Tara LaFon Gooch, MBA

Award-Winning Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker, International Best-Selling Author | Elevating Businesses, Brands & Leadership Potential | 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙈𝙮 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

On a Mission to Help Thought Leaders Rise as Global Voices of Impact 🎤

In 2022, my life changed forever.
What once terrified me—speaking—became the spark that ignited my calling. That moment wasn’t just about finding my voice. It was about helping others discover theirs.

Today, I help thought leaders grow influential brands, land TEDx talks, and become global voices of transformation.

As a Forbes-featured entrepreneur, International TEDx Speaker, 2× Bestselling Author, Podcast Host, and Award-Winning Speaker, I’ve built a proven system to help speakers, consultants, and CEOs elevate their message and confidently lead movements that matter.

Whether you're launching a podcast, applying for TEDx, or building your authority in a crowded space, I bring both strategy and soul to your success.


What I Do:

• Help entrepreneurs + speakers become TEDx speakers

• Build magnetic brands that drive revenue to your business

• Land TV interviews and launch profitable podcasts

• Coach leaders using my GRASP™ Method (Gratitude, Responsibility, Action, Sight, Purpose)

• Host the globally ranked GRASP Confidence podcast


I believe confidence is a calling, not a personality trait and that leadership grounded in faith, strategy, and action can change the world.

From rural Maryland as the youngest child of five raised by a single mother to global stages, I’m proof that when you bet on yourself anything is possible.

My purpose is to help others rise in their God-given identity and pursue their callings with confidence. ❤️



𝘼𝙨 𝙖 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧 & 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩:
I deliver high-impact keynotes and workshops on leadership and personal growth, blending confidence with business strategies that create lasting transformation and success. 

𝘼𝙨 𝙖 𝙈𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨:
I help thought leaders refine their messaging, position their brands for success, land TEDx talks, build global influence, and turn their stories into movements. My clients step onto world-class stages and lead businesses with clarity, purpose, and conviction.


Are you ready to elevate your impact, brand, leadership, and confidence? Let’s build something extraordinary together!


𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳: 
🎙️ Podcasting
❌ TEDx Coaching
📈 Marketing & Branding Options
🎤 Speaking Engagements & Workshops


‣ My Website: www.TaraLaFonGooch.com
‣ Company Website: www.BestBranding.Solutions

Author

Tara LaFon Gooch, MBA, CVP 🎤

I help women corporate professionals and entrepreneurs to dress for success at work! Refine your brand image, feel confident, and attract premium career opportunities

I have helped over 500 women professionals and entrepreneurs advance in their careers by dressing for success at work.

Here is what makes working with me different: 

 #1  Organized Closet with a polished wardrobe ready to go, so you don't have to worry about your physical presentation and stress if you look good

 # 2 Create a powerful image that says you are a professional, trustworthy, respectable leader who commands authority in a workspace

 #3 Dress well for all kinds of work situations without having to spend hours of your time shopping

Recent client transformations: 

Client #1 Mallory is a corporate professional at a medium-sized tech company. She had no idea what her style was. But was worried I might suggest a trendy style that won't work for her. Within three weeks of working together, she attended a very important conference where she was presenting. She made a massive impression on her boss. The CEO asked her to represent the company, who bypassed 3 people in higher positions.


Client #2, Jaqueline, had a small wedding planning company. Before we started working together, Jacqueline worried that she would be forced to spend lots of money on her new wardrobe. Instead, we started with identifying Jaqueline's style profile while keeping her budget in mind. Her business grew so much that she got a book deal in September of 2022, and her calendar is booked for a year in advance.

Client 2 Lina is a Director at one of the Big State universities. Before we started to work together, She was worried that she would be forced to throw away most of her wardrobe. We incorporated some of her wardrobes and added new pieces that elevated her style. After 8 weeks, her confidence and image skyrocketed, and as a result, she was promoted to a Director position shortly after. 

To book your Personal Style Consultation click the link below.
https://calendly.com/basia1/stylingsession?month=2022-10&date=2022-10-07

A little bit more about me: 

Hi, my name is Basia Richard. For over 15 years, I've styled top celebrities in the business, like Selena Gomez, Sarah Hyland, and Irina Shayk.

I have created a powerful image that helped them position themselves on top of the industry, as a result bringing lots of work and business opportunities.

Because of my work, many powerful women in leadership asked me to help them create a signature style they desired.

I am originally from Poland, but I have lived in Los Angeles for the past 18 years. I am a mom of a 7-year-old daughter and 2 senior rescued cats. I have an amazing and very supportive husband of 20 years.

Basia Richard

Women don’t need chocolates and flowers today.

We need:

• Equal pay and career growth opportunities.

• Workplace support for pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Affordable, high-quality childcare.

• Access to education and career training.

• Mental health resources.

• Flexible career paths.

• Paid maternity leave.

Flowers and Chocolates are great

But do you know what’s better?

Basic Human Necessities.

I build polished wardrobes for 6-figure + women professionals and entrepreneurs who want their clothes to reflect their career success, make them feel confident, and project the authority they’ve earned.

My videos have been going viral on Instagram.

And it’s not by accident.

This year, I decided I won’t hold back my thoughts.

 I say what I see. I say what I believe.

That resonates deeply with many women.

And it also triggers others.

That’s normal.

We are not meant to agree on everything.

Different opinions are healthy. They move conversations forward.

But here’s what I find interesting.

There’s a way to disagree with strength and intelligence.

And there’s a way to disagree with hostility.

The difference says everything about how you carry yourself.

I’ve been called names. Accused of things that don’t reflect my intentions at all.

I delete those comments and move on.

Because my message is not for everyone, and it doesn’t need to be.

But I do think this:

The way you respond when you disagree reveals more about your leadership than the opinion itself ever will.

Last week, my client attended a leadership presentation.

She wasn't a speaker.

But three different people asked her if she was presenting.

Not because they knew her.

Not because they saw her name on the program.

Simply based on what she was wearing.

That’s how fast people form assumptions in professional rooms.

They look for signals.

- Who looks like they belong on stage.
- Who looks like they are leading the room.
- Who looks like they are just attending.

And clothes send those signals instantly.

The interesting part?

The actual speaker dressed like one of many.

She was on stage but didn’t look like she belonged there.

My client was sitting in the audience, and people assumed she was presenting.

Clothes quietly move people up or down in the hierarchy of a room.

And sometimes the woman who looks like the authority isn’t even the one holding the microphone.

This is exactly what I help women in leadership with.

Dressing so that when you walk into the room, people immediately see you as the one in charge. 

Send me a dm with the word "image" and let's chat about how I can help elevate your professional wardrobe.

The most important lesson I learned while dressing celebrities had nothing to do with fashion. 

It was about positioning.

Years ago, when I was styling celebrities, I got a call from a publicist I knew. 

We had never worked together before.

She asked if I was available to dress her major client for the Emmys.

One of the lead actresses on a hugely popular TV show.

I was thrilled.

Then she said something that stopped me.

“She can’t wear black. Absolutely no black dresses.”

It was the first time anyone had told me to avoid a specific color. I was surprised, but I didn’t question it.

For the fitting, I didn’t bring a single black dress.

After the Emmys, I asked her why.

She said, “I have a harder time getting interviews for her if she wears black. She blends in on the red carpet. No one remembers black.”

This was a major actress on a nominated show.

 She had every reason to stand out.

And yet, her wardrobe was being used strategically to increase visibility, media coverage, and memorability.

That moment changed how I approach clothing.

Whether it’s a red carpet or a boardroom, the outcome you want should guide what you wear.

Do you want to look:

• Approachable but still clearly in charge?
 • Polished without fading into the background?
 • Established and credible at your level?
 • Modern without looking too trendy?

Every outfit communicates something before you say a word.

Your clothes are not just a look.

They are positioning.

Most women in power have the same three pieces in their closet.

They think they’re “professional.”

They’re not.

After over a decade of elevating leadership wardrobes, I can predict what I’ll find before the closet doors even open.

The safe stretch pants.

The “personality” top that’s slightly dated.

The butt-covering cardigan.

These pieces aren’t terrible.

They’re just quietly diluting authority.

And at a certain level, that matters.

If you need help with taking your wardrobe to the next level, send me a dm and let's chat!

You’re not stuck because you lack options in your work wardrobe.

You’re stuck because replacing what you already bought feels like failure.

So you keep wearing pieces that are “fine.”

And every time you do, you feel slightly muted.

Slightly smaller.
Slightly less authoritative than you actually are.

You’ve poured time, money, energy, and emotion into your professional wardrobe…

-  The designer blazer you “should” wear
-  The corporate dresses you bought for that last promotion
-  The entire rack of black that feels safe and appropriate

And now, even when it’s clearly not positioning you at your level, you feel like you have to keep wearing it 

“I spent so much on this suit. I can’t just stop wearing it.”
“I built my whole closet around neutrals. I can’t change direction now.”
“This was expensive. It has to work.”

Here’s the reality 

Continuing to wear pieces that dilute your authority does not elevate your presence.

It just deepens the disconnect between who you are and how you show up.

You’re not being wasteful by letting go of what no longer reflects your level.

You’re being a smart leader who understands positioning.

You cannot justify a past purchase by ignoring your current frustration.
So here’s my question to you 🔥

If you were building your wardrobe today, for the role and visibility you have now…

Would you still choose that blazer?
That silhouette?
That color palette?

If not, you have your answer.

Your next level will require a different visual strategy.

DM “IMAGE” if you’re ready to stop honoring old investments and start dressing for the authority you already are.

When women in leadership want to elevate their wardrobe

They usually do it backwards.

You open your closet and feel like it’s reflecting where you were two promotions ago.

So the first thing that comes to mind is that you need to go shopping.

You walk into a store you usually go to and see the same clothes you already own.

So what happens next?

You feel overwhelmed, confused, and you give up.

That’s because you should never start elevating your wardrobe with shopping.

You need to start with clarity on your image.

Because once you know exactly how you want to show up as a woman in leadership, everything changes.

Shopping becomes easier, and you stop wasting time trying to figure out what works for you.

Without that clarity, you’re just buying more of the same clothes you already have.

If you want to elevate your wardrobe, start with clarity on your image.

That’s exactly the work we do inside the DFI program. 
More info here: https://lnkd.in/d8CduAT7

Please stop saying, “I just want to look professional.”

That’s not the goal.

It’s the baseline.

When you search: "how to dress professionally", you’ll get the same formula every time:

- Black blazer + black skirt + black flats
- Beige trousers + black blazer
- Gray sheath dress + simple pumps

Yes, that’s professional.

But it’s also the same formula worn by entry-level employees, junior staff, and corporate uniforms.

And that’s where the problem starts.

At a certain point in your career, “professional” is no longer the goal.

You already run the team.
You lead the meetings.
You make the decisions.

Your wardrobe shouldn’t say "I work here."

It should say: I lead here.

Because the traditional definition of professional dressing was built around fitting in.

Leadership dressing works differently.

It allows space for a clear style identity.

For example:

- Romantic elements like florals, ruffles, or softer silhouettes
- Edgier pieces like leather, studs, or darker monochromatic looks
- Clean, classic outfits with sharp tailoring and minimal color

All of these can be professional.

But they communicate something much stronger than the standard corporate formula.

At a certain level in your career, your wardrobe isn’t about looking appropriate anymore.

It’s about having a clear visual identity that matches the level you operate at.

Because once you’re in leadership, blending in stops working in your favor.

If your wardrobe still looks entry-level but your career isn’t, this is exactly what I help my clients with. Send me a dm with the word “Image” and let's chat

I sometimes get pushback from women who ask:

“What would you know about working in a male-dominated industry?”

Before I worked with women in leadership, I was a celebrity stylist working on major brand campaigns.

I worked with teams at Disney, OPI, Sears, K-Mart, Adidas, and Nintendo, just to name a few.

And every creative meeting?

- Mostly men.
- Production heads were men.
- Studio heads were men.
- Decision makers were men.

Yes, my direct clients were often women.

But the rooms where budgets were approved and campaigns were shaped were filled with men.

And I learned something very quickly.

I didn’t want to be seen as the lady with clothes.

I wanted to be treated as part of the creative force.

- As someone influencing direction.
- As someone creating impact.
- As someone whose opinion mattered

Because when you walk into a room where you’re outnumbered, you don’t get extra time to prove yourself.

The room makes a decision about you before you open your mouth.

And once you’re mentally categorized, it’s hard to undo it.

That’s not theory.

That’s lived experience.

And it’s exactly why I care so much about how women in leadership show up now.

Your wardrobe isn’t decoration.

It’s part of how your authority is processed.

--------------------

If your clothes still make you look like support staff instead of the decision maker, message me and let's chat!

I am always asked how to elevate a professional wardrobe.

This is what I say.

Go against the flow.

Because yes, you can wear what everyone else is wearing and be totally fine.

The risk is this:

• You blend into the background.
• You mix in with everyone else in the room.
• You look competent, but not necessarily like the decision-maker.

Fitting in is easy.

Standing out with intention, while still looking appropriate, is a strategy.

You can absolutely respect the dress code and still put your look together in a way that feels elevated and slightly “against the flow.” That subtle shift is what positions you on a different level.

That is what I teach my clients to do.

PS. If you are ready to take your wardrobe from looking professional to looking executive, send me a dm and let's chat

If your look still reads entry level

Even though you’re the one leading the room

This is the shift I use to change it immediately

Contrast.

That’s what I teach my clients.

Having elevated pieces isn’t enough.

You have to put them together in a way that actually reads elevated.

If you need help with taking your professional wardrobe to the next level sned me a dm and let's chat!

Many successful women believe their wardrobe problem is about buying better clothes.

So they upgrade.

- They stop shopping at White House Black Market and start shopping at Nordstrom.
- They replace the black blazer with a slightly nicer black blazer.
- The gray dress becomes a slightly more expensive gray dress.

But the closet still feels the same.

Because the real issue is rarely the store or the price point.

It is that most women are shopping without a clear image of how they want to show up in their role.

When that clarity is missing, even smart, successful women default to the safest version of “professional”.

And safe rarely creates presence.

The moment things start changing is when the process flips.

Not shopping first.

Not another “better blazer”.

First defining the image your wardrobe should communicate in the rooms you walk into.

Only then does shopping actually move your wardrobe forward.

This is what I help my clients inside the Dress for Impact program or the 1:1 VIP send me a message with the word "Image" and let's chat on how I can help you take your wardrobe to the next level

The biggest misconception about authority?

It’s not just what you say. It’s how you show up.

Before you speak, people are already forming an impression.

Your outfit plays a bigger role in that than most realize.

- Authority
- Confidence
- Credibility

All of it is communicated visually first.

What I often see with women in leadership is this:

As their role grows, they try to elevate their wardrobe by upgrading what they already wear.

- A better blazer.
- Higher-quality trousers.
- More polished basics.

Everything improves,  but the overall image stays the same.

And that’s the gap.

Because at a certain level, it’s not about looking “put together.”

 It’s about being perceived as the decision maker in the room.

A strong professional image comes from alignment:

-  Your wardrobe reflects your personal brand, not just dress codes
-  Your outfits match the level of visibility and responsibility you carry
-  You feel confident in what you wear, which changes how you communicate and lead

Where it gets tricky is that many women default to what feels safe.

Black, grey, neutral, understated.

It feels appropriate.

But it often makes them blend in rather than stand out with authority.

Your wardrobe isn’t just about looking good.

It’s a tool that shapes how you’re perceived before you say a word.

If your role has evolved, your image should evolve with it.

This is exactly what I help women in leadership with. Send me a message and let's chat!

You know what I see all the time?

Women who can close million-dollar deals…

But stand in front of their closet for 20 minutes trying to convince themselves an outfit is “fine.” 

Not good. Not powerful. Fine.

- They’ve bought quality pieces.
- The blazer was expensive.
- The trousers technically fit.
- The capsule was “well curated.”

But none of it was built around a defined image.

So every morning becomes a negotiation.

“Does this look senior enough?”
“Is this too much?”
“Is this too basic?”

That mental noise is exhausting.

And no one talks about that part.

It’s not about spending more money.

It’s about eliminating the doubt.

When your image direction is clear, getting dressed stops being a daily question mark.

It becomes automatic.

That’s the difference.

If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself every morning, 

DM me IMAGE and let's chat!

After seeing over 500 closets of women in leadership, you would think I’ve seen everything.

But I see the same things over and over.

- The typical “professional” wardrobe.
- The generic black and grey suits.
- Neutral pencil skirts.
- Beige or nude blouses.

Nothing terrible.

But also nothing that says this is the wardrobe of a woman in charge.

And when I edit my clients’ closets, those pieces are usually the first to go.

Not because they’re “bad.”

But because they’re:

• Dated and generic
• Off-fitting
• Entry-level looking

They belong in the wardrobe of someone trying to look professional for the first time.

Not someone leading the room.

In today’s video, I break down:

• The pieces I immediately remove from my clients’ closets
• Why they quietly make accomplished women look more junior than they are
• And what to replace them with so your wardrobe actually reflects your level

Here is the link: https://lnkd.in/egGGYbNR

When you get to the next level of your career,

Your wardrobe should reflect it too.

It’s not just your resume or your responsibilities that evolve. 

Your image should evolve with them.

The problem?

Most of the women I speak to are still wearing the typical “corporate uniform.”

Yes, it’s easy.
Yes, it works on repeat.

But that safe, predictable look doesn’t position you as the woman who just stepped into the next level.

It keeps you looking safe

Not authoritative.

In this video, I walk you through:

- How to find your style when you get to the next level of your career
- The exact 3-step process I teach my clients to define an image that positions them with authority
- How to shift from looking professional to looking like the decision maker

Link to the video here: https://lnkd.in/ga32HJmK

LinkedIn is full of conference outfits.

And I roll my eyes most of the time.

Don’t get me wrong. There are good outfits out there. 

But the majority are falling flat.

- I see too-casual denim looks.
- Flat black dresses.
- The typical “professional” outfits that feel safe… but forgettable.

Here’s the problem:

A conference is not a normal workday. It’s a visibility moment. And most women dress to be appropriate instead of dressing to be positioned.

In my latest video, I break down:

– The 3 major questions to ask yourself before you even open your closet, so you show up aligned with the level of the room

– What to wear depending on the type of conference, whether it’s an elevated corporate, more relaxed industry, or somewhere in between

– The key outfit decisions to make when you’re presenting, and what to avoid so you don’t visually shrink on stage

Here is the link: https://lnkd.in/gGBEDxsS

Every successful woman I work with is asking some version of the same question:

“How do I elevate my wardrobe so I actually look like the level I operate at?”

And the question I ask them in return is:

“What exactly makes a wardrobe look elevated and executive instead of just professional?”

Most women can’t answer that.

And that’s the ceiling they keep hitting with their image.

Because they’re doing what everyone assumes is the solution.

- Buying more clothes.
- Better brands.
- More blazers.
- More “work outfits.”

But the wardrobe still doesn’t look elevated.

Last year I worked with a client who had already spent thousands trying to upgrade her work wardrobe.

Her closet was full.

But the image still felt… average.

Professional.
Appropriate.
But not executive.

Because she didn’t know:

• Silhouettes that flatter your body so the outfit looks sharp, not generic
• Fabrics that make clothes look polished instead of flat
• How to mix pieces so the outfit feels elevated, not safe
• The details that turn a typical professional outfit into an executive one

That’s the difference between buying work clothes and building an elevated wardrobe.

At any level of leadership, your image changes when two things happen:

You understand what actually creates an elevated, executive look.

And you start buying and styling with that precision.

Because the same woman can have a closet full of expensive clothes and still look like one of many in the room.

Or she can walk in and immediately look like she’s the one leading it.

This is exactly what I help women in leadership build inside Dress for Impact

It’s not about buying more clothes.

It’s about building a wardrobe that actually reflects the level you already operate at.

-------------------------

This is exactly what I help women in leadership with.
Dressing so that when you walk into the room, people immediately see you as the one in charge. Send me a dm with the word "image" and let's chat about how I can help elevate your professional wardrobe

Everyone thinks they have a shopping problem.

If they just buy better clothes, find the right brands, or finally figure out where to shop, the problem will be solved.

Except shopping is rarely the real problem.

And this is where most women miss the mark.

The real problem is image clarity.

You are focused on finding the next blazer, the next pair of trousers, the next “better piece.”

But you have skipped the part where your wardrobe actually starts working together as a recognizable image.

So you keep buying pieces.

And yet every morning you still feel like you have nothing that works.

Meanwhile, the women who always look polished and authoritative?

They are not constantly shopping.

They simply know exactly what their image is, and every piece they buy fits into it.

They are not trying to reinvent themselves every time they shop.

They built a clear visual brand, and everything supports it.

Think about it like a closet.

👉 Buying more clothes for a closet with no structure will never make dressing easier.

And that is exactly what happens when women focus only on shopping without having clarity on their image.

You can make getting dressed dramatically easier, build a wardrobe that actually works, and stop wasting money on random pieces.

But only if you stop trying to fix the problem with more shopping.

Start with clarity.

That’s where the real shift happens.

If you want to learn how to build a wardrobe that actually reflects the level you operate at, comment IMAGE and I’ll send you the details.

A client of mine recently updated her wardrobe without buying much new.

Within weeks, she was invited to speak on a panel and asked if she was part of the executive team.

At the same time, I see highly accomplished women with 15 to 20 years of experience still being visually positioned as support.

This is the disconnect no one talks about.

- Your resume has grown.
- Your responsibilities have expanded.
- Your title has evolved.

But your image has not evolved at the same pace.

You walk into meetings knowing you’ve outgrown how you currently present yourself.

You look around and realize you don’t visually stand apart.

You sense that your presence doesn’t fully reflect your level.

The natural reaction is to shop.

A sharper blazer.
Better basics.
Higher-quality pieces.

It feels strategic.

But nothing fundamentally changes.

Because the issue was never the quantity of clothing.

It’s clarity.

If your wardrobe still resembles the same corporate uniform as everyone else in the room, you visually blend in.

And when you blend in, you are perceived as part of the group, not necessarily the one leading it.

When a client tells me she got promoted, I don’t automatically celebrate.

I audit.

Does she look like the level she just stepped into?
Would someone recognize her authority before she starts speaking?
Or does she still need to prove it verbally?

This isn’t about style.

It’s about visual leadership positioning.

If you walked into your next board meeting and stayed silent for five minutes, would your appearance clearly signal that you are the decision-maker?

If the answer is not an immediate yes, that’s not a competence issue.

It’s an image clarity issue.

If this resonates, message me IMAGE and let's chat!

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The Battle

Tara LaFon Gooch, MBA, CVP 🎤

Basia Richard

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The Battle

Tara LaFon Gooch, MBA, CVP 🎤

Basia Richard

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Posts

Engagements

Likes

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