Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Renze.
Hi Tara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My career began in corporate sales and leadership, where I spent years learning what truly drives people—not just to perform, but to feel connected, confident, and fulfilled in the process. In my 30s, while navigating motherhood and career, I also built a successful direct-sales business. That experience changed my life because it showed me what can happen when people are given the tools, belief, and permission to bet on themselves.
My path shifted after I lost my dad unexpectedly. His death reminded me that life is far too short to keep postponing who we want to be. I found myself returning to a note my grandmother had given me years earlier: “Be who you came to be. Love will guide you.” Those words became both a personal compass and, eventually, the foundation of my work.
I began speaking, coaching, and writing about the ideas I had spent years practicing—emotional intelligence, authenticity, mental fitness, purpose, and the courage to keep becoming. Today, I’m a keynote speaker, author of *Be Who You Came to Be*, and creator of The Human Advantage™ and The Butterfly Goal Effect™. I now speak to organizations and audiences around the world, helping people strengthen the human skills that create meaningful success at work and in life.
Looking back, none of it happened in one perfectly planned leap. It happened through a series of small, courageous decisions to listen to what was calling me forward. And honestly, I still don’t believe I’ve “arrived.” I’m still becoming, too.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Building a speaking career takes time, and for years I worked incredibly hard without seeing the kind of traction I hoped for. There were plenty of moments when I questioned whether I was on the right path, but I kept showing up, refining my message, and trusting that the work was building something—even when I couldn’t see the results yet.
Then, just as my speaking business was gaining momentum, COVID brought the entire live-events industry to a halt. My calendar disappeared almost overnight. It was terrifying, but it also forced me to adapt. I moved into virtual speaking, continued creating content, and used that season to get even clearer about my message and the impact I wanted to make.
All of this was happening while I was raising two boys and trying to be fully present as a mother, wife, and business owner. There were years of building presentations after bedtime, taking calls between practices and games, traveling while carrying plenty of mom guilt, and constantly wondering whether I was giving enough to either side of my life.
I’ve learned that balance is rarely a perfect 50/50 split. It’s about knowing what matters most in a particular season, being present where your feet are, and giving yourself grace when you cannot do everything perfectly. The road has been challenging, but every setback has required me to become more resilient, resourceful, and certain about why I do this work.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a keynote speaker, author, and emotional intelligence and mental fitness practitioner. I specialize in helping people strengthen the human skills that drive both personal fulfillment and professional performance—self-awareness, empathy, resilience, communication, authenticity, and trust.
My work centers around two signature messages: The Human Advantage™, which explores the distinctly human skills that become even more valuable as technology and AI advance, and The Butterfly Goal Effect™, which helps people pursue goals rooted in who they want to become—not simply what they want to achieve. I’m also known for my book and foundational message, *Be Who You Came to Be*.
What sets my work apart is the combination of research, relatable storytelling, humor, and practical tools people can immediately use in their lives and workplaces. I don’t want an audience to simply feel inspired for an hour. I want them to leave seeing themselves differently—and knowing exactly how to take action.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a stage, an audience size, or an accolade. It’s the notes I receive afterward from people who say, “You changed my life,” “I needed this today,” or “You gave me permission to finally do the thing I’ve been afraid to do.” Sometimes they write months or even years later to tell me about the decision they made, the conversation they had, or the way they began showing up differently.
Those messages mean everything to me because that is the real work. If something I share helps another person believe in themselves, recognize their potential, or become more of who they came to be, then I’ve done what I’m here to do.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I have never done any of this alone. My husband, Scott, has been my greatest supporter and steady presence through every season. He believed in this dream long before there was evidence it would work, and he has given me the freedom, encouragement, and honest feedback I needed to keep going—while also being an incredible partner in raising our boys.
My grandmother also deserves tremendous credit. She wrote the note that said, “Be who you came to be. Love will guide you.” Those words became the foundation of my book, my work, and the way I try to live my life. She saw something in me before I could fully see it in myself.
My life coach, Heather White, has also played an important role in helping me gain clarity, challenge my own limitations, and continue growing into the person and leader I want to be. Sometimes we all need someone who can see both our potential and the places where we may be standing in our own way.
And above all, my faith has guided me through every chapter—the exciting opportunities, the closed doors, the uncertainty, and the seasons when progress felt painfully slow. It has taught me to trust the timing, stay grounded in my purpose, and believe that even when things aren’t working out the way I planned, they may still be working together for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tararenze.com
- Instagram: @tararenze
- Facebook: @tararenze
- LinkedIn: @tararenze
- Twitter: @tararenze
- Youtube: @tararenze
