Meet Us
Joan M. Starkowsky, MA, BCC
Founder and Principal
I help individuals and organizations lead with authenticity, clarity, and impact.
I am the Founder and Principal of Sirocco Coach-Consulting, LLC and co-creator of the Self-CEO™ Coaching System. My work is deeply inspired by the legacy of my equine partner of more than 20 years, Sirocco. I named my firm after him because he was the ultimate teacher of authentic leadership and self-leadership—a horse who required me to lead from within before he would follow.
While Sirocco no longer walks the pastures at Winds of Change Farm, his lessons on trust, resilience, presence, and authentic leadership remain the foundation of everything I do with my clients. His influence continues to shape how I guide leaders to develop self-awareness, strength, and integrity in the way they lead themselves and others.
My Approach
I am a Board-Certified Personal and Professional Coach, Executive Leadership Coach, and Certified PI Talent Optimization Consultant. I guide leaders to harness their strengths, navigate change and transition, and lead with authenticity and clarity.
My approach draws on decades of leadership and business experience and is grounded in the natural wisdom of Winds of Change Farm, where reflection, presence, and perspective come naturally.
My professional journey began in sales management and evolved through multiple levels of management and executive leadership, with an early foundation as a Master’s-level Rehabilitation Counselor that continues to inform my human-centered approach.
Across every role, my passion has remained consistent: helping people grow and develop, maximize their strengths and talents, discover their direction, and live with meaning and purpose.
A Foundation of Success Through Self-Leadership
I believe self-leadership is the foundation for all success. Transformation begins from the inside out. Whether I am coaching individuals through their next chapter, strengthening leadership teams, or cultivating thriving learning communities, my work is centered on helping people lead themselves with intention, resilience, and clarity.
Innovation at Scale
Prior to founding Sirocco Coach-Consulting and co-creating the Self-CEO™ Framework and the Sirocco 7™ Dimensions of Well-Being, I founded Roadway Reverse Logistics, Inc. and implemented the logistics start-up within a $3-billion Fortune 500 transportation company. Within this innovative environment, my team and I earned a patent for a groundbreaking business method and web-based portal that established the organization as a recognized leader in the field of reverse logistics.
This experience continues to shape my work today, bridging strategic thinking, operational insight, and human-centered leadership.
Rooted in Authenticity, Powered by Purpose
I have always believed that the most powerful way to lead is to live authentically. These are not simply principles I coach; they are values I have lived throughout my leadership journey. Trust, growth, resilience, and purpose guide how I show up—with integrity and care in every partnership I build.
Let's Connect
If you are seeking a coach, consultant, or speaker who brings both depth of experience and a genuine passion for transformation, I would welcome the opportunity to connect. Together, we can explore what’s possible for your life, your leadership, or your organization.
Testimonial
“Joan at Sirocco Coach-Consulting worked with our leadership team, of which I was a member. I feel fortunate to have benefited from her outstanding insight and coaching. Through her effective use of tools such as strengths-based leadership, she helped us better recognize our individual strengths and understand how, as a team, we could more effectively leverage those strengths to significantly improve our performance.
Not only do I see the impact of her work every day, I find my work more enjoyable as well. I highly recommend Joan to anyone interested in growing as a leader.”
Daniel Wakeman
Vice President & Chief Information Officer
Mary Ellen Garofalo, MSN, RN, CRRN, SPHR
Managing Consultant
I am an integrative health nurse, well-being coach, and consultant dedicated to fostering restoration and renewal in every aspect of life.
As a Managing Consultant at Sirocco Coach-Consulting and co creator of the Self-CEO™ Coaching System, I bring a holistic perspective to leadership and personal growth. With a Master’s in Nursing Leadership and a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification, I bridge the gap between clinical expertise and organizational health.
A Holistic Approach to Healing and Leadership. I believe that true well-being addresses the physical, emotional, and organizational dimensions of our lives. My experience as a rehabilitation nurse and home health leader has taught me that restoration requires a balance of empathy and strategy. Whether I am guiding a patient toward independence or helping a team build a culture of wellness, my goal is to lead with vision and compassion.
Rooted in Purpose and Faith. My professional work is deeply intertwined with my faith and involvement in Christian ministry. I consider it a calling to promote spiritual renewal and build communities of hope, supporting others as they navigate their own journeys of transformation.
Trust and Collaboration. I am passionate about helping people find their unique strengths and talents. As a Certified Talent Optimization Consultant, I focus on creating environments where collaboration and personal development are at the forefront.
I would love to walk beside you as you explore new paths for your life or organization.
Testimonial
Mary Ellen Garofalo is one of the most hard working, passionate, committed, and grounded people I have had the pleasure of working with.
Mary Ellen’s tenacity to develop relationships with all whom she comes in contact with, learn every market that her program serviced, create start- up programs in hospitals throughout the country, and really nurture those relationships with the utmost of care, are some of the reasons for her success.
As a nurse, Mary Ellen’s compassion is evident in everything that she does. She is such a hard worker, an innovator, super creative, and has a great sense of humor. Her knowledge of the home care industry is excellent, given her years in the business.
I would highly recommend Mary Ellen. She is a passionate professional and a true asset to any organization!
Susan Ingalls
Regional Director
BAYADA Home Health Care