Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Bakari.
Hi Tanya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
For more than 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of leading teams across banking, financial services, healthcare, and retail. Throughout my career, I was often the leader organizations called when they needed someone to build something new, solve complex problems, develop people, or lead through change. While I enjoyed the work and the results, I discovered that what energized me most wasn’t the projects. It was watching people grow into leaders they never believed they could become.
Throughout my career, many people simply called me “Bakari.” Over time, that name became synonymous with the way I led. It represented someone who invested in people, challenged them to grow, and believed in their potential before they saw it in themselves. When it came time to build the business, naming it Bakari Institute wasn’t a branding decision. It was a reflection of the legacy I wanted to continue.
Like many entrepreneurs, I didn’t wake up one day with a business plan. Bakari Institute was built over years of experience, countless leadership conversations, and a growing conviction that too many promising leaders are overlooked. Organizations often invest heavily in proven executives, but many emerging leaders are expected to figure leadership out on their own. I wanted to change that.
Early on, I thought my calling was to work primarily with executive leaders and decision makers. But as I continued building the Institute, I realized my greatest passion was investing in emerging leaders, the individuals with incredible potential who simply need someone to believe in them, challenge them, and prepare them for what’s next. That shift has become the heart of everything I do.
Today, Bakari Institute exists to equip emerging leaders with the character, competence, and capacity to lead with confidence and purpose. Through my C3 Framework, coaching, workshops, speaking engagements, leadership cohorts, and digital content, I help leaders build the foundation they need before they reach the executive table, not after.
Building the business has been its own leadership journey. I’ve learned that entrepreneurship requires the same things I teach every day: resilience, humility, consistency, and a willingness to keep growing. Every challenge has reinforced my belief that leadership isn’t about a title. It’s about influence, intentionality, and serving others well.
As I continue building Bakari Institute, my vision is simple: invest in the leaders who are often overlooked today so they become the executives, business owners, and community leaders who transform organizations and lives tomorrow. The world invests in proven leaders. I believe in investing in promising ones. There is nothing more rewarding than watching someone discover they are capable of far more than they ever imagined.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but every challenge has shaped who I am as a leader and entrepreneur.
One of the biggest lessons has been learning to build a business while still leading at a high level in my corporate career. There are only so many hours in a day, so I’ve had to become incredibly intentional about where I invest my time and energy. Building Bakari Institute has required early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and a willingness to stay committed even when progress felt slower than I envisioned.
Another challenge was gaining clarity on who I was truly called to serve. Initially, I believed my focus would be executive leaders because that’s where much of my experience had been. But as I continued coaching, speaking, and developing leaders, I realized my greatest passion was investing in emerging leaders. That shift changed everything. It gave Bakari Institute a clearer mission and allowed me to build programs that align with my purpose instead of simply my experience.
Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve also had moments of questioning myself. When you’re building something from the ground up, there isn’t always a roadmap or immediate validation. You have to trust the vision, remain consistent, and be willing to adjust without abandoning your mission.
What has kept me moving forward is my faith and my conviction that leadership changes lives. Every message from someone who has been encouraged, every leader who has gained confidence, and every opportunity to help someone discover their potential reminds me why I started. Those moments make every challenge worth it.
I’ve come to believe that leadership and entrepreneurship have something in common: neither journey is about avoiding obstacles. It’s about allowing the obstacles to develop your character, strengthen your competence, and expand your capacity for what comes next.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Bakari Institute is a leadership development and consulting organization that equips individuals and organizations to lead with confidence, purpose, and impact. We believe the best investment in leadership happens before someone steps into the role and continues throughout their career. Through leadership coaching, keynote speaking, workshops, consulting, and cohort based development, we help people build the skills and mindset to lead well.
One of the greatest joys of my work is that leadership shows up in many different spaces. I partner with organizations to develop emerging and experienced leaders, work with local high school students on career readiness and leadership development, mentor college students through Braven as they prepare to launch their careers, and provide career coaching and professional mentorship through Mission Mansfield.
Leadership development is also a passion I carry into my community. I teach a women’s class each Sunday at Connect Church Mansfield, lead the Adore Women’s Ministry, and facilitate the Positive Disruptor Women’s Lean In Circle, creating spaces where women can grow in their faith, leadership, and influence.
Whether I am working with a student preparing for a first interview, a professional navigating a career transition, or a leader stepping into greater responsibility, my passion is the same: helping people become the leader they are capable of becoming.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
If I could encourage someone who is just starting out, I would say this: don’t doubt your passion. There will always be voices, both around you and in your own mind, asking, *Who are you? Why would anyone listen to you?* Don’t let those questions keep you from taking the next step.
Also, don’t build your purpose around likes, followers, or shares. Those things can be encouraging, but they are not the measure of your impact. Focus on serving people well, creating value, and staying true to your mission.
Be consistent. Be intentional. Trust the process. I know that phrase can sound cliché, but I’ve found it to be true. Growth rarely happens overnight. Just as you only see fruit from seeds that have been planted and faithfully watered, meaningful success comes from showing up day after day, even when you can’t yet see the results.
The opportunities, influence, and impact you’re hoping for are often growing beneath the surface long before anyone else notices. Keep planting. Keep watering. In time, you’ll be grateful you didn’t quit too soon.
Pricing:
- Emerging Leader Jump Start Cohort: $27 per participant
- Leadership workshops and training: Custom pricing based on the organization, audience, and program length
- Keynote speaking: Customized based on the event and engagement
- Leadership coaching: Customized coaching packages available for individuals and organizations
- Organizational consulting: Pricing based on project scope and business needs
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thepositivedisruptor.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyabakari
