Sharna Fabiano is an artist, coach, author of Lead & Follow: The Dance of Inspired Teamwork and host of the Lead & Follow podcast. Her long study of improvisation and partnering has made her a specialist in Argentine Tango, for which she is recognized internationally. She brings her insights from the world of social dance into the professional sphere with an innovative training programs on leadership and followership for teams and organizations.

Sharna’s accomplishments in the dance world include establishing two tango schools, directing her own performing company, and founding a nonprofit organization. Throughout her dance career, she has been an outspoken advocate for learning both leading and following roles independent of gender, a practice that cultivates empathy, inclusion, and creativity.

In 2011, she collaborated with followership pioneer, Ira Chaleff, on a video training tool using tango to illustrate how followership directly impacts leadership in organizations. In 2017, she received a Hemera Foundation artist fellowship to explore the link between contemplative practice and art making. In 2019, she presented her work on leadership/followership dynamics at the very first Global Followership Conference, and more recently at conferences held by the Association for Change Management Professionals, the Association for Talent Development, and the International Leadership Association.

M.F.A. in Dance, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA (2014)
B.A. in Comparative Literature, William Smith College, Geneva, NY (1997)

Courageous Follower certification, Palm Beach Atlantic University, MacArthur School of Leadership (2018)
Coaching certification, Brilliance Academy for Personal Transformation & Social Change, Los Angeles (2016)
Yoga certification, True Nature Wellness, Los Angeles (2014)

Global Followership Conference, Steering Committee (2022-2024)
International Leadership Association, Followership Member Community Chair (2022-2024)
Teaching Followers Courage, Coordinating Council (2020-2022)