Sara Finesilver
- Senior Advisor, Leadership Consulting, United States
+1 415 314 8089
sfinesilver@boyden.com
Sara Finesilver has 15 years’ experience advising the boards of public and non-profit organizations, CEOs, and senior leadership teams on strategies to enhance overall governance effectiveness, board-management relations, board culture and dynamics, and accountability. She has successfully helped boards elevate their functioning to positively impact the organization and stakeholders they serve.
Professional Focus
- 15 years’ experience consulting with boards, CEOs and senior leadership teams on organizational, governance and leadership issues; additional background in corporate litigation consulting
- Cross-sector experience in healthcare governance, controlled company and public board governance, higher education governance, and performing arts governance
- Specialties include developing skills and values-based competency models to improve board diversity and effectiveness; designing and implementing board and organizational development programs; designing and conducting board and individual director performance assessments; and facilitating board-led long-range strategic planning processes
- Educational and professional background in organizational psychology, leadership development and coaching
Business Expertise
- Consultant and Owner at Board First Consulting, LLC, a woman-owned boutique consulting firm specializing in board effectiveness
- Consultant for 14 years at Nygren Consulting, a boutique consulting firm specializing in corporate governance, strategy, and leadership
- Board and Change Leadership Consultant at Felton Institute, an evidence-based social services non-profit organization
- Organizational Consultant at Lamorinda Consulting, LLC and Berkeley Research Group, LLC, organizational strategy and human resources consultancies; focused on corporate litigation consulting
- Certified Social Fitness Facilitator at The Heroic Imagination Project, a non-profit organization providing consulting and training
- Adjunct Faculty Member, Psychology Department at San Francisco State University; taught psychology of motivation
- Team Performance Coach, Berkeley Innovative Leadership Development program at Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley
- Benefits & Recruiting Manager at Jackson & Wallace, LLP
Practice Membership
Cross-Sector Practices
- CEO & Board Services
Additional Expertise
- Not-for-Profit
- Healthcare
- Public Sector
- Performing Arts
- Education
Education & Certifications
- Master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology from San Francisco State University
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lake Forest College, Chicago
- Leadership Development Certificate, Insight Leadership Seminars
Affiliations & Awards
- Board Chair, Boulder County AIDS Project Board of Directors
- Board Officer and Membership Committee Chair, Lake Forest College Alumni Board (2010-2018)
- Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award, Lake Forest College Alumni Board (2013)