Meet Dr. Taryn Fletcher | Life and Leadership Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Taryn Fletcher and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Taryn, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Since I was little, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. At seven or eight,I was negotiating deals with my parents to get a pet guinea pig or start dance lessons across town.

Even if the plan didn’t make sense to my parents at the time, I found ways to impact their decision in order to make it happen. I mean, looking back on this— it’s pretty remarkable, I have to say!

At 17, I even preordered a brand-new car from the manufacturer with every interior and exterior detail I wanted. The dealership had no idea they were negotiating a car sale with a high schooler! Those were fun times! And yes— I drove that car right off the lot once it arrived.

I say all this to say— I have always understood the idea of having a second, third, fourth, and even fifth way to make things happen.

My parents did an amazing job making sure I had more than what I needed to survive. My sister and I grew up with so much love and security. We are blessed. However, when I think about the mindset you need in order to start your own business, you need tenacity. You need conviction. You need to be determined to see your vision through— no matter what it takes. I’ve had that mindset for a very long time.

So, when I started my business, my thought process was that if I wanted to make the impact that I knew I could make across communities (and in the world), then I had to pivot from the status quo and lead my way. For me, this meant starting my own business and never looking back.

Ultimately, I wanted to continue helping people. Prior to starting my business, I was a successful deputy superintendent of a large school district. I was at the top of my game. And… still, I knew I was made for so much more! That’s when I decided to lean into my gifts (we all have them). I took all that experience I had transforming schools and school systems, coaching leaders, fighting bureaucracy, and breaking down political barriers— and I started my coaching company, Truly POC INC. Truly POC helps (women) leaders, with world changing agendas, to challenge old visions and evolve to their next chapter.

When I started building my business, I didn’t consider myself “a business person”.  Starting Truly POC INC was truly the hardest thing I had ever done. I’ve birthed three children, defended a dissertation, and wrote a book during the pandemic while breastfeeding, homeschooling, and working full-time job! And still starting a business and running my company has been the hardest work I’ve ever done— and I love it!

Even with all the great business experts out there in the world, it’s hard. My favorite business expert is Rachel Rodgers— I just love her! She gives great advice and her perspective is quite enlightening.

Even Rachel will tell you, there’s no silver bullet to starting your own business. Starting your own business is about experimentation.

You have to do some things afraid.

You have to start before you’re ready.

You have to confront future fears over and over again.

In the end, each time you do this, it teaches you about yourself. It helps you build a business that’s authentic to you and your purpose.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up in a family of educators and community leaders. I played a lot of school with my dolls and bears for fun. Teaching was a natural fit for me.

However, my career really took shape when I became a young mother. Motherhood helped me see the real problems in the world. I wanted my son to have a different school experience than I had. In school, I played it small, and when I did play it small, it appeared that my teachers liked me more. Especially when I was in elementary school, teachers prefered the quiet, reticent, palatable and agreeable girls the best.

So, I learned how to easily become who other people wanted me to be.

When I became a young mother to black son, I became more and more terrified of what a life “conforming” would mean for him.

I didn’t want him just accepting any narrative he’d be given for having a “young, unmarried/divorced mother” raising him. Unfortunately, for black children, being who society paints you to be means accepting lowered expectations and walking this earth in harm’s way.

Black children have a greater chance at being labeled as at-risk, impulsive, challenging to work with, or even crisis-driven by their teachers. They see far fewer images of powerful people who look like them.

So, my career path evolved from wanting to teach to wanting to create schools that I wanted my son to go to— schools that taught him how to dream. Schools that encouraged him to lead, take risks, and explore who he was.

I quickly worked my way up the ladder in education. I’ve been a teacher, principal, curriculum designer, instructional coach, and superintendent. Seriously, I’ve held every role in education, I think. And, it’s all given me a greater sense of what can hold community leaders back from making a more equitable and sustainable impact. I developed this desire to cultivate a new vision of what schools look and feel like for Black and brown children.

Today, I’m a mother of three, and my kids continue to help me shape the work I lead.

My career journey has not been easy. For starters I’m a woman— a black woman in leadership. I’m strong. I’m opinionated. I’ve got big goals and I want to create change in the world. There’s nothing “easy” about that.

Strong women signal a lot of things for a lot of people. Strong women signal change in roles and responsibilities at home and in the workplace. Change in what’s acceptable and what’s not. Change in what our future looks like. Change in what voices will be heard and by who.

Empowered women create boundaries and raise expectations for everyone. So as you can imagine, as I’ve continued my career path, life naturally got harder for me. As life got harder, I became more malleable— and more poised and well positioned for my journey and my fight ahead.

I’m the kind of disrupter I’ve always wanted to be. I’m leading my own way now, and this all started with my first born.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
It’s safe to say I’m not a thrill seeker. I love a good book and a corner spot on the couch— any day.

I love quiet activities at home with the family— baking cookies with my daughter, reading to my baby boy, or talking to my teenage son about his latest thoughts on life. It’s the small stuff for me.

However, rather than having a friend visit my town, I’d love to travel with friends instead!

A trip to Paris for great food, drinks, and shopping in the Champs-Élysées would be one way I’d spend time with my friends. Paris is just so dreamy! One year I spent Christmas in Paris. The people, sights, and culture were amazing!

So on this trip with friends, we’d get coffee at a café. Perhaps catch a show and shop— of course shop! Who goes to Paris and doesn’t shop? Perhaps some do, but not my crew! We are in Paris to indulge and experience next level luxury!

That sounds like fun, right?

And, let’s say my girls are not up for the Paris hustle and bustle. That’s okay, too. We’ll simply pivot and take it down a notch.  We’ll head to the ocean to feel the sand between our toes.

It’s Jamaica for me— that’s my place to completely forget about every care in the world.

There’s something magical about the ocean. It evokes high-levels of creativity. You experience a sense of limitless opportunity and abundance, when you see endless views of the ocean. It’s incredible!

On one hand, you’re reminded of how insignificant and small you are up against the ocean. At the same time, you also realize how significant you can be to the world when you tap into just an ounce of the creativity and abundance available to you. You can feel that too when you see the ocean— I love it!

So in Jamaica, we’re packing flats, beachwear, and good vibes only. This is where we get to read all those books we had piled in the corner of our room. We catch up on life convo, and we recharge before our next big project back home.

I’m a relationship person. I love deep conversations. I love sitting with friends and unpacking complex ideas or grappling with what to do next— whether that’s something big or small. You can do that anywhere! So whether we’re shopping in Paris or beach-bumming it in Jamaica, my kind of fun definitely includes good conversation.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I give all glory to God. His plan for my life (and our lives) is magnificent. I’m in awe each day I connect with Him. I’m thankful for what he’s done (and continues to do) in my life.

There are also so many people in my life who deserve credit for the success I’ve had over the years. My family and my parents— my mother (especially) who continues to remind me of my gifts each day! My grandmother, Geneva, who was the most tenacious woman I’ve ever met. I hope to be just like her one day!

My husband and kids— they love me for me— and all the evolutions I’ve gone through to get where I am today. I’m really grateful to my husband for helping me at home and supporting my life goals. You know, having support from your life partner is critical to your success.

I also have so many cousins, friends, co-workers, and community members who continue to believe in me. I’m so thankful for them, too! On days when it’s hard to find the strength to fight on my own, my extended family and friends remind me not to quit.

There’s also a book I’d recommend to anyone wanting to start their own business. This is also one of the first books to inspire me to start my business— this book is called, We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers. I’m grateful to Rachel for having the courage to say what needed to be said, and for leading the mission for economic justice— and doing it her way!

Website: https://www.trulypocevolution.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtarynfletcher/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtarynfletcher/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtarynfletcher/

Other: IN ALL LANES: Action Steps for New Leaders to Empower Black and brown Students Rethink School and Transform Behavior https://www.amazon.com/All-Lanes-Students-Transform-Behavior/dp/1736834509

Image Credits
Photo Production Team: Robert Hartwell and Strength On Stages; Photography by Julianna McGuirl, website address: https://www.juliannamcguirl.photo/