Heather Farber-Lau
AI Enthusiast | Cultivating High-Impact Cultures Through Visionary Leadership | Certified FAC-P/PM Senior Level & Six Sigma Black Belt | Innovator | Driving Change, Strategy, & Results
- Role
- Deputy Director at Usda
- Location
- Minneapolis, MN, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Heather Farber-Lau
I get things done. I am passionate about harnessing AI to cultivate a high-performing culture. A visionary leader, I create effective organizations and high-performing teams. I work collaboratively, building effective coalitions to ensure that both strategic vision and infrastructure are in place to drive mission success. I have capably led major strategic change in several Divisions. Results aren’t just a goal—they’re my track record.Since joining the USDA 15 years ago, I’ve successfully led strategic planning initiatives, implemented process improvement projects leveraging Lean Six Sigma methods, and facilitated collaboration across teams to achieve ambitious objectives. My contributions have been recognized with several awards. I effectively manage our human, financial, and information resources. Prior to my Federal career, I worked in both the non-profit and private sectors. My professional work experience in these environments fueled my growth as a project manager and organizational effectiveness professional. I am a trusted partner to leadership and across business lines. A few things that define me: I’m a creative leader who invests in people. I connect the big picture to the small details and believe in the power of a great conversation. I am a firm believer in creating a team where others feel that they belong and more importantly, they matter.
Experience
Deputy Director
Jan 2024 — Present · Minneapolis, MN, US
Lead a 60-person team, supervising managers and supervisors through extreme organizational change, providing a sense of continuity and stability. Reduced a budget deficit from $1.3M to less than $100K through a series of recommendations to modernize the Division\'s operations and strategic resource decisions. Mentored growing leaders through their leadership journeys.
Education
University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business
Certificate, AI and Career Empowerment
Grinnell College
BA, Sociology
1992 — 1996
Dubuque Senior High School
HS, Advanced Placement
1988 — 1992
American University
Key Program , Executive Development
University of St. Thomas
MBA
2006 — 2009
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Change Management
- Strategy
- Business Analysis
- Coaching
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Recruiting
- Budgets
- Customer Service
- Training
- Volunteer Management
- Lean Six Sigma
- Management
- Team Building
- Program Management
- Team Leadership
- Project Management
- Project Planning
- Leadership Development
- Nonprofits
- Public Speaking
- Leadership
- Organizational Development
- Human Resources
- Process Improvement
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