The Surge
By Raise the Tide™
Talent and Grit Got You Here. Where Will the Right
Room Take You Next ?
An exclusive year-long advisory room for high-achieving Senior Manager to VP-level women in Communications who operate at the intersection of reputation, risk, and real business consequence. Two rooms, limited spots.
The Surge
By Raise the Tide™
Talent and Grit Got You Here. Where Will the Right Room Take You Next
An exclusive year-long advisory room for high-achieving Senior Manager to VP-level women in Communications who operate at the intersection of reputation, risk, and real business consequence. Two rooms, limited spots.
You’re Already Good At What You Do
(Ironically, That’s The Problem)
People trust you. You always deliver. You’re the one that executives turn to when things are sensitive, messy, or high-stakes.
And yet…
- You’re carrying far more than most people see.
- You’re translating conversations more than you’re shaping them.
- You’re making important decisions without peers to pressure-test with first.
- You’re the only one in the room who fully understands the impact communications has on real business outcomes.
It’s not that you can’t figure it out alone.
But you know that navigating it alone is the slower, harder path.
Sound like you? You’re in the right place.
Where Ambitious Women In Comms
Come To Get Real Results
The Surge by Raise the Tide™ is a year-long, career-shifting advisory room where mid-to-senior level women in communications—PR, Internal Comms, Executive Comms, Public Affairs, and beyond—come to do the work that moves careers forward in ways that actually matter.
It’s where highly ambitious women come to grow as leaders, not just as job titles.
Where the thinking gets sharper because the people around you understand the stakes.
Where the counsel is real because it comes from someone who has lived this work.
Where your peers push you further than you’d push yourself.
And where the results speak for themselves.
Intentionally Small Crew
Unapologetically Big Outcomes
This is a curated room. We keep the groups intentionally small to keep the impact high. Tara personally reviews every application and considers each woman’s fit with the group as much as her fit with the experience—because the quality of the room depends on who’s in it.
Crew members have walked away with:
- Promotions (yep, several of them)
- New perfect-fit roles (planned or not)
- Raises of 10 to 40%
- Expanded teams
- Bigger budgets (even after an initial “no”)
- Peers they couldn’t find anywhere else
Ready for results like these in your career?
You Don’t Need To Work Harder.
You Need A Room Where The Right Thinking Happens.
Most senior communicators are already strong advisors and executors. Next-level leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about clarity, intention, and judgment. Knowing when to push, when to pause, and how to shape decisions before they’re set in motion.
It’s about how you lead when things are complex, the stakes are high, and there’s little room for error.
You need true peers to pressure-test with. Guidance from someone who’s been there. And space to think before everything feels urgent.
And that requires a different kind of room.
Different by Design
Most leadership programs are broad and theoretical. They’re designed to change you. The Surge isn’t that. The work inside The Surge is specific, intentional, and real. It works with who you are and how you lead, not against it.
Here’s how it works:
Leadership Development & Coaching
- Monthly leadership calls blending communications topics and real-life application
- Direct access to Tara for experienced counsel rooted in decades of in-house and advisory leadership
- Expert counsel for navigating complex leadership dynamics and executive pressures
- Personalized counsel aligned to your goals and challenges
There’s no pre-set agenda. The counsel and conversations reflect what’s actually happening with women in the room.
Peer-Level Learning & Mentorship
- A one-of-a-kind in-person retreat each year designed for deeper learning, reflection, and connection
- Learning alongside women at your level, not aspirational networking
- Peer relationships you can’t build inside your own organization
- Thoughtful perspective sharing and feedback from trusted peers
It’s not your grandfather’s networking group. It’s finding a crew who understands the stakes and shows up when it matters.
A CONFIDENTIAL ROOM FOR REAL CONVERSATIONS
- A room where you can speak honestly, ask the questions without judgement, and say the actual thing without editing yourself
- Conversations about power, boundaries, and trade-offs that don’t happen anywhere else
- A trusted environment where confidentiality is required, not negotiated
- Ongoing access to the group between calls, questions, decisions, and real-time counsel
What’s said in The Surge stays in The Surge. Confidentiality matters. This is the room built for the conversations that don’t happen anywhere else.
The Retreat That Anchors The Experience
Ask any member and you’ll hear a highlight of The Surge experience is the retreat, an in-person experience designed to bring the crew together, build trust, and generate shared momentum. It’s a chance to step out of the day-to-day, creating space for deeper personal reflection, honest conversation, and meaningful connection alongside women who understand the complexity of this field.
It’s also where the women in the room truly become the crew you know you can count on.
Why it Works
Year-Long By Design
Year-Long By Design
Rooted In Reality, Not Theory
Rooted In Reality, Not Theory
Counsel From Someone Who’s Been There
Counsel From Someone Who’s Been There
Intentionally Small Crew
Intentionally Small Crew
Retreat-Led Impact
Retreat-Led Impact
Are You A Fit For The Crew?
The women invited into The Surge are already doing serious work.
They don’t need to be changed. They just need the right room to grow.
That’s you if:
- You’re a woman mid or senior-level, in-house communications professional (Senior Manager, Director, Senior Director, VP, etc.).
- You’re an ambitious overachiever who expects more from yourself and from your role.
- You’re navigating complex decisions with real business, reputational, and people impact.
- You’re open to new perspectives and are eager to learn from others in the field.
- You’re willing to be pushed outside your comfort zone when it matters most.
- You value hands-on mentorship, peer-level collaboration, and conversations that view communications as the critical business function that it is.
And you want:
- Stronger authority and greater influence with executive leaders, without burning out to earn it.
- The ability to shape decisions, advocate more effectively, and set (and hold) healthy boundaries.
- A confidential room to vent, test ideas, and learn without fear of judgment.
- To be surrounded by women who understand the nuance, pressure, and frustration of this field (no explaining required).
- Leadership growth that translates into real outcomes (promotions, expanded teams, increased budgets, and greater impact) without requiring you to be someone else to earn them.
Checking all the boxes?
Meet Your Mentor & Coach
Tara McDonagh
CEO, Chief Communications Strategist, and Founder of Raise the Tide™
After decades working as a communications leader inside complex organizations, I know what it’s like to lead when the pressure is high and there’s no obvious right answer. You’re expected to have perspective, confidence, and clarity… often without a space to pause, talk things through, test ideas out loud, or ask the questions that feel vulnerable.
I created The Surge by Raise the Tide™ to be just that. A room for honest conversation and meaningful challenge alongside women who truly understand the intricacies of this field. As your advisor and fellow communications leader, I’m here to help you sort through what matters, challenge assumptions when needed, and lead with greater clarity, confidence, intention, and impact. This work isn’t theoretical for me. It’s the leadership reality I’ve lived and advised inside for decades.
The Surge is the kind of room I would have loved to be in… but it didn’t exist.
So I created it.
Let’s Talk About The Investment
The investment reflects a full year of advisory access, peer engagement, and an in-person retreat. It’s significant, and it’s not accidental. Many crew members secure full or partial funding through professional development budgets or employer sponsorship. Others pay out of pocket and see the return quicker than expected:
“Raise the Tide just paid for itself and then some.” – Former Surge member’s husband after learning of her promotion
If you want to talk through what the investment looks like and whether it makes sense for where you are, the Vibe Check call is the place to do that.
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW
(AND THAT’S OKAY)
If you have questions, you deserve honest answers. Here are some of the most common ones we hear from women considering applying for The Surge so you can make an informed decision that feels right for you.
What’s the time commitment?
The Surge was designed with the reality of senior leadership in mind. We know women at this level are already balancing demanding roles, full lives, and a lot of responsibility. This isn’t about adding more to your plate, but creating room to think more clearly and lead more effectively.
Here’s where and when you show up:
- A monthly 90-minute live group call
- Continued collaboration and learning in small, curated peer mentorship groups
- One in-person retreat each year for deeper work and connection
Throughout the year, you also have access to:
- One-on-one goal setting and progress check-ins
- One break-the-glass call for “I need you now” mentorship moments
- Access to the Shoreline community at zero additional cost
Will things I share here ever make their way back to my company?
No. Vegas rules apply—what’s shared in the Surge stays within the Surge.
In this room, you’re encouraged to speak openly and honestly about real situations and challenges without worrying about risking your job or reputation. Trust and confidentiality aren’t optional; They’re essential to what makes The Surge work the way it does.
Come as you are. No editing required.
Can my company sponsor this?
Yes, and many Surge members are fully or partially sponsored by their organizations.
While this is a deeply personal leadership experience, the impact extends well beyond the woman herself. The clarity, confidence, and influence women gain also strengthen teams, improve decision-making, and elevate how communications functions show up across the business—and that’s something companies are willing to invest in.
During your initial Vibe Check Call, Tara can share tips for navigating that sponsorship conversation, including how to position The Surge internally for an easier “yes”.
What if I experience a major life change during the program?
If something significant comes up that impacts your ability to participate, we’ll work with you to find a path that makes sense for your situation. Here are a few real-life scenarios we’ve worked through:
- Pregnancy or expanding your family? We offer maternity leave and flexibility.
- Job changes or layoffs? We’ll adjust your goals. Sometimes that means pausing your contract, other times it means using the support to help you land your next role.
- Medical or family emergencies? We’ll create a plan that allows you to hit pause, step back, and focus where it matters most.
The bottom line? Life happens. We’ll work with you when it does.
How is this different from executive coaching or other leadership programs?
The Surge isn’t “just coaching” (nor is it pretending to be). It’s so, so much more. It combines experienced mentorship, peer-level collaboration, leadership development, and deep, genuine connection. You’re not only learning from Tara, but also pressure-testing decisions and perspectives with women who truly understand the nuances of this misunderstood and oversimplified field.
So, no, it’s not “just coaching”… it’s all of the things, because that’s what it takes to move the needle at this level.
Will I be grouped with women at my level?
Yes. The Surge by Raise the Tide runs two intentionally separate groups: one for Senior Managers and Directors, one for Senior Directors and VPs. Tara reviews every application with group fit in mind, not just individual fit. The room only works when the women in it are navigating genuinely comparable challenges.
What happens after the year is complete?
The Surge is designed as a year-long experience because real change, deep trust, and meaningful connection take time.
That said, you’re not limited to a single year. Many women choose to renew for another year (or two.. or more – yes, really). As long as you have new goals and new challenges (which, we both know are plenty in this field), The Surge can help your rise to the occasion.
You can also stay connected through The Breakwater (launching soon).
Still Here? Good.
The Next Move Is Yours.
The next step is a conversation. No pressure, no pitch. Just an opportunity to talk through whether or not The Surge makes sense for you. If it does, you’ll know. If it doesn’t, Tara will say so.
