Resilience competence involves using skills to help individuals, teams and organizations cope with adversity while safeguarding mental and physical health and promoting growth. In today’s world, resilience is crucial due to globalization, mental health challenges and widespread burnout.
Key issues include misconceptions, lack of resources and cultural barriers. Thought leaders can address these by shifting perceptions, offering tailored frameworks and promoting cultures of well-being, leading to long-term societal impact.
As a recognized leader in resilience, Dr. Taryn Marie is applying these strategies in driving a global movement dedicated to advancing mental health, well-being and individual growth. As the Founder & Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) of the Resilience Leadership Institute (RLI), her mission is to positively impact 1 billion lives by teaching The 5 Practices of Highly Resilient People, a framework born from two decades of original research. Her approach is grounded in practical strategies that enable individuals, teams and organizations to thrive, accelerate and adapt in an advancing world amidst challenge, disruption, and uncertainty.
With proven success, including a viral TEDx talk and her #1 Wall Street Journal (WSJ) bestselling book, endorsed by Arianna Huffington, Daniel Pink, Maria Shriver, Marshall Goldsmith, Kathy Ireland, and many others, Dr. Taryn Marie’s work has garnered endorsement from global leaders and recognition in top media outlets. Drawing from her high-profile experience in leadership roles at Nike and Cigna, she leverages her expertise in executive coaching and talent development to help leaders at all levels build resilience and achieve success.
Dr. Taryn Marie’s executive coaching goes beyond the professional realm—she emphasizes the importance of resilience in all aspects of life, in addition to leader. Her unique strategies and visionary thinking promote long-term growth, benefiting individuals, organizations and society. Through her work, she is redefining leadership and driving lasting, positive change, creating a future where hope, healing and well-being are accessible to all.
A Journey to Self-discovery
Dr. Taryn Marie’s journey to confidence was far from straightforward. It was a long and complex process, rooted in a deep struggle with self-belief and uncertainty about her capabilities. Like many others, her early life was marked by challenges that obscured her ability to see her strengths.
Raised with undiagnosed dyslexia, she faced academic difficulties that left her feeling inadequate and unsure of herself. These learning struggles, combined with traumatic life experiences, gave rise to a profound fear of failure and a limited sense of what she could achieve.
Her battle with dyslexia shaped much of her worldview. She grew up believing she wasn’t as smart as her peers and that she couldn’t succeed in the ways others did. Most importantly, she didn’t feel worthy of a life filled with possibility. Dreams of global travel or making an impact on a large scale seemed distant and out of reach. The world around her appeared overwhelming and her faith in her abilities was minimal.
These early years were steeped in uncertainty and self-doubt, with the combination of learning challenges and past trauma making it hard for her to imagine a future where she could thrive. She questioned her place in the world and feared she wasn’t capable of the life she dreamed of. Yet, this difficult journey also laid the groundwork for Dr. Taryn Marie’s eventual transformation into a powerful advocate for resilience and self-empowerment.
Identifying and Overcoming Self-limiting Beliefs
Dr. Taryn Marie’s journey to self-discovery and confidence-building was not a quick or easy one. It unfolded gradually over many years, as she began to confront her fears and challenge the self-limiting beliefs that had been ingrained in her since childhood. The turning point came when she started to catch glimpses of her true potential.
At first, the change was subtle. She didn’t immediately step into leadership roles or assert herself in major ways. Instead, as she observed others in positions of influence, something new began to stir within her. She would watch someone lead a project or navigate a challenging situation and think to herself, “I could do that.” This realization was a powerful breakthrough—it was the first step in recognizing her potential.
A key factor in Dr. Taryn Marie’s growth was her willingness to step outside of her comfort zone. With each new challenge she faced, no matter how small, her confidence grew. Every time she pushed past her usual boundaries, she learned more about herself and built resilience. She came to understand that growth didn’t happen by staying in familiar, safe spaces—it happened when she embraced discomfort, took risks and tried new things. While it wasn’t always easy, each step forward strengthened her belief in her abilities.
Journaling also played an important role in her journey. Having kept a journal since middle school, she used this practice to document her thoughts and emotions. Over time, her journal became a powerful tool for self-reflection, allowing her to track the evolution of her mindset and watch her confidence grow.
In her 30s, Dr. Taryn took her first formal leadership assessment. This experience was eye-opening. For the first time, she received structured feedback that helped her understand her natural strengths—strategic thinking, effective communication and a results-oriented mindset. This assessment was a turning point, offering concrete evidence of her leadership abilities. It helped her recognize the unique qualities that made her a strong leader and solidified the realization that she had the potential to inspire and make a meaningful impact on others.
Techniques for Building Personal Resilience
As Dr. Taryn Marie’s confidence grew, so did her curiosity about resilience. She became increasingly fascinated by why some people thrived in the face of adversity, while others struggled or gave up. This curiosity about resilience eventually became the cornerstone of both her professional work and personal philosophy.
Through her own experiences and keen observations, she came to understand that resilience is a crucial factor in overcoming challenges, navigating change and dealing with complexity. In an advancing world often filled with uncertainty, resilience is more important than ever. It enables individuals to face personal, professional and societal challenges with strength, adaptability and determination.
Dr. Taryn Marie realized that true resilience isn’t just about bouncing back from adversity—it’s about learning and growing from difficult experiences. She coined the term “bouncing forward” to describe this shift. When we encounter challenges, we are inevitably changed by them.
Resilience doesn’t mean returning to the way we were before the setback; it means emerging from it stronger, wiser and more capable than before. This concept of “bouncing forward” became a central theme in Dr. Taryn’s work, influencing both her personal life and her professional career as a resilience expert.
Her concept of Resilience Leadership encourages individuals to recognize their worth, believe in their potential and push forward despite obstacles. When people lead from a place of self-belief and resilience, they unlock their full potential and create meaningful, lasting change in their lives.
Developing a Mindset of Possibility for Growth
Dr. Taryn Marie challenges the long-held belief that resilience is something people are simply born with. While many view resilience as an innate trait, she believes it is a skill that can be developed over time through life experiences. Her research and personal journey have shown that resilience is not a fixed characteristic; rather, it is comprehensive and can grow stronger as individuals face and overcome adversity.
In her book, The 5 Practices of Highly Resilient People, Dr. Taryn outlines five key practices that contribute to building resilience for individuals, leaders, teams, and organizations. These practices—vulnerability, productive perseverance, connection, grati-osity, and possibility—serve as a roadmap for anyone seeking to strengthen their resilience. By adopting these practices, individuals can improve their mental health, enhance their well-being and ultimately thrive in the face of challenges.
The first practice, vulnerability, encourages individuals to embrace their authentic selves and share their experiences, particularly those involving struggle and hardship. This openness develops connections with others and creates a sense of community. Productive perseverance emphasizes staying committed to one’s goals, even when setbacks arise. The connection highlights the importance of building supportive relationships.
Grati-osity blends gratitude with generosity, encouraging people to share their resilience stories in ways that inspire others. Finally, possibility invites individuals to see the potential in every situation and embrace the belief that growth is always possible, no matter the circumstances.
Dr. Taryn Marie’s research and teachings reinforce the idea that resilience is not an innate trait that only some people possess. It is a skill that anyone can cultivate. By developing this skill, individuals can unlock their full potential and thrive, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Enhancing Leadership Skills for Resilience
Dr. Taryn Marie’s expertise in resilience is built on a foundation of extensive professional experience. RLI is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations develop the resilience needed to thrive in today’s fast-paced, complex world. Before founding RLI, she held leadership roles at Nike and Cigna, where she played a key role in shaping executive leadership development and talent strategy.
At Nike, she was instrumental in creating global leadership programs that helped executives at all levels enhance their leadership skills and build resilience in the face of constant change. Her work at Cigna was similarly impactful, as she led initiatives focused on executive development and mental health, ensuring that leaders had the tools and support necessary to excel in their roles.
Throughout her career, Dr. Taryn Marie has earned recognition as a leading expert in resilience, mental health and leadership. Her insights have been featured in prominent media outlets such as Forbes, TEDx, NBC, Bloomberg Business, and Thrive Global, where she has shared her expertise on building resilience in both personal and professional contexts.
The Power of Resilience Research
Dr. Taryn’s fascination with resilience and human potential has driven her to study the subject for over 15 years. Through hundreds of interviews and extensive data collection, she has gained valuable insights into how people face challenges with resilience and how these skills can be developed over time.
Her research is deeply informed by her own experiences with trauma, loss and learning disabilities. These challenges have provided her with a unique perspective on resilience, allowing her to draw from personal journeys and professional expertise. This combination has made her a sought-after authority in the field. She has recently developed a course titled Resilience Skills to Navigate Disruption and Uncertainty, which is now available on LinkedIn..
Dr. Taryn Marie’s work culminated in her book The 5 Practices of Highly Resilient People, which offers a comprehensive framework for understanding and building resilience. This book, alongside the keynote speaking, workshop programs, and executive coaching offered by the Resilience Leadership Institute (RLI), helps individuals and organizations unlock their full potential and thrive, even in the face of adversity.
Cultivating Confidence in Executive Leadership
Dr. Taryn Marie’s Resilience Executive Coaching model is designed to help leaders unlock their untapped strengths and make a greater impact within their organizations. By blending her research on resilience with her expertise in leadership development, she offers personalized coaching that empowers executives to build confidence, enhance decision-making skills and develop the resilience necessary to lead in today’s complex business environment.
In addition to executive coaching, she offers Resilient Succession Planning & Talent Strategy programs. These programs help organizations cultivate diverse and resilient leadership pipelines by identifying and developing leaders who can navigate change, overcome challenges and lead their teams with confidence and clarity.
Building Resilience for Success and Well-being
Dr. Taryn Marie often describes resilience as a superpower. Resilient individuals can adapt to change and thrive under pressure. This superpower enhances creativity, problem-solving and decision-making skills while also improving overall well-being and life satisfaction. Whether leading a corporation or navigating personal challenges, resilience empowers people to turn obstacles into opportunities and become more effective, impactful leaders.
She is a dynamic and engaging speaker, highly sought after by organizations, conferences and events worldwide. Her speaking style blends scientific research with practical insights, making her keynotes both informative and inspiring. She empowers audiences to tap into their resilience and provides actionable tools to navigate life’s challenges with grace and strength.
Overcoming Adversity with Practical Frameworks
Dr. Taryn’s keynotes deliver actionable insights that help organizations develop a culture of resilience. She dispels common myths about resilience, encourages growth through discomfort and offers practical frameworks for overcoming adversity. Her science-based approach empowers teams to thrive in the face of change while prioritizing well-being, making her an invaluable asset to any organization.
Lessons from Resilient Lives
Through her podcast top 1% Flourish or Fold: Stories of Resilience, where well-known people share their lesser well-known stories of resilience, Dr. Taryn Marie shares inspiring stories of individuals who have faced significant challenges and emerged stronger. These stories highlight the power of resilience and offer valuable lessons for anyone seeking to overcome adversity and achieve their goals. The podcast reflects her core belief that resilience is a crucial factor in thriving and achieving success, no matter the circumstances.
