At Syngentic, we believe that a strong, innovative company is built on the people who power it every day. This month, we are proud to spotlight Tara Black, our Executive Assistant whose curiosity, adaptability, and passion for learning have made her a foundational part of our team.
Tara’s journey to Syngentic is a story of alignment where experience meets purpose. After nearly five years working independently in the AI space and with a background as an Executive Assistant, Tara was looking for a role that blended both worlds. When she and her family moved back to Philadelphia, Syngentic immediately stood out as the perfect place for her next chapter. The mission resonated, the work aligned with her strengths, and the culture felt right. It didn’t take long for her to become a core part of the team.
A Day in the Life: No Two Days Look the Same
One of Tara’s favorite parts of her role is its variety. “No day is ever the same,” she shared, and that’s exactly what keeps her energized. Her daily responsibilities span a wide range from managing communications, scheduling meetings, handling administrative tasks, filing reports, maintaining certifications, and managing expense reports. But Tara’s impact doesn’t stop there.
She supports marketing efforts, coordinates with partners, assists employees, and even serves as our education manager for strategic partnerships. Whether it’s registering Syngentic in new partner portals or identifying opportunities to help governments and utilities strengthen their AI journey, Tara is consistently at the center of the action. For her, the greatest reward is knowing her work helps drive progress, especially when she gets to research and develop reports that inform leadership decisions.
Inside Syngentic: A Culture Built on Teamwork & Curiosity
Tara describes Syngentic’s culture as “amazing”—a place where collaboration is genuine and communication is easy. The team’s multi-talented nature, she says, is what makes the environment so special. Individuals who lean into new challenges, explore trends, and embrace teamwork thrive in Syngentic’s fast-paced environment.
Developing Skills & Growing in the World of AI
One of Tara’s biggest accomplishments since joining Syngentic is the rapid expansion of her technical skill set. While she already had foundational experience in AI, she has now deepened her knowledge significantly—especially through our Databricks partnership. Tara currently holds 33 Databricks badges, a testament to her commitment to continuous learning and growth. She’s particularly proud of this achievement, seeing it as a major part of her professional development.
Staying organized in such a dynamic role requires discipline. Tara proudly calls herself a “list person,” relying on daily lists, monthly lists, meeting notes, and transcripts to keep everything aligned. She prioritizes tasks based on deadlines, business impact, and leadership needs, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks.
Values, Passions & What Drives Her Forward
Tara is deeply motivated by curiosity; she loves learning new things, digging into new information, and exploring creative projects. Writing for the blog, supporting marketing initiatives, and contributing her creativity to company-wide efforts all bring her a sense of fulfillment. She also stays inspired by remembering Syngentic’s long-term potential: “Syngentic is a unique company that has tremendous potential to be a major player in the AI and data sphere.”
Outside of work, Tara is an artist, writer, reader, and explorer. Her hobbies—whether traveling, teaching art, or discovering new ideas—reinforce the curiosity that makes her such a strong asset in the ever-changing tech landscape. These personal passions help her recharge and fuel the adaptability she brings to her role every day.
Looking ahead, Tara hopes to continue advancing her education over the next year through more certifications or even beginning an advanced degree. This commitment to growth mirrors the ambitious trajectory of Syngentic as a whole.
Fun Facts, Inspiration & Syngentic’s “Secret Sauce”
A fun fact many don’t know about Tara: when she’s not coordinating operations or driving her kids to sports, she’s actively writing and creating art. Creativity is woven into everything she does.
If she could share a coffee with anyone, she’d choose the legendary author Toni Morrison. Her question would be simple yet profound: How do you convey such deep emotion through words in a way that stays with readers long after they turn the page?
When asked what she believes is Syngentic’s “secret sauce,” Tara pointed directly to the team: a group of immensely talented individuals balancing decades of SAP expertise with fast-learning team members eager to master new technologies. Syngentic takes its partnerships seriously and approaches them with enthusiasm, speed, and dedication.
Representing Syngentic at PGW’s Supplier Development Program
This month, Tara also participated in the first module of Philadelphia Gas Works’ Supplier Development Program. She described the experience as inspiring and highly valuable. PGW’s staff was “helpful, informative, and invested in helping the cohort professionally.” Tara is looking forward to future sessions and strengthens Syngentic’s role as an emerging leader in government and utility innovation partnerships.
Looking Ahead
As Syngentic continues expanding in AI, data platforms, and enterprise technology, Tara sees her role evolving with more administrative responsibilities as the team grows—while also continuing to contribute to our AI development work, especially alongside Databricks. Her adaptability, eagerness to learn, and deepening technical skill set position her perfectly for the company Syngentic is becoming.
