ANTHROPOLOGIST, WRITER, & SPEAKER

TARA SCHWEGLER, PHD

The authoritative voice on gender equality and the future of the American workplace

Increase equality and diversity without sacrificing productivity

I am an author, speaker, and consultant committed to re-imagining leadership and work to create a world where working moms thrive.

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Let’s work together to rethink work.

I am a leading authority and anthropologist who focuses on American work culture and how to adapt it to meet the needs of our rapidly changing workforce.

My offerings include:

  • Keynote Speaking

  • “Think Differently about Work” Workshops

  • Work Culture Assessments and Benchmarking

  • Blueprints for Transforming Work Norms

The Book

Set Up to Fail: Why Women Lean Out and What We Can Do About It

Millions of professional women are wondering what they are doing wrong. They have dutifully followed the advice they have been given—they leaned in, married supportive partners, asserted themselves in meetings, and abandoned their perfectionist tendencies—yet their efforts have not paid off.

Women remain grossly underrepresented in leadership positions in the public, private, and non-profit sectors: women “are only 14.6% of executive officers, 8.1% of top earners, and 4.6 % of Fortune 500 CEOs.” (Catalyst 2020). They knew the path would be tough, but they weren’t quite prepared for this.

What people are saying

  • “As an academic physician I understand how difficult it can be to find a speaker who is engaging, well-versed in the latest research, and so relevant it feels like they are talking to each audience member individually. Dr. Schwegler met those criteria and then some, gaining rave reviews and multiple requests that she be invited back to speak again. She has incredibly unique and intriguing perspectives that are both approachable and actionable for women in leadership.”

    — Dr. Rebecca Tapia, Section Chief, Polytrauma Rehab Center, US Department of Veterans Affairs

  • “Dr. Schwegler presented to our trainees and women faculty at UT Health San Antonio. Her information was novel and opened our eyes. She inspired us to realize our worth, armed us with techniques to negotiate in the future. Her knowledge in leadership development was also excellent and engaging.”

    — Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, Professor and Chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UT Health San Antonio

  • “Tara is my #1 go-to for women and leadership. She is an innovative and engaging teacher who consistently receives rave reviews from her students. She knows how to connect with her audience, from college students to C-suite executives, and she integrates theory, the latest research, and experiential pedagogy to make courses meaningful for students’ personal and professional goals.”

    — Dr. Jill Fleuriet, Vice-Provost, The University of Texas at San Antonio

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Thoughts & Ideas


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Featured
Why Working Mothers Don’t Want to Return to the Office
Why Working Mothers Don’t Want to Return to the Office

Working moms juggled so much during the pandemic, and now face uncertainty when being asked to return to work with little support. Working mothers are being pulled in so many different directions at home it’s no wonder they are reluctant to be pulled into the office.

The Hidden Source of Burnout for Working Moms
The Hidden Source of Burnout for Working Moms

There is an aspect of parenting that is leaving working mothers more burnt out than ever and its list of demands are only increasing. Learn how to re-focus and restructure your life in a way that can avoid burnout and give yourself (and your family) room to breathe.

The Anger Trap for Women Leaders
The Anger Trap for Women Leaders

There's a double standard when it comes to anger in the workplace that traps women into being seen as angry or emotional. This stigma is unfair, but there may be some healthy ways of coping that do not include suppressing your emotions.

The Invisible Stress of Parenting Tweens and Teens
The Invisible Stress of Parenting Tweens and Teens

Parenting tweens and teens is no easy task, and the amount of work it is can be overlooked because we assume the hardest part of parenting is the beginning.

Five Ways to Improve Your Work-Life Balance (Without Changing Jobs)
Five Ways to Improve Your Work-Life Balance (Without Changing Jobs)

You can’t control all the factors that influence your work-life balance, but you can shift your mindset about what it is and what it means to you.

Do Yourself a Favor and Step Away from Productivity Hacks
Do Yourself a Favor and Step Away from Productivity Hacks

Your time belongs to you, and you are the best judge of how to use it. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to productivity or scheduling.

Meet Tara

I am an anthropologist, author, professor, and entrepreneur on a mission to build a better, more supportive workplace. As a mom of 3, I have experienced first-hand the difficulty (and frustration) of juggling leadership aspirations with caregiving--and feeling like a failure at both. I'm here to tell you that if you feel the same way, it's not your fault. The American workplace is based on an outdated single breadwinner model that rewards facetime over productivity, and it is time for that to change.