Stories Work.
Stories Work is an advisory practice for moments when leadership decisions carry lasting consequences. The stories leaders carry shape how they interpret risk, exercise authority, and take action.
I work with senior leaders and institutions when the cost of misjudgment is high, the familiar narrative no longer holds, and decision-making cannot be outsourced.
My work helps leaders see beyond surface solutions, name what is truly at stake, and choose a path they can stand behind under scrutiny.
Executive & Institutional Advisory
Executive & Institutional Advisory is designed for senior leaders and institutions facing decisions with lasting consequences. This work is appropriate when the cost of misjudgment is high, familiar ways of thinking no longer hold, and decisions cannot be delegated. Engagements are retained and carefully structured to support clear thinking and sound decision-making under scrutiny.
This work often supports leaders during:
periods of transition or increased responsibility
moments of reputational, cultural, or governance risk
complex decisions involving multiple stakeholders and long-term impact
The focus of this work is not execution or performance management. It is judgment, clarity, and consequence.
Engagements typically begin with a conversation to assess fit and scope.
Authorship as Leadership
The work I do with leaders and institutions is grounded in a simple but often unexamined premise: authorship is an act of leadership. The stories shaping identity, authority, and possibility determine outcomes long before strategy is set.
This audio essay offers a clear articulation of the thinking that underpins my advisory and board work.
Reflections from Collaborators and Clients
Selected reflections from leaders and collaborators on clarity, judgment, and decision-making under complexity.
Ara’s coaching mindset is a true differentiator. She asks incisive, generative questions that widen perspective, spark connections, and help people navigate complexity with confidence. I’ve seen her strengthen leaders, unlock capability, and catalyze meaningful change across functions and levels.
— Global Talent & Leadership Development Leader with deep expertise in organizational capability, talent management, and executive growth
Ara is a thoughtful, practiced, and deeply learned advocate for mentoring, guiding, and advancing human skill development across industries. An attentive listener with a calm, confident presence, Ara brings a rare blend of insight, experience, and empathy — drawing on a lifetime of leadership, learning, and observation.
I’m proud to serve alongside her on two boards and have learned a great deal from both our collaboration and friendship.
— Board director and private investor with extensive leadership experience across multiple industries
Ara’s Storytelling in Public session was deeply moving and beautifully crafted. From the moment she began with song and story, the room was captivated. Her openness invited connection, and her reflections on finding her voice resonated with everyone in the group — many of us were visibly moved.
Through her generosity and warmth, Ara created an experience that reminded us how personal stories can bridge differences and help us see ourselves more clearly.
— Program Manager, Foundation for Contemporary Arts (NYC); formerly Senior Fellowship Manager, Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art
Meet Ara Tucker
Ara Tucker is an advisor to senior leaders and institutions navigating complex decisions and periods of heightened responsibility. She brings over two decades of experience as an executive operator and board member, with deep exposure to how leadership decisions shape culture, outcomes, and institutional trust.
Ara earned her AB from Princeton University and her JD from NYU School of Law. She began her career as a corporate attorney at a global law firm and later served in senior executive leadership roles, including multiple Chief People Officer positions and as a member of CEO-led executive teams at Flatiron Health, Cityblock Health, and Audible, an Amazon company.
Ara’s board service includes MoMA PS1, where she chairs the Audit Committee and sits on the Executive and Building Committees as well as The Dermot Company, where she chairs the Corporate Responsibility and Operations Committee.
These experiences inform her advisory work with leaders operating under scrutiny, constraint, and long-term accountability.
Let’s Work Together
Inquiries about advisory work begin with a conversation to assess fit and scope.