Inspiring Journeys Podcast: Success, Challenge and Resilience

Author

Lauri Wakefield
October 29, 2024

NEWSLETTER ISSUE #3

In the latest episode of the Inspiring Journeys podcast, Tara Murphy shares her powerful story of resilience, transformation, and passion. Her life, characterized by a deep connection to horses and a successful IT career, weaves together significant achievements and valuable lessons.

Tara’s journey began with a profound love for horses, nurtured by her aunt, a horse trainer. Early experiences in riding and competition instilled in her a strong sense of resilience and determination. This passion naturally flowed into her professional life, where she dedicated over 26 years to a credit union. Starting as a night computer operator, she eventually rose to chief information officer, showcasing her adaptability and leadership as she transitioned from IT to operations. Her deep understanding of organizational dynamics and commitment to a supportive work environment were pivotal throughout her career.

A major turning point arrived when Tara chose to leave her stable career to launch a consulting business focused on executive coaching and leadership development. Motivated by a desire to empower others, her entrepreneurial journey faced a significant hurdle when she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. This challenging experience not only tested her resilience but also deepened her appreciation for genuine care and empowerment in both her personal and professional life. As she navigated her treatment, Tara discovered a renewed sense of purpose, illustrating how strength can arise from adversity.

In her leadership programs, Tara has uniquely leveraged the emotional intelligence lessons that horses impart. By merging her passion for horses with her expertise, she offers fresh perspectives on personal and professional development. With plans to expand her services through group training sessions and webinars, she aims to make leadership training more accessible. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder of how passion and resilience can help us overcome life’s challenges.

Tune in for an inspiring and uplifting conversation that emphasizes the freedom, opportunities, and exciting potential that this new chapter brings. Celebrate her wisdom and the resilience that stems from determination and optimism.

Podcast Show Notes

In this episode, Tara Murphy shares her remarkable journey of resilience, transformation, and passion. With a life deeply intertwined with her love for horses and a successful IT career, Tara highlights significant achievements and invaluable lessons learned along the way.

Key Topics Discussed:

Early Passion for Horses: Tara’s journey began with a profound love for horses, nurtured by her aunt, a dedicated horse trainer. Her early experiences in riding and competition instilled a strong sense of resilience and determination.

Career in IT and Leadership: Tara dedicated over 26 years to a credit union, starting as a night computer operator and rising to Senior VP and CIO. Throughout her career, she showcased her adaptability and leadership while navigating the complexities of IT and operations, underpinned by a deep understanding of organizational dynamics and a commitment to fostering a supportive work environment.

Turning Point and New Ventures: A pivotal moment came when Tara launched her consulting business focused on executive coaching and leadership development after leaving her long-term, corporate position.

Adversity & Renewed Purpose: Shortly after launching her consulting business, Tara’s resilience was tested when she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. As she navigated her treatment, Tara discovered a renewed sense of purpose, illustrating how strength can emerge from adversity.

Emotional Intelligence and Leadership: After completing treatment for breast cancer, Tara relaunched her consulting business with a fresh perspective, integrating lessons from her experiences with horses into her leadership programs and offering unique insights into personal and professional development.

Key Lessons:

Tara’s journey emphasizes that challenges, such as her cancer diagnosis, can foster personal growth and strength.

Following one’s passions, like Tara’s love for horses, can serve as a powerful motivator and guide in both personal and professional life.

Empowering others is crucial; Tara’s shift to consulting reflects her commitment to mentoring emerging leaders and fostering supportive environments.

Integrating emotional intelligence into leadership practices, drawn from her experiences with horses, enhances interpersonal skills and effective leadership.

Noteworthy Quote:

"I get so much joy out of watching other people excel."

Tara’s Bio: Tara L. Murphy is the founder of Tara Murphy Leadership, a coaching practice dedicated to empowering emerging leaders and executives through emotional intelligence and business acumen. With over 27 years of experience in the credit union industry, including executive roles such as Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Operations Officer (COO), Tara brings a wealth of knowledge to her coaching programs. Certified in EQ-i 2.0, she integrates emotional intelligence principles into her holistic approach to leadership development. A cancer survivor, Tara draws from her personal journey and her lifelong work with horses to inspire resilience and compassion in leaders. Through her engaging content and coaching sessions, she aims to cultivate good leaders who prioritize team well-being and practice servant leadership.

Get In Touch With Tara:

LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn

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