Member since May 2023
Leadership Expert and Dynamic Speaker
Tradara McLaurine is a three-time alumna of Indiana State University, holding two bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Legal Studies, as well as a master’s degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education. She also earned a certification in Women’s Entrepreneurship from eCornell. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, Tradara has excelled in career advising, academic advising, student conduct, event programming, teaching, and residential life. Her diverse expertise positions her as a leader in fostering growth and development in individuals and organizations alike.
Author and Thought Leader
Tradara is the author of four children’s books: Why Mommy Works, Why Daddy Works, I Want a Nickname and MVP's Playbook. Writing has always been a passion for Tradara, and she uses her storytelling skills to empower others to embrace their unique talents and pursue their dreams.
A Proven Track Record of Leadership
Since the beginning of her career, Tradara has been recognized for her ability to lead individuals and teams to higher levels of performance. Her colleagues and clients value her authenticity, strategic mindset, and ability to deliver actionable insights that drive results. In November 2017, the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce honored her as one of their “12 Under 40,” recognizing her exceptional contributions to her community and profession.
Dynamic Facilitator and Speaker
Tradara is known for her engaging and impactful speaking style, delivering content that resonates with audiences and inspires action. Her signature keynote, Change Your Shoes: Adapting to Leadership Roles with Confidence, empowers individuals to embrace change, lead with confidence, and navigate challenges with resilience. Whether addressing emerging leaders or seasoned professionals, Tradara’s presentations are thought-provoking, practical, and transformative.
Accomplished Professional with Certifications
Tradara holds multiple certifications, including Certified Diversity Professional from the Institute of Diversity Certification, Certified Trainer for Understanding and Engaging Under-Resourced College Students from Bridges Out of Poverty, and Predictive Index
Practitioner. These credentials underscore her commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces, optimizing team performance, and driving organizational success.In 2026, Junior Achievement of Central Indiana recognized Tradara as Indy’s Best and Brightest Finalist for the Education and Non-Profit Industry.
Notable Clients and Media Features
Tradara has delivered impactful presentations at Indiana State University, the University of Kentucky Women’s Forum, StartUp Ladies, Terre Haute Young Leaders Conference, and the Terre Haute Women’s Conference. She has also served as a keynote speaker for the Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrators and the IUPUI Supervisor Summit. Her expertise has been featured on platforms such as Indy Now, WURD Radio, Wave Country with Dawne Gee, and CTV News.
Entrepreneur and Innovator
As the owner of a Challenge Island franchise, Tradara provides hands-on STEAM-based learning experiences that foster creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking in young learners. Her entrepreneurial spirit and innovative approach to education and leadership make her a sought-after expert in her field.
Inspiring Growth and Transformation
Tradara’s mission is to empower individuals and organizations to unlock their full potential through leadership, personal growth, and adaptability. Whether she’s speaking, coaching, or leading, Tradara inspires her audiences to see challenges as opportunities and to step boldly into their next chapter with clarity and purpose.
Tradara McLaurine is a renowned speaker who speaks regularly about work-life balance, women's empowerment, and authentic leadership. As an accomplished author, entrepreneur, and leadership consultant, she empowers individuals and organizations to unlock their full potential. With over 15 years of experience in higher education and a passion for community service, Tradara creates transformative experiences that inspire growth and resilience.
Tradara is driven by a deep commitment to help others embrace their unique talents and pursue their dreams. She believes in the importance of authentic leadership and the need for women to be empowered in all spaces, particularly in leadership roles. Her work reflects her dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued.
One of Tradara's most memorable speaking experiences was at the Terre Haute Women’s Conference, where she delivered her keynote address to an audience of diverse women seeking inspiration and guidance. The positive feedback she received, particularly from young leaders who felt empowered by her message, reinforced her belief in the impact of her work.
Tradara's journey began with a desire for representation in the literary and speaking world. After attending numerous conferences and rarely seeing speakers who looked like her, she was inspired to become an author and speaker herself. This motivation led her to publish four children's books and engage audiences through her dynamic presentations, fostering a more inclusive dialogue around leadership and empowerment.
Are you ready to step boldly into the unknown and redefine what leadership means to you? Change Your Shoes is more than a program, it’s a movement. This transformative experience empowers participants to navigate leadership transitions with resilience, authenticity, and purpose. Using Tradara’s signature metaphor, this program delivers actionable strategies to help you embrace change, conquer challenges, and lead with unshakable confidence.
Program Description
Leadership isn’t a destination, it’s a series of steps, each requiring courage, adaptability, and self-awareness. Change Your Shoes equips participants with the tools to thrive in any role, no matter how daunting the transition. Through compelling storytelling, hands-on exercises, and practical frameworks, this program helps leaders balance professional demands with personal growth. Whether you’re a seasoned executive, a new professional, or someone navigating a major life shift, this program will inspire you to step into your next chapter with clarity and conviction.
Key Takeaways
Leadership isn’t about fitting into someone else’s shoes it’s about owning your journey. With Change Your Shoes, you’ll gain the mindset, tools, and strategies to lead with confidence, resilience, and authenticity. You’ll leave this program with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to tackle challenges head-on and inspire those around you. Whether you’re stepping into a new role or redefining your leadership style, this program will empower you to walk boldly into your future.
What if you held the keys to unlocking the next generation of leaders? How Many Doors Are You Locking? is a game-changing program that empowers supervisors to transform their interns into high-performing professionals. This isn’t just about managing interns it’s about shaping the future workforce while driving organizational success.
Program Description
Supervising interns isn’t a burden it’s an opportunity to create lasting impact. This program dives deep into the strategies, tools, and mindset shifts needed to foster meaningful growth in interns and entry-level employees. Tradara McLaurine shares her unique perspective as both a former student employee and a seasoned supervisor, offering actionable insights that will leave you feeling empowered and inspired.
Key Takeaways
Unlock the doors to your team’s potential. With this program, you’ll transform intern development from a challenge into a rewarding opportunity for growth and success. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap for creating meaningful growth opportunities that benefit both individuals and organizations. This program will empower you to see intern development not as a task, but as a transformative opportunity to shape the future workforce and elevate your leadership impact.
First impressions are everything, are you making the right one? Networking & Dining Etiquette is a hands-on workshop designed to help you navigate professional and social settings with confidence and poise.
Program Description
This isn’t just about which fork to use it’s about building relationships that matter. Tradara McLaurine combines practical etiquette tips with actionable networking strategies to help you leave a lasting impression. From mastering table conversations to creating valuable connections, this workshop is your secret weapon for professional success.
Key Takeaways
Elevate your professional presence and leave every room better than you found it. This workshop will equip you with the tools to navigate any social or professional setting with confidence, grace, and authenticity. You’ll leave feeling empowered to make meaningful connections, build lasting relationships, and stand out in any crowd.
What’s holding you back from greatness? Unlocking the Gates to Your Potential is a transformative session that helps you identify and overcome the barriers keeping you from success. This program is about breaking through fear, compromise, bitterness, and ownership to unlock the life and career you deserve.
Program Description
Tradara McLaurine takes you on a journey through the four gates: fear, compromise, bitterness, and ownership that block your path to success. Through powerful storytelling, actionable strategies, and interactive exercises, this program empowers you to take control of your growth and unlock your full potential. You’ll learn how to shift your mindset, overcome obstacles, and create a life that aligns with your goals and values.
Key Takeaways
Success isn’t about luck it’s about breaking through the barriers that hold you back and taking ownership of your journey. This program will leave you feeling empowered, inspired, and equipped to face your challenges head-on. You’ll gain the tools to identify and dismantle the gates that block your potential, allowing you to move forward with confidence and purpose. Whether you’re navigating personal challenges or professional obstacles, this program will help you unlock the gates to your success and step boldly into the life you deserve.
What if your dream career is waiting for you to discover it? Evaluating Your Possible Lives is a transformative program that helps you uncover your passions, align them with your goals, and design a career that fulfills you. This isn’t just about finding a job it’s about creating a life that resonates with your values and aspirations.
Program Description
This program is a deep dive into self-discovery and career alignment. Tradara McLaurine guides participants through a process of reflection, evaluation, and action, helping them gain clarity on their unique potential and purpose. By exploring your passions, strengths, and values, you’ll leave with a clear roadmap to a career that feels meaningful and rewarding.
Key Takeaways
Your career isn’t just a job it’s a reflection of who you are and what you stand for. This program will empower you to take control of your professional journey, giving you the tools to explore your options, align your goals, and take actionable steps toward a career that excites and fulfills you. You’ll leave with clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to design a life that truly resonates with your passions and aspirations.
The job market is a battlefield. Are you ready to win? Job Searching 101 is your ultimate guide to navigating the competitive landscape with confidence, clarity, and purpose. This program equips you with the tools to craft a standout application, ace the interview, and land the role of your dreams.
Program Description
This isn’t your average job search workshop. Tradara McLaurine takes a no-nonsense approach to help you define your dream job, create compelling application materials, and master the art of networking. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, this program will give you the edge you need to stand out and succeed.
Key Takeaways
Stop searching aimlessly. Start crafting your path to opportunity with focus, strategy, and confidence. This program will leave you feeling empowered, prepared, and ready to take the next step in your career. You’ll walk away with a clear plan, actionable tools, and the confidence to pursue your dream job with purpose and determination.
One of Tradara's most memorable speaking experiences was at the Terre Haute Women’s Conference, where she delivered her keynote address to an audience of diverse women seeking inspiration and guidance. The positive feedback she received, particularly from young leaders who felt empowered by her message, reinforced her belief in the impact of her work.
Tradara's journey began with a desire for representation in the literary and speaking world. After attending numerous conferences and rarely seeing speakers who looked like her, she was inspired to become an author and speaker herself. This motivation led her to publish four children's books and engage audiences through her dynamic presentations, fostering a more inclusive dialogue around leadership and empowerment.
Are you ready to step boldly into the unknown and redefine what leadership means to you? Change Your Shoes is more than a program, it’s a movement. This transformative experience empowers participants to navigate leadership transitions with resilience, authenticity, and purpose. Using Tradara’s signature metaphor, this program delivers actionable strategies to help you embrace change, conquer challenges, and lead with unshakable confidence.
Program Description
Leadership isn’t a destination, it’s a series of steps, each requiring courage, adaptability, and self-awareness. Change Your Shoes equips participants with the tools to thrive in any role, no matter how daunting the transition. Through compelling storytelling, hands-on exercises, and practical frameworks, this program helps leaders balance professional demands with personal growth. Whether you’re a seasoned executive, a new professional, or someone navigating a major life shift, this program will inspire you to step into your next chapter with clarity and conviction.
Key Takeaways
Leadership isn’t about fitting into someone else’s shoes it’s about owning your journey. With Change Your Shoes, you’ll gain the mindset, tools, and strategies to lead with confidence, resilience, and authenticity. You’ll leave this program with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to tackle challenges head-on and inspire those around you. Whether you’re stepping into a new role or redefining your leadership style, this program will empower you to walk boldly into your future.
What if you held the keys to unlocking the next generation of leaders? How Many Doors Are You Locking? is a game-changing program that empowers supervisors to transform their interns into high-performing professionals. This isn’t just about managing interns it’s about shaping the future workforce while driving organizational success.
Program Description
Supervising interns isn’t a burden it’s an opportunity to create lasting impact. This program dives deep into the strategies, tools, and mindset shifts needed to foster meaningful growth in interns and entry-level employees. Tradara McLaurine shares her unique perspective as both a former student employee and a seasoned supervisor, offering actionable insights that will leave you feeling empowered and inspired.
Key Takeaways
Unlock the doors to your team’s potential. With this program, you’ll transform intern development from a challenge into a rewarding opportunity for growth and success. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap for creating meaningful growth opportunities that benefit both individuals and organizations. This program will empower you to see intern development not as a task, but as a transformative opportunity to shape the future workforce and elevate your leadership impact.
First impressions are everything, are you making the right one? Networking & Dining Etiquette is a hands-on workshop designed to help you navigate professional and social settings with confidence and poise.
Program Description
This isn’t just about which fork to use it’s about building relationships that matter. Tradara McLaurine combines practical etiquette tips with actionable networking strategies to help you leave a lasting impression. From mastering table conversations to creating valuable connections, this workshop is your secret weapon for professional success.
Key Takeaways
Elevate your professional presence and leave every room better than you found it. This workshop will equip you with the tools to navigate any social or professional setting with confidence, grace, and authenticity. You’ll leave feeling empowered to make meaningful connections, build lasting relationships, and stand out in any crowd.
What’s holding you back from greatness? Unlocking the Gates to Your Potential is a transformative session that helps you identify and overcome the barriers keeping you from success. This program is about breaking through fear, compromise, bitterness, and ownership to unlock the life and career you deserve.
Program Description
Tradara McLaurine takes you on a journey through the four gates: fear, compromise, bitterness, and ownership that block your path to success. Through powerful storytelling, actionable strategies, and interactive exercises, this program empowers you to take control of your growth and unlock your full potential. You’ll learn how to shift your mindset, overcome obstacles, and create a life that aligns with your goals and values.
Key Takeaways
Success isn’t about luck it’s about breaking through the barriers that hold you back and taking ownership of your journey. This program will leave you feeling empowered, inspired, and equipped to face your challenges head-on. You’ll gain the tools to identify and dismantle the gates that block your potential, allowing you to move forward with confidence and purpose. Whether you’re navigating personal challenges or professional obstacles, this program will help you unlock the gates to your success and step boldly into the life you deserve.
What if your dream career is waiting for you to discover it? Evaluating Your Possible Lives is a transformative program that helps you uncover your passions, align them with your goals, and design a career that fulfills you. This isn’t just about finding a job it’s about creating a life that resonates with your values and aspirations.
Program Description
This program is a deep dive into self-discovery and career alignment. Tradara McLaurine guides participants through a process of reflection, evaluation, and action, helping them gain clarity on their unique potential and purpose. By exploring your passions, strengths, and values, you’ll leave with a clear roadmap to a career that feels meaningful and rewarding.
Key Takeaways
Your career isn’t just a job it’s a reflection of who you are and what you stand for. This program will empower you to take control of your professional journey, giving you the tools to explore your options, align your goals, and take actionable steps toward a career that excites and fulfills you. You’ll leave with clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to design a life that truly resonates with your passions and aspirations.
The job market is a battlefield. Are you ready to win? Job Searching 101 is your ultimate guide to navigating the competitive landscape with confidence, clarity, and purpose. This program equips you with the tools to craft a standout application, ace the interview, and land the role of your dreams.
Program Description
This isn’t your average job search workshop. Tradara McLaurine takes a no-nonsense approach to help you define your dream job, create compelling application materials, and master the art of networking. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, this program will give you the edge you need to stand out and succeed.
Key Takeaways
Stop searching aimlessly. Start crafting your path to opportunity with focus, strategy, and confidence. This program will leave you feeling empowered, prepared, and ready to take the next step in your career. You’ll walk away with a clear plan, actionable tools, and the confidence to pursue your dream job with purpose and determination.