Liberated Leader Team
We call ourselves architects because we believe that great organizations need the creativity of an artist with the precision of an engineer.
Success Architects
Tina Dao, Founder
As a Success Architect and Liberated Leaders' CEO, I bring more than 30 years of leadership experience at companies like Amazon, Fitbit, and Walmart to the growth stories of North Carolina businesses. As the daughter of a serial entrepreneur, I chose to focus my own entrepreneurial journey on tenacious, driven, and caring people like my father—entrepreneurs and business owners who are not only brilliant at what they do but care deeply about how their businesses support their customers, employees, suppliers, and communities. They're conscious capitalists building significant companies that matter.
My approach is hands-on and collaborative. I've intentionally built and developed the Liberated Leaders team to work this way—assembling Success Architects and Success Artisans who embrace a micro-fractional philosophy where we work WITH clients, not just tell them what to do. We're breaking new ground in how this work gets done, blending strategic thinking with roll-up-your-sleeves execution. Whether you're scaling up, fueling competitive advantage, or planning succession, we bring the operational rigor I learned at Amazon, Fitbit, and Walmart—companies that mastered scale—combined with the nimbleness that growth-stage businesses require.
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Before founding Liberated Leaders, I served as COO and VP of Global Business Operations & Strategy at Walmart's Global Technology Platform, where I led governance and portfolio management for a 2,800-person organization while simultaneously leading a 250-person strategy and operations team focused on "creating the next retail disruption."
Prior to Walmart, I was VP of Employee Experience and Chief of Staff to Getaround's CEO, where I helped enable a future of shared mobility. At Fitbit, I held business operations and product engineering leadership roles during the company's transformation from a 300-employee pre-IPO darling to a publicly-traded 1,900-employee powerhouse—advancing product development practices, manufacturing processes, and reinforcing its position as both a consumer and enterprise health brand.
My career began more with hard hats than technologies—I started in the U.S. Navy as an electronic technician, where the men-to-women ratio was greater than 10:1. I spent 10 years in the commercial construction industry before moving into tech. Those early experiences taught me the principles of rallying resources around profit-focused goals that remain central to building operational backbones that efficiently scale companies through growth.
Recognized as a "force of nature" in my work across Europe, Asia, and North America, I bring operational precision combined with genuine care for the humans building these businesses.
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I've been married for more than 20 years, and we have a multi-generational household that includes my mother. My husband and I moved to North Carolina to take care of my parents, and now we are delighted to be surrounded by family, including seven nieces and nephews who were raised here.
Alan Fuhs, Co-founder
As a Success Architect at Liberated Leaders, I leverage 20 years of technology leadership and consulting expertise to help businesses optimize strategy, gain a competitive edge, and scale operations. I am a certified executive and leadership advisor with credentials from the Center for Executive Coaching and the International Coaching Federation, firmly believing that true business transformation requires mindful investments in both people and technology.
Throughout my career, I spearheaded digital transformation initiatives globally at leading firms like Accenture, Oracle, Relativity, and CAI, achieving measurable innovation and operational excellence for clients such as the City of Chicago, Toshiba, Western Digital, Sherwin-Williams, and Best Buy.
I am passionate about helping businesses harness technology through deliberate, stakeholder-focused strategies. My collaborative, strategic approach combines clear vision-setting with compassionate leadership to drive results and empower organizations to thrive.
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While at Relativity, an industry-leading SaaS provider, I relocated to Europe to lead the IT global expansion, building regional operations from the ground up and establishing a global operating model that fostered efficiency, collaboration, and scalability across borders.
Prior to Relativity, I served as Director of Service Delivery at CAI, where I oversaw the enterprise application services for our flagship client, the City of Chicago. Through innovation and impeccable service delivery, we expand our services and profitability fivefold in a few short years.
My foundation in IT consulting, at Accenture, CAI, and as an independent practitioner, honed my skills in delivering value-driven solutions and optimizing business operations within diverse industries and markets.
Success Calibrator
Kristin Fuhs
As the Success Calibrator at Liberated Leaders, I work behind the scenes as our operational maestro—much like an orchestra conductor who harmonizes different instruments to create beautiful music, I coordinate our systems and processes to foster a high-performing team. I engineer the operational framework that allows our Success Architects and Success Artisans to focus their talents and energy on what matters most—helping our clients achieve their goals and embrace what’s possible.
My background includes over 20 years orchestrating global technology solutions at Accenture, where I learned to make complex systems run smoothly and keep teams connected across continents. This experience taught me that the best technology isn't about flashy features—it's about removing obstacles so people can do their best work.
I bring a natural talent for execution—taking ideas and turning them into reality through thoughtful planning and attention to detail. My engineering mindset helps me spot ways to make things work better, whether it's streamlining how we onboard our Success Artisans or creating more seamless client experiences.
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I'm passionate about solving puzzles—finding the most efficient path through complicated challenges. This translates perfectly to my role at Liberated Leaders, where I handle the operational foundations so our client-facing team can concentrate on delivering transformative results for your business.
My approach combines technical know-how with genuine human connection. I believe the best operational systems aren't just efficient—they're built with people in mind, making life easier for everyone they touch.
When not calibrating success systems for Liberated Leaders, you'll find me using my planning strengths with volunteer work and my social life - whether it’s finding the most efficient way to organize an assembly line, planning logistics for a vacation, or managing our team’s pickleball schedule. I relax by exploring the mountains—hiking, camping, and backpacking at least once weekly, occasionally venturing across the globe to experience nature's most breathtaking landscapes.
Success Artisans
Human Capital Specialists
Kimberly Kearney
Kimberly specializes in supporting clients who operate in high risk, high pressure environments. She is a global security professional with a background in fields including intelligence, counterproliferation, counterterrorism, South Asia, East Asia and Europe. Prior to joining Liberated Leaders, Kimberly completed 15 years of federal government service as both a CIA Case Officer and as a diplomat while navigating the crisis-filled world of international security and international relations. Her public sector career was defined by tackling the most pressing strategic and foreign policy issues facing the United States.
Kimberly has traveled to or worked on six out of the world’s seven continents. After she left government service, Kimberly rooted in Silicon Valley (though she will always be a proud Texan at heart!). As an ICF-certified executive coach, Kimberly brings her signature composure, insight, and mission focus to both public sector and private sector clients. She has partnered with clients across the country, from Silicon Valley to Washington, D.C., in diverse industries ranging from mountain-guiding, to technology, to national security.
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Clients turn to Kimberly for unmatched, objective clarity, her unflappable calm, and her ability to simplify complex problems. Kimberly has a strong track record of partnership development, program management, strategic planning, and risk mitigation in fast-paced and ambiguous environments. She particularly enjoys helping clients build resiliency amid uncertainty, improve communication, and leverage emotional intelligence.
Robin Funsten
Robin supports companies who value the healthy relationships that drive growth and sustainability.
Robin Funsten provides Coaching, Consulting, Facilitation and Training for companies, individuals, and communities. Known for designing experiences that are supportive of transformation, Robin makes and holds the space for real and lasting change to occur. She makes it fun to dive deep into topics like emotional fluency and conflict resilience - supporting people to show up in professional relationships with integrity and compassion. Robin has an authentic presence, genuine curiosity, engaging energy, and years of experience holding space for all kinds of human moments.
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With a deep personal commitment to collective liberation in our world, Robin volunteers in community 5+ hours per week and offers 20% of her company's profits to support youth and racial-equity advocacy in Asheville, NC and beyond.
Robin is married to a compassionate and super smart nurse practitioner, and is the mother of 2 kind, courageous and curious children. When not working in business or community, you will find Robin in the forest, on the dance floor or in the kitchen making delicious treats, usually shared with friends and family.
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Robin Funsten is an ICF Certified Coach, holds a degree in Experiential Education and Psychology and has extensive experience in Creative Facilitation, Restorative Justice, Conflict Transformation, and Leadership and Team Dynamics.
Certified in: Development Coaching by the International Coaching Federation (PCC); Presence Based Coaching; Technology of Participation (TOP®) Facilitation; Collab®: Collaborative
Communication Operating System; Conversational Intelligence® for Coaches; Lencioni’s Five Behaviors® Authorized Partnerships; and Actualized Leadership and Group Culture Profile® Assessment tools, Robin has been facilitating generative and collaborative dialogue for over a decade.
Success Artisans
Structural Capital Specialists
Adam Sides
Adam Sides is a versatile leader with over 25 years of experience across diverse operational domains, bringing a common-sense approach to help organizations achieve their goals. Throughout his career, Adam has optimized large-scale programs, enhanced team performance, and driven innovation across both military and civilian sectors. As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Adam is equipped with specialized expertise to guide businesses through successful transitions, helping owners maximize value and plan for the future.
His expertise lies in identifying challenges, developing creative solutions, and implementing strategies that drive efficiency and growth. In his military career, Adam successfully managed high-impact operations, including critical disaster relief efforts and overseas deployments. His strategic approach resulted in a 30% increase in task processing efficiency and a 15% improvement in talent retention.
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Adam makes extraordinary things happen through inspiring change, challenging the status quo, organizing chaos, and supporting great people with great ideas! He thrives in collaborative environments and is passionate about working with teams to achieve shared objectives. Adam believes in building resilient teams, fostering continuous improvement, and communicating clearly to achieve long-term success.
Marc Vandenplas
A seasoned leader in statistics, AI, and data science, with over 25 years of global experience delivering decision intelligence, risk analytics, and enterprise transformation for Fortune 100 companies. Recognized for deep expertise in statistical causal modeling and machine learning, with a strong track record of developing predictive solutions that optimize marketing, operations, cybersecurity, and compliance.
As a senior advisor in high-stakes environments, I specialize in translating complex methodologies into clear, actionable strategies that enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and drive revenue. My work focuses on strategic initiatives that transform intellectual capital into scalable, intelligence-augmenting systems—strengthening decision-making, accelerating innovation, and institutionalizing expertise across the enterprise.
Proven success in leading cross-functional teams and executing enterprise-wide change management to deliver lasting impact.
Success Artisans
Social Capital Specialists
Michelle Augenstein
Michelle Augenstein, of Corner Office Image, will bring her expertise and experience to the Executive Presence and professional branding discussions and 1:1 sessions.
Growing up in a small Appalachian town, surrounded by cattle but yearning to be amidst city lights, she dreamed of her escape. Instinctually, she knew that how she looked, spoke, behaved and thought could change her life and plotted to leverage the annual sophomore class trip to D.C., to launch her grand plan; she stepped off that bus the person she was meant to be: a sophisticated city girl! After careful planning, shopping and lots of Aqua Net, the day arrived. Venturing through the city, she felt like herself for the first time and it was incredible. Sadly, it was short-lived and she boarded the bus back to her “real” life.
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When she started her first professional job (in D.C.!) she emulated the successful women around her; dressing in smart suits, striding into rooms with confidence and mastering a way of speaking that was both warm and concise. She discovered that despite her youth and inexperience, she had tremendous credibility. Doors opened, and she moved up the ladder, finally becoming her authentic self.
In CA many years later, she became the Executive Director of Wardrobe for Opportunity, a nonprofit agency helping low-income jobseekers get jobs, keep them and build careers. Each day, she saw the power of a strong professional image at play. Inspired by the potential of this work, she launched Corner Office Image in 2013. Her clients have nabbed promotions, launched new ventures and always leave a lasting impression.
Chief Happiness Officers
Chewy Dao, Chief Dog Officer
Chewy is a Yorkie who brings quiet wisdom to Liberated Leaders. He prefers observing from the sidelines—often napping through meetings—and only speaks up when he has something truly important to contribute. His thoughtful, low-key presence reminds the team that sometimes the best leadership is knowing when to stay quiet and when to bark.
Coco Fuhs, Chief Cat Officer
Coco takes a much more paws-on approach to her role. You'll find her in the middle of Zoom calls, supervising proceedings with keen attention, and ensuring quality control across all operations. She only occasionally pauses for a nap, and even then, one eye stays open. Her leadership style: be present, be involved, and never miss a thing.
