CEO

Tabatha McGee

Global Health Equity Leader | Author | CEO | Founder | Visionary in the Sickle Cell Movement

Tabatha McGee is a globally respected visionary leader, author, and changemaker whose work sits at the intersection of health equity, leadership development, and community-centered innovation. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc., the Founder of the Sickle Cell Sanctuary, and the author of Fit to Lead, a leadership manifesto that reframes executive excellence through wellness, discipline, and purpose—particularly for leaders operating in high-stakes, mission-driven environments.

Recognized as a transformative force in the sickle cell movement, Tabatha has emerged as a national and international voice advocating for systemic change, holistic care models, and dignity-centered solutions for individuals living with sickle cell disease and other life-threatening blood disorders. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in lived experience and guided by a core belief: sustainable impact begins with whole, resilient leaders who lead from strength—not survival.

Tabatha’s commitment to service and excellence began in the United States Army, where she distinguished herself as one of the few women paratroopers in the elite 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Benning, Georgia. The discipline, courage, and mental fortitude forged in military service continue to define her leadership style—decisive, values-driven, and resilient in the face of complexity and crisis.

Following her military service, Tabatha built a successful executive career in the technology sector. During her tenure at Xerox, she sharpened her strategic leadership, operational execution, and change-management expertise. She later founded and led her own technology company, further demonstrating her ability to build, scale, and sustain high-performing organizations across sectors.

In 2015, Tabatha returned to Atlanta and began what would become a defining chapter of her life and legacy. Drawn by purpose, she joined the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia as a volunteer—serving quietly, learning deeply, and leading faithfully. Her impact was undeniable. Through a series of earned promotions, she rose from Volunteer to Manager, Manager to Director, Director to Executive Director, and ultimately to Chief Executive Officer in October 2021. Her ascent stands as a powerful testament to servant leadership, institutional knowledge, and visionary excellence cultivated from the ground up.

Over the same eight-year period, Tabatha also served as a primary caregiver for her mother while confronting her own serious health challenges, including surviving a heart attack and a stroke. Rather than retreat, she transformed adversity into advocacy, emerging as a powerful proponent of executive wellness, preventive health, and lifestyle transformation—principles now embedded in her leadership, her writing, and the organizations she leads.

As CEO, Tabatha has led the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia into a new era of national prominence and innovation. Under her stewardship, the organization launched the Sickle Cell Wellness Center—the first and only holistic center of its kind in the United States—redefining the standard of care through integrated physical, mental, emotional, and social support services.

Her visionary leadership has secured more than $2.7 million in landmark state and federal funding, expanded housing stability and workforce initiatives for sickle cell warriors, and positioned the organization as a national model for community-driven, patient-centered care. Through strategic partnerships and bold vision, Tabatha continues to influence policy, funding priorities, and program design on a national scale.

Extending her impact into media and culture, Tabatha founded McGee Legacy Studios, a mission-driven production company dedicated to storytelling as a catalyst for education and social change. Its flagship production, Unveiling Sickle Cell – Beyond the Pain, is a groundbreaking talk show that elevates lived experiences, clinical expertise, and community leadership—bringing national and global awareness to a disease that has long been marginalized and misunderstood.

As an author and sought-after speaker, Tabatha challenges leaders to rethink power, wellness, and sustainability. Her book, Fit to Lead, draws from military discipline, executive leadership, personal health recovery, and nonprofit governance to offer a compelling framework for leading with clarity, strength, and purpose in the face of adversity.

Currently, Tabatha is expanding her global platform through keynote speaking, international partnerships, future publications, and leadership development initiatives focused on empowering women and mission-driven leaders to rise, rebuild, and lead boldly. She is the proud mother of four—LaKenyatta, Melvin (deceased), Collins, and KeVaughn—and a devoted grandmother of nine. In moments of reflection, she finds restoration through gardening and playing the piano.