Tara is a cultural anthropologist with over 20 years of experience in the corporate and academic sectors

 

I write, teach, and present the latest research and insights about gender equality in the workplace to help women and their advocates think, work, and lead differently.

After earning my PhD in Anthropology at the University of Chicago, I began my career as an Assistant Professor (also at the University of Chicago), but switched to the corporate sector after a family move to San Antonio (flying back and forth to Chicago got old pretty quickly). Working in academia and the corporate world, I experienced firsthand the challenges of balancing family with leadership aspirations, which inspired me to write Set Up to Fail.

I have published widely in major academic journals and am a Senior Lecturer at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where I teach courses on women’s leadership, the anthropology of food, and any other topics that sounds interesting.

In addition, I am the Co-founder and Vice-President of RedSquared Consulting, a women-led customer experience consulting group.

. . . and a passionate advocate for gender equality in the workplace

 

I found my voice in the conversation about women, work, and leadership through my expertise in anthropology, which gives me a fresh perspective on the American workplace. My philosophy is simple:

  • The leadership gap is rooted in outdated cultural assumptions about work and productivity.

  • These assumptions limit advancement opportunities for working mothers (and fathers) and compromise the future competitiveness of the American workforce.

  • Supporting the needs of American families in the workplace is essential to building a diverse, innovative, and adaptable workforce.

This cultural approach reveals the hidden assumptions and attitudes about women, leadership, and work which are the primary obstacles to meaningful change.