Featured Founder: CRO Tara Berthier

In this series of posts, we’re diving into our Open Book to allow you a chance to become better acquainted with our co-founders through the eyes of each other. Each has written a post about one of the three founders of Outspoken so you may better understand who we are and why we think working together is SO FETCH. (Whatever, I’m getting cheese fries.)

Written by Caitie

Meet Tara. She is the actual real life embodiment of our company’s namesake… OUTSPOKEN AF. Like many extroverts, Tara is no wallflower and most definitely leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets, whether it’s through her quick wit, comedic prowess or very, VERY direct (and always spot on) observations about the world around her. It’s all just so hard to forget. But there’s another component to Tara that separates her from most, and that is her ability to flip the extrovert switch, completely drown out the rest of the world and hone in on the one person she is with and make them feel like they are the only living, breathing being in existence. Tara and I affectionately call this practice “Deep talks with Tara and Caitie”, which I would love to believe is a Tara experience that is exclusive to me, but if I’m being honest with myself, I know that Tara has this extraordinary ability to connect with many others beyond just me, and it is a superpower that I have an immense amount of admiration for.

It is these specific ingredients (charisma, deadpan wit, and, most importantly, the foundation of utter sincerity) that make up the special sauce that is Tara and makes her so magnetic as not only a person and friend but ALSO such a talented agent. She will not waste your time (or more importantly hers) with fluffy verbose or (gasp) BORING email pitches, and she definitely will not pitch you any speaker ideas that she herself is not fully invested in. Tara makes sure that work stays fun, efficient, and, most importantly, FUN.

Tara and I first met as colleagues at our former agency, and I knew she was a force the minute she walked into the office for the first time. But it wasn’t until Tara’s and my first night out together (the same week she started the job, naturally) that our soul sister fate was etched in stone. It was immediately off to the races and anyone in our vodka-soaked path knew very quickly to make way for trouble with a CAPITAL T(ara). Ok, ok… I was an equal accomplice on all fronts. But that was just the thing, Tara and I complimented each other in such a crazy way that it felt like we could take on anyone or anything that got in our way. And to this day, I think that special spice of chemistry was an integral component needed (among others, named TORI) to feel emboldened to eventually take the GIANT and terrifying leap of faith to start a business together. I honestly don’t know if Outspoken would exist if there hadn’t been that chemistry and totally untouchable feeling I felt with Tara (and TORI!) as we terrorized the streets of NYC together in our “youth”.

I realize how achingly cliche it sounds, but I do have to pinch myself on the reg when realizing how much of a privilege it is to be colleagues and besties with my Co-Founders. Making it to year FIVE is a huge milestone for us (50% of startups DON’T) and one that I am so proud of. There have been many (many) bumps and obstacles along the way, and those are what I am the most thankful for as each gave us an opportunity to further solidify what I’ve always known about this Co-Founder Trifecta dynamic, which is that we lead with love and respect, for ourselves, each other and everyone we work with, and, ultimately, that is what keeps the wheels turning.

Founder 411: Q&A with Tara

1) What’s your favorite part about working with our event hosts as the team’s “ mathlete" aka Chief Revenue (and sales) Officer?

I got an F in almost every math course I took at University… so, “mathlete” hardly seems fitting.  Kind of like when my high school softball team voted me MVP as a joke. 
My favorite part of working with clients is learning about their business, and making their job a little easier by finding them bomb speakers.

2) Who is your dream speaker to represent?

Do you even have to ask? OPRAH. Oprah is my holy grail.

3) If the limit does not exist as they say in Mean Girls, where do you see your company in year 10?

Boring answer alert! I’d honestly love to see us triple our team while maintaining our fun and easy going culture. I always felt like I was too blunt at the other agencies that I worked for… but it’s nice to create a workplace where that is celebrated, and where people like me feel like they belong.

4) Most valuable business lesson you’ve ever learned?

We don’t represent Adam Grant (unless he’s looking to make a move ;)) … but, in his book Originals - he talks about how long-term success has been earned by giving your time/energy when there is no clear monetary exchange. And in doing so, you create loyalty and a positive reputation by word of mouth. It also just feels nice to help people. Knowhatimsayin?

5) What class superlative would you most likely be now and why?

It would be exactly what it was in high school: Unfiltered. My poor mother… always horrified by how “outspoken” her daughter was. Thanks for the agency name, Mom!

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Outspoken Agency is a women-owned speaking agency representing leaders, founders, public intellectuals, authors and entertainers for paid keynotes, workshops and panels at in-person and virtual events. Learn more about our female founders here.