When Taahirah O’Neal looks at a financial statement today, it’s not just rows of figures. She sees a narrative taking shape—cash flows that reveal priorities, sustainability plans that hint at long-term impact, and strategic opportunities waiting to be unlocked.
That wasn’t always the case.
When she began her first Financial Accounting module in Harvard Business School Online’s Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, the numbers told a very different story. To her, they reinforced a belief she’d carried for years.
“I used to tell myself I just wasn’t a ‘numbers person,’ that I didn’t belong in rooms where strategy and finance were the focus,” O’Neal recalls.
Not long after, that belief would be tested in a very real way.
In December 2024, O’Neal was elected to The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation’s board of directors—a role that placed her in high-stakes discussions alongside seasoned leaders, where financial and operational decisions directly impact local communities.
“I felt a deep responsibility to show up informed, prepared, and confident,” she explains. “I’d be sitting alongside leaders with incredible experience, and I wanted to make sure I could meaningfully contribute to the conversations happening in that room.”
HBS Online’s CORe program became her path forward—not just as a learning opportunity, but as a bridge to financial fluency and the confidence to lead at the board level.
Closing the Business Fluency Gap
O’Neal’s career isn’t linear. She began in corporate internal communications at PepsiCo before carving out a niche in experiential marketing, where her work blended pop culture, sports, and community engagement through campaigns tied to organizations like the NBA, NFL, and various nonprofits.
“Those experiences taught me how to build meaningful campaigns that don’t just look good but actually serve people,” she says.
But board governance required a different skill set—one rooted in financial analysis, strategic frameworks, and data-driven decision-making. Around the time she joined the Foundation’s board, O’Neal launched a public relations firm, making the need for business acumen even more urgent.
That convergence of responsibilities led her to enroll in CORe.
“CORe offered the credibility and rigor I was looking for, but also the flexibility to learn while managing everything else on my plate,” O’Neal explains. “I wasn’t just looking to take a course. I wanted to strengthen my foundation in finance, strategy, and data so I could grow into the kind of leader I knew I was becoming.”
What she found exceeded those expectations, equipping her with tools she could apply immediately as real-time decisions unfolded.
From Frameworks to Real-World Decisions
Through CORe’s three courses—Financial Accounting, Business Analytics, and Economics for Managers— O’Neal began translating theory into practice. The frameworks didn’t stay abstract for long.
During a board review of a major Foundation initiative, the Las Vegas youth development facility, she found herself drawing directly on what she learned.
“It’s a major capital project, and Financial Accounting helped me better understand the budget breakdown, cash flow, and long-term sustainability plan,” she recalls. “I was able to ask more focused questions, contribute meaningfully to strategic discussions, and really engage with the numbers—not just from a nonprofit perspective, but through a stronger, business-informed lens.”
But O’Neal’s engagement with the project extends beyond spreadsheets. For her, the facility represents a long-term investment in opportunity, inspiration, and refuge—a place where young people can feel safe, supported, and empowered to imagine more for themselves.
“Long-term, I want this facility to stand as a living legacy—one that reflects the values of the O’Neal family and continues to serve generations of youth and families in Las Vegas,” she says. “In my role, I support my father and our executive leadership by offering strategic input, helping shape communication around key initiatives, and making sure we’re aligned on the bigger picture.”
CORe’s frameworks also transformed how O’Neal runs her public relations business. In Economics for Managers, she was introduced to the concept of willingness to pay—how audiences perceive and assign value.
“It completely changed how I think about value and positioning,” she says. “I now apply it across campaigns, partnerships, and even pricing strategy. It gave me the tools to balance storytelling with real data, and that’s been invaluable in every space I move through.”
Leadership Forged Through Adversity
O’Neal’s commitment to clarity, empathy, and purpose was forged through deeply personal experience. In 2021, she was diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, a rare neurological condition. As she navigated the uncertainty that followed, she became acutely aware of a broader absence—particularly the lack of visible advocates, especially young Black women, speaking openly about chronic illness.
“That moment single-handedly shifted something in me,” she reflects. “I realized I didn’t just want to lead—I wanted to use my voice for those who felt overlooked or silenced. That experience ignited my passion for advocacy, accessibility, and building platforms that center real people and real needs.”
That diagnosis also clarified what she needed from her professional development. Managing a chronic condition while building new skills meant she couldn’t commit to a rigid schedule. She needed an accessible learning environment that could adapt to unpredictable days—something HBS Online’s self-paced structure made possible.
Professionally, she’d already navigated countless spaces where she was the youngest in the room, the only woman, or the only person of color. Growing up watching her father, Shaquille O’Neal, a former professional basketball player and sports analyst, use his platform to make a difference further informed her understanding of leadership and legacy.
“At the same time,” she explains, “I’ve had to discover what leadership looks like in my voice, on my terms—and that’s something I’m still evolving every day.”
Finding Community in Online Learning
What surprised O’Neal most about HBS Online wasn’t the rigor of the coursework; she anticipated that. It was the sense of connection.
“I expected the content to be challenging—which it was—but I didn’t expect to feel so engaged with the platform, the pacing, and especially the community,” she shares. “I loved how interactive it was. Even though I was learning remotely, I never felt like I was doing it alone.”
CORe’s combination of case studies, peer interaction, and practical application—all hallmarks of the HBS Online learning experience—kept her motivated as she balanced board responsibilities, client communications, and personal commitments.
Rewriting an Old Story
Beyond business frameworks and financial models, CORe gave O’Neal something more fundamental: proof she belonged.
“The biggest impact was the confidence it gave me,” she stresses. “I’ve always trusted my instincts, but this program gave me the tools to back them up. I started thinking more critically, asking sharper questions, and trusting myself in rooms I used to second-guess.”
Through CORe, she demonstrated to herself that she could grasp complex financial and analytical concepts and thrive. It wasn’t just about understanding financial health or resource allocation; it was about proving she could master whatever she set her mind to.
“It reminded me that I deserve to be in these spaces—not just because of who I am or what I’ve done, but because I’ve put in the work to grow,” O’Neal says. “That mindset shift has carried over into every part of my life, professionally and personally.”
Her Advice: Start Before You’re Ready
For professionals considering an HBS Online program while juggling demanding careers and striving for better work–life balance, O’Neal’s advice is simple: Start now.
“Give yourself permission to grow—even if the timing isn’t ideal,” she urges. “There’s rarely going to be a perfect moment to take something like this on, especially when you’re already balancing a lot. But the program is built for real life. It’s flexible, it’s structured, and it gives you the space to learn without having to put the rest of your world on pause.”
Managing coursework alongside her busy lifestyle required discipline, but the program’s structure made sustained progress achievable.
“My biggest advice would be don’t wait for things to slow down,” O’Neal says, “just start. You’ll find your rhythm and come out on the other side more confident, more prepared, and proud of what you pushed through to get there.”
Confidence Built on Capability
Today, O’Neal moves fluidly between board meetings, client strategy sessions, and Foundation initiatives, guided by a confidence rooted in capability. The frameworks she gained through HBS Online have become integral to how she thinks, questions, and leads.
“HBS Online gave me the tools to participate in higher-level conversations, especially as a board member working alongside leaders I deeply respect,” she reflects. “But the biggest takeaway was personal: it reminded me that I belong wherever I decide to be. I’m capable. I’m prepared. And this journey is just the beginning.”
For those considering a similar path, whether navigating a career transition or seeking greater business fluency, O’Neal’s CORe experience offers a clear blueprint.
As she continues to grow across multiple roles, that foundation remains constant—built not just on frameworks and formulas, but on the certainty that she belongs in every room she enters.
Considering a new role or career shift that calls for stronger business and financial acumen? Explore HBS Online’s Credential of Readiness (CORe)
program, and download our online learning success guide to start preparing for your HBS Online journey today.
