Lead with Strength.
Grow with Purpose.
Direforza merges direzione (clear direction) with forza (enduring strength). Our symbol, the olive tree, is rooted, resilient, and generative just like effective leadership. TDG is here to support leaders as they endure the seasons yet continue to bear fruit for generations.
Together, let’s grow leadership that lasts.
Meet Darrah
Founder and Principal
Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson is the Founder and Principal of The Direforza Group (deer-uh-for-za), a boutique consultancy that empowers leaders, boards, and senior teams to navigate leadership with intentionality and sustain lasting results. By tailoring confidential executive advising, evidence-based leadership coaching, deep governance expertise, and exceptional facilitation, Darrah walks the path of leadership alongside her clients, creating meaningful learning experiences that catalyze professional growth.
Darrah is a transformational leader with over 25 years of experience as a purpose-driven chief executive and ICF-trained coach. She combines strategic insight with a deep commitment to cultivating inclusive, high-performance cultures. From 2006 to 2025, she served as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, where she led a $125 million organization through a period of unprecedented change and growth. Under her leadership annual revenue tripled, reserves expanded from $3 million to $42 million, and governance oversight was significantly strengthened in partnership with a diverse board of directors and 700+ staff serving more than 130,000 patients annually across Southern California.
Known for her calming, decisive leadership in complex climates, Darrah is a trusted communicator, collaborator and engaging speaker. Her strategic storytelling builds trust and mobilizes resources, while her executive advising and coaching create space for reflection, alignment, and renewed purpose.
Her accolades include: San Diego Business Journal Nonprofit CEO of the Year (2022), California Senate District 39 Woman of the Year (2021), Planned Parenthood Federation of America Ruth Green CEO of the Year (2018), and the Conrad Prebys Foundation Leadership Award (2024).
Darrah holds an M.A. in Counseling Education and a B.A. in Elementary Education and Psychology from The College of New Jersey. She resides in San Diego, CA, and happily dedicates herself to helping leaders navigate all aspects of leadership with clarity, integrity, and impact.
