Whitney Faires: From Climbing the Corporate Ladder to Elevating Others

In the medical device industry, Whitney Faires was a force to be reckoned with. For almost two decades, she climbed the corporate ladder at Intuitive, a leader in surgical robotics, with the determination of an Olympic athlete. But beneath the surface of her career, a different dream was taking shape – one that would ultimately lead her to trade boardrooms for coaching sessions and sales pitches for inspirational keynotes.

Whitney’s story begins not in the corporate world, but on the volleyball court at the University of Virginia. As a record-setting student-athlete, she set four NCAA Division 1 records, was a three-time team captain, and earned NCAA All-American honors in 2003. Her leadership skills were evident even then, as she received the Louis A. Onesty Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award and the Craig Fielder Memorial Award for exceptional leadership and academic performance.

This drive for excellence followed Whitney into her professional life. As a young professional eager to make her mark in pharmaceutical sales, she quickly stood out. Hungry for a greater challenge, at 24, she made a bold cross-country move to take a high-stakes sales role in the healthcare space. The transition wasn’t smooth sailing – Whitney found herself struggling to gain traction in her new role.

“I moved across the country to Los Angeles, and I was about two weeks into the job when my leader was promoted to the VP of Sales,” Whitney recalls. “Eight weeks in, I realized I was at risk of failing. I knew hard work and grit alone weren’t going to lead to the results I expected of myself.”

It was a pivotal moment. Instead of throwing in the towel, Whitney sought out mentorship from the executive who had hired her. This decision changed the trajectory of her career. Within months, she turned her performance around completely, ultimately clinching the coveted Rookie of the Year award.

“That experience was transformative,” Whitney says. “It truly changes you as a person. It boosts your confidence, builds resilience, and enables you to see greater possibilities for your career. I felt this deep sense of purpose to do this for others.”

Less than a year after her turnaround at Lumenis, Whitney’s talents caught the eye of Intuitive, a leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery. This move would shape the next 16 years of her career.

At Intuitive, Whitney’s role expanded far beyond sales. She partnered with hospitals to develop cutting-edge surgical robotics programs, launched new sales organizations, and built high-performing teams. Perhaps her most impressive feat was leading her team to build and manage a $2 billion international lease portfolio in just 6 years, revolutionizing how hospitals acquired medical technology.

But for all her business acumen, Whitney found her true calling in developing others. “There’s something magical about watching someone realize their full potential,” Whitney reflects. “It’s not just about improving performance; it’s about helping people see possibilities they never imagined for themselves.”

This passion led her to dedicate over 1,000 hours to coaching high-performing professionals, witnessing firsthand the impact of empowering others to overcome obstacles. Through these experiences, Whitney discovered that her greatest fulfillment came not from her own achievements, but from catalyzing the growth and success of those around her.

Her passion for leadership development led her to establish an Organizational Health function at Intuitive. Whitney spearheaded high-impact programs and led a team that created a comprehensive development curriculum for the global finance organization. The results were staggering with program data showing a clear impact on performance, effectiveness, and employee engagement.

Additionally, Whitney served as the Chief of Staff to the CFO developing talent pipeline programs and leading initiatives to drive organizational health. Beyond her official role, Whitney’s commitment to empowering others, particularly women, shaped her extracurricular activities at Intuitive. She took on leadership positions in several key initiatives: serving as the Chair of Women in Finance (WiFi) and sitting on the Board of the Women Intuitive Network (WIN).

Despite her corporate success, Whitney harbored a silent dream. “For years, I had this desire to start my own company focused on inspiring transformation in others,” she confides. “But there were always reasons to hesitate – a successful career, a company I loved, and a busy family life.”

The turning point came in November 2018 at a leadership conference. “Something shifted within me,” Whitney remembers. “The pull to launch my company became too strong to ignore. I realized I had a story to share and value to offer. This was the moment I committed to making my vision a reality and started planning for the future.”

In 2019 Whitney began her journey as a coach and has since impacted hundreds of leaders and executives. She founded Whitney Faires Coaching, Speaking & Development in 2024 to empower impact-driven professionals to turn adversity into opportunity, strengthen their mindset, and achieve their limitless potential.

Today, Whitney channels her expertise as an executive coach, keynote speaker, and leadership expert, working with various clients and organizations. Her impact in the field has even earned her recognition from notable organizations such as Power To Fly and GenHERation.

But at the heart of Whitney’s approach is her signature framework, “The Excellence Equation.” An 8-step methodology designed to transform professionals from underestimated to unstoppable. Guiding clients through developing a magnetic mindset, reframing adversity as opportunity, building resilience, and honing their leadership skills.

“My goal is to inspire and empower people to take action,” Whitney asserts. “I want to help them bet on themselves in big ways, tackle ambitious goals, and create a process to consistently achieve them.”

Looking ahead, Whitney aims to expand her impact through keynote speaking engagements, corporate leadership development programs, and leadership retreats.

Whitney’s journey from corporate executive to empowerment coach serves as an inspiration for those considering a similar transition. Her story demonstrates the power of following one’s passion and leveraging hard-earned experience to make a broader impact.

“Dream the dream, build the plan, and bet on yourself in big ways,” Whitney often tells her clients. It’s a mantra that has served her well in her own journey – one that continues to unfold as she helps others unlock their full potential and achieve extraordinary success.