by Sakita Holley
Tara Dowdell is no stranger to competition. In 2005, while still employed as an executive with the Port Authority, she was invited to join the third-season cast of Donald Trump’s hit show, The Apprentice. Although she was not hired by Trump in the end, Dowdell remained undeterred, leveraging her newfound spotlight from the show and a buyout offer from her employer to launch a consulting venture that would eventually morph into what is known today as The Tara Dowdell Group. We recently caught up with Dowdell for her take on how she rose from an apprentice to a boss.
When you joined The Apprentice, was your goal to work for Donald Trump long-term or did you have a larger vision for yourself?
I definitely had a larger vision for myself, but unfortunately I have to admit that I did not have a strategy to translate that vision into reality. Luckily, I am a big believer in learning from my mistakes and course correcting, which is what I did.
While on the show, you were employed with the Port Authority. What was your role there?
I worked for the International Shipping arm of the Port Authority, where my primary responsibility was to develop and implement a communications and government relations strategy for the multi-billion dollar redevelopment of the seaports operated by the agency. It was a massive infrastructure project, and I was the first African American to hold my position.
Prior to joining the Port Authority, I served as the Director of Appointments in the New Jersey Governor’s Office. As Director of Appointments, I ran the office that managed the selection and nomination of gubernatorial appointments to over 550 statewide regulatory boards and commissions. I was the youngest person and the first African American to hold this position.
What year did you launch the Tara Dowdell Group?
I started consulting in September 2005, and formally incorporated the Tara Dowdell Group in March 2006.
Did you launch your business immediately after leaving the show?
No, I stayed at the Port Authority for several months after appearing on the Apprentice. I ended up leaving after the agency offered a buyout package to all employees, which I decided to take. I then used the money from the buyout to launch my consulting business.
