uncovered the key to unlocking the potential of technical talent, closing the talent gap.

Gotara was born.

IN SANSKRIT, TARA MEANS STAR. Gotara is the North Star for technical organizations and talent, and we embody the spirit #spiralup and reach for the stars. We never blame managers or organizations, instead, we empower impactful change.

STANDING TALL Our three “rocket trees”—reaching into the sky—are a metaphor for the strength, wisdom and power that comes from being in a supportive community dedicated to helping technical talent achieve their career goals. It’s easier to reach for the stars when you’re standing on solid ground.

Employer

Are you looking to raise the bar of your technical talent and produce measurable business results?

Individual

Are you looking to boost your career, join the Gotara community?

In Comes the Co-Founder

Dana Ginn

Co-Founder and COO of Gotara

Dana is a successful technical woman with a 25+ year career that involved improving operations and mentoring talent.

Her experiences across many industries and academia fuel her passion for educating and coaching others. And her experience of often being the only woman in the room ignites her desire to close the talent gap.

Dana draws upon her wide-ranging experience to create Gotara‘s upskilling strategy and content that reflects leading with an inclusive mindset.

“I took on my first manager role when I was 27, and my team was considerably older. I knew I had to develop trust quickly. I also know what it‘s like to juggle personal and professional demands.

There was a time in my career when I held down two consulting jobs as a single mom. Then there was the time I was the only woman engineer working in an oil refinery. That took some chutzpah, but I dug deep to earn respect.”

Dana Ginn
Co-Founder and COO of Gotara

Awards and recognitions

Celebrating our achievements: Honoring excellence through prestigious awards and recognitions over the years

Data4Good - Gender Equality Award Winner

Women of Impact 2023

Women Business Enterprise Award

STEMFLUENCER 2023

Women of Color Award 2022

Women of Color Award 2005

REALIZING ROI

Not just another upskilling, mentoring, and coaching program to close the talent gap

We go beyond other programs, emphasizing technical talent to drive business
impact by merging results with diversity goals.

We Don’t Use Fuzzy Metrics

We are dedicated technical visionaries committed to leveraging data for transformative change.

100%

recommend Gotara

96%

of coaching rated extremely effective

88%

of advice rated high

99%

applied learnings to their daily work

It’s a Win-Win!

Gotara’s 8-week upskilling career sprints equip women and their managers to deliver business ROI and enable career acceleration.

As they grow, it’s a win-win for both parties.

OUR COACHES

We are technical leaders and coaches who have been there and done that

Our business executive coaches are hand-selected and certified to provide the best possible experience to our participants—they ask the right questions, provide answers, and direct action. Participants say this human interaction is critical to their success.

Dana Ginn
Co-Founder and COO Gotara | Strategy and Innovation | Coach | Educator | HUB International, Nielsen Alum
MBA, University of Chicago
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Kansas State University

Dr. D Sangeeta
25+ Years Experience
Founder and CEO Gotara | Innovator  | C-Suite Leader | Talent Magnet  | Amazon, Nielsen, GE Alum
Ph.D., Materials Chemistry, University of Illinois
M.S., Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

John Downey
Strategic Advisor | Executive Coach | Amazon and Motorola Alum
MBA, Northwestern University
B.A., Economics/Psychology, Northwestern University

Karen Leeker
Investor | Mentor | Board Member | Proctor and Gamble Co., Solo Cup, Goldman Sachs Alum
B.S., Industrial Engineering, Purdue University

Are you a business leader looking to fill your leadership pipeline and produce measurable business results?

Are you looking to boost your career, join the STEM+ community?