Our Philosophy
Day One works with industry leaders to support the pursuit of excellence across revenue and non-revenue functions. We constructively challenge clients to talk straight, take personal risks with integrity and make committed decisions that create change for themselves and their operations. Our team of talented solutions experts and designers collaborate with our clients to customize programs for all levels of management for immediate relevance and impact in the workplace.
Our mission of serving our clients is rooted in our belief that all voices bring strength and perspective to the conversation. In all that we do, whether within our internal team or with our client partners, building a community of trust is paramount. We acknowledge that, since we are all different, we all have unique perspectives and abilities to share. We are committed to continual openness and acceptance to foster inclusion and belonging in our interactions and relationships. With this in mind, we have adopted the DEI statement offered by the Society of Human Resource Management that aligns with our mission. Day One Group Diversity Equity and Inclusion Policy
Day One Group President and Founder, Stephen Giordano
Stephen Giordano is President and Founder of Day One Group, a consulting firm that specializes in organizational transformation through executive coaching, skills-based leadership training and change management.
Stephen has over 20 years of experience both as an executive coach and a strategic consultant, working with a wide variety of Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 firms. Current clients include Morgan Stanley, Spotify, MetLife, Bloomberg, UBS, Neuberger Berman, Deutsche Bank, and New York Road Runners.
As a coach and consultant, Stephen consistently challenges his clients to balance their long-term vision with short-term execution. A key focus of his coaching methodology is the dynamics of interpersonal skills as it impacts team management, client relationships and leadership development.
Stephen is unique in his ability to constructively encourage his clients to self-reflect honestly, take personal risks to act with integrity, and make committed decisions that create desired change for themselves and their organizations. In addition to coaching, Stephen advises leadership teams on strategy, organizational development, and talent management. He works with leaders at all levels and supports the pursuit of excellence across revenue and non-revenue functions alike. Day One Group is dedicated to transforming managers into leaders and potential talent into realized achievement while ultimately helping companies succeed in honoring their mission as well as reaching their bottom-line objectives.
Stephen began his consulting career in 1998 and worked as a Managing Director for an international organizational training company from 2004-2011 before starting his own business. Prior to entering consulting, Stephen spent ten years in higher education administration during which time he managed, trained and mentored staff and faculty members. Stephen holds a B.A. in English from Georgetown University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Manhattanville College. Stephen is a member of the iCoach-New York program and has professional certifications in Social Styles, Lumina Spark, Self Management Profiles, DiSC and the Harrison Assessment.
Francesca Ferrara – Executive Coach and Director, Client Experience
Francesca Ferrara has been with Day One Group since its founding. As an operations orchestrator, she oversees client relations and project management, while working closely with our team of designers and facilitators to ensure the quality and success of Day One Group programs. Her commitment to professional development and learning facilitation has been a cornerstone of her career.
As a former teacher with a Master of Education degree, Francesca understands both the theoretical tenets and practical applications of designing and implementing meaningful and memorable curriculum. Her passion for creating learning tools with real-life applicability is evident in her contributions to Day One Group’s customized program designs for clients such as UBS, Neuberger Berman, Morgan Stanley, and New York Road Runners. Her experience as a professional writer in both the academic and entertainment industries provides a synthesized blend of subject area knowledge and accessibility to our content.
With over 15 years of corporate experience in both the for- and non-profit sectors of the sports and entertainment industries, Francesca has developed a deep understanding of and respect for the importance of skills-based training in the workplace. As a manager in the international licensing and marketing division of the National Hockey League, she worked with 80+ licensees around the globe and developed a balanced and versatile style when working with clients. Francesca’s firm grasp of the skills needed to help team members meet their full potential continues to enable real organizational success with local and remote teams of varying expertise.
Francesca also leads Day One Group’s executive coaching practice. She is an ICF ACC credentialed executive coach, trained and certified through the Baruch University iCoach NY program. In her coaching practice, Francesca’s dedication to developing leaders in the workplace stems from a passion to help others achieve their goals by deepening their self-awareness and creating actionable plans for growth. She has coached high potential managers to business leaders on individual skill acquisition, overall professional development, and leadership capabilities. Francesca is certified by The Tracom Group to administer, debrief and train individuals and groups in the Social Styles and Resilience assessment model. She is also a certified Lumina Spark facilitator.
Francesca is a graduate of Columbia University and resides in New Jersey with her two sons. She is actively involved in her local school district improving the quality of educational and enrichment offerings for students. In her free time, she enjoys running and playing tennis.
Christina Morfeld – Director of Learning Solutions
Christina Morfeld, Director of Learning Solutions
Christina Morfeld is Director of Learning Solutions for Day One Group, where she is responsible for course development and curriculum management. In collaboration with colleagues and clients, she creates and customizes synchronous, asynchronous, and blended training programs.
The focus of Christina’s 20+ years of instructional design experience has been strengthening workplace soft skills through instructor-led and virtual instructor-led workshops and highly interactive eLearning. Christina is passionate about crafting learning experiences that drive behavior change and improve performance.
Prior to Day One Group, Christina was Director of Learning Solutions for Soft Skills Group and VP of Simulation-Based Training for Access Technologies Group. She was responsible for eLearning strategy, course development, quality assurance, and content management for those companies. Christina has also filled a variety of other instructional design and content development roles on a staff and freelance basis.
Christina earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with an Industrial/Organizational concentration, from Hofstra University. She received a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida. In her spare time, Christina enjoys volunteering with her daughter at a cat rescue group in Connecticut.
Mayra Lopez – Office Manager & Sr. Administrative Assistant
Mayra Lopez, Office Manager & Sr. Administrative Assistant
As Office Manager and Sr. Administrative Assistant, Mayra Lopez keeps Day One Group optimized. Mayra runs the office and manages all administrative aspects of our client partnerships. With over six years of experience in executive support and client relations, Mayra is a key player in the client communication and program administration process.
Mayra has a proven track record of building lasting relationships and a strong reputation for managing service excellence. Mayra honed these skills working for the US Tennis Association and the US Open in her past role. This experience also enriched her skill in dealing with diverse clients and collaborating with all levels of staff to reach company objectives. Her skills and creativity are just some of the few traits that make her a great fit here at Day One Group.
Mayra graduated from Iona College with a BA in Mass Communications with a focus on Public Relations. She is bi-lingual. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and it’s always around a dinner table!