Tara Ferguson
About Tara Ferguson
Tara Ferguson is the Associate Director, People Business Partner at Exscientia, where she focuses on employee wellbeing and leadership development. With extensive experience in human resources and a background in psychology, she specializes in identifying root causes of challenges to develop effective solutions.
Work at Exscientia
Tara Ferguson currently serves as Associate Director, People Business Partner at Exscientia, a position she has held since 2022. Based in Dundee, Scotland, she works in a hybrid capacity. Prior to this role, she was a Senior People Specialist at Exscientia for 11 months in 2022. In her current role, she focuses on employee wellbeing and leadership development, employing her expertise in lean methodologies and agile practices.
Previous Experience at PepsiCo
Tara Ferguson has extensive experience at PepsiCo, where she held multiple roles over several years. She worked as HR Business Partner from 2014 to 2018, focusing on Quaker Oats in Cupar, Fife. Following this, she served as Lean Leadership Coach from 2019 to 2022, further enhancing her skills in leadership and employee engagement. Additionally, she was the UK Health & Wellness Manager for one year in 2015.
Education and Expertise
Tara Ferguson earned a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Kent, studying from 1999 to 2002. She also completed her Chartered MCIPD certification between 2002 and 2006. Her educational background supports her expertise in identifying root causes of challenges and developing preventive solutions, particularly in the context of employee wellbeing and organizational development.
Background in Human Resources
Tara Ferguson has a diverse background in human resources, having worked in various organizations before her current role. She was an HR Business Partner at Unilever from 2002 to 2006 and at Finmeccanica - Electronics, Defence & Security Systems from 2008 to 2014. Her experience spans multiple sectors, allowing her to build meaningful relationships and address organizational challenges effectively.
Focus on Continuous Improvement
Tara Ferguson emphasizes sustainable improvements in her work by addressing root causes of issues. She advocates for an iterative approach to progression, highlighting the importance of collaboration, continuous improvement, and objective measurement. Her focus on employee wellbeing and leadership development aligns with her commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture.