Let's Connect with Tara Trantham...

Welcome to my humans of LinkedIn project. I am a writer and I love people and connecting, so I have created The LinkedIn Connection. 

Every Friday I highlight another up-and-coming professional that I’ve connected with. You get an in-depth look at their life, lessons they have learned, and what they are doing here on LinkedIn. 

I am having a blast meeting these talented people. I hope you do too! 

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(Trigger warning, this article addresses mental health issues including suicide.) 

Tara Trantham is an incredible lawyer, but she is also here to share the personal and deeply moving story of her own journey from attempted suicide to the vibrant professional woman she is today. 

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, so it seems especially fitting to present Tara Trantham as part of this. 

Tara’s global mission is to help others who suffer from mental health conditions. She says,” It is my goal to let others know that they are not alone, as well as to raise awareness, to normalize discussions around mental illness, and end the stigma associated with mental health conditions.

Who are you? 

I am from the mountains of North Carolina, a small town called Clyde, NC. I grew up there and then I went to UNC Chapel. I was going to be a doctor, and my mom is a nurse, so it made sense, but I went to Wake Forest Medical School for a couple of weeks in the summer during high school. They took me in with the cadavers and handed me a human heart and I was the one who needed medical help.  

I decided to go to law school instead. I ended up in Chicago where I did not know anyone. I loved it there and I really enjoyed my corporate classes the most.  

I moved to Greenville SC and started my first job fall of 2001. I had just begun my career as a lawyer and 9/11 happened. I can recall that moment in time forever, the woman who was my boss at the time, was sitting with me watching all of the news coverage and then the Pentagon was struck and her dad worked there.

I worked my way up in the corporate world and became General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer for large public and private companies.  

I acted as an in-house lawyer for over 21 years. I faced several ethical questions and conundrums which previously I thought were for law school essay questions only.  I will not go into much detail but to say some involved learning my company, at the time was bribing government officials, cartels, and corruption at the highest levels. I chose to do the right thing, but there were consequences.

About 2 years ago, the trauma I experienced from my experiences as a C-Suite executive along with being in a very abusive relationship all came crashing in on me. I always thought I was “tough”, I had this- and I was fine. That was not the case.  I suffered a swift and severe mental health decline which culminated in an attempted suicide (I was taken to jail for trying - not to a medical professional).  I spent months in trauma therapy, which I continue to this day. I learned to face the trauma and pain rather than run from it.  I found beauty in joy through the healing journey. 

Today, I share my story and my son’s story. When I came home from the suicide attempt my son spoke the words that altered the path of my life forever, he said, "Mom I love you so very much. I need you, you are MY PERSON. I do not care where we live, what school I attend, that you are some fancy lawyer (his words), ALL I WANT IS FOR MY MOM TO BE HEALTHY, HAPPY, and ALIVE. To be here for me and with me." Out of the mouth of my greatest gift from God!

Our stories are part of my global mission to help others who suffer from mental health conditions. It is my goal to let others know that they are not alone, as well as to raise awareness, normalize discussions around mental illness, and end the stigma associated with mental health conditions.

Mental illness is just that an illness like cancer or heart disease and should be treated as such.  I am a public speaker, a coach for executives who may be suffering from crisis (any type really), coach for companies in crisis (regulatory issues, the suicide of an employee, natural disaster, and so forth). 

I am writing a book entitled “Building a Better Boat- How I Overcame toxicity, how you can too!”  I am setting up my new website for public speaking and coaching and my book.  It is my goal to make the world a better place by helping one person at a time.  

My motto for mental health issues is, “Stand Up Speak Out Seek Help and End the Stigma.” This article shares more of my story. ( 'I'd Wake Up and Put on That Face': Former GC Shares Story of Mental Health Battle and Recovery | Corporate Counsel)

I used to see success in a very different light than I do now.  Success to me now is doing what is aligned with my purpose and helping others along the way.

I also provide General Counsel Fractional Services (long way of saying) I provide in-house legal services to companies who do not have an in-house lawyer, at a fraction of the cost of outside counsel. I get to know my client’s business model very well and became part of the team- in a budget-friendly fashion. The client chooses how many hours per week, month etc.

I am grateful for the wonderful community I am building on LinkedIn, for their support and kindness.  It is my hope that my content brings joy to others and is informative as well.  

For today and every day, I CHOSE LIFE, I CHOSE JOY, I CHOSE GRATITUDE and I CHOSE TO FIND THE BEAUTY IN ALL THINGS.  

What are you proud of?

 I am most proud of being a good mom. I  have one stepdaughter Carlee, 22, who I divorced her Dad but "kept her."  I love her as my own. And my son, Christian who is 13. 

In my career, I am most proud of the others that I helped to succeed and reach their goals.  

I am proud of overcoming major adversity - going from feeling so lonely and so helpless that I attempted suicide, to finding through my healing journey beauty, joy, love and to chose Life every day.,

Why are you on LinkedIn?   

I am on now to share mine and my son’s story of going from darknes and choosing light.  I believe that I can use our story to raise awareness of mental health issues, normalize discussion of the same, end the stigma, help others to know they are not alone and to, “stand up, speak uut and seek help.”

I am in the process of writing a book which will be announced soon.  As well as starting a speaking and training career.  The business will be called “Building a Better Boat”- I want to share my story with executives, lawyers, doctors , students anyone and everyone with whom I can help.  I have had several speaking engagements to date and I truly believe this is my true calling and passion. More to come on this….

Favorite quote? 

In the end, we will remember not the words of our friends but the silence of our enemies.  

Martin Luther King Jr.    

If we see something wrong we must speak out.  One person can be the change. 

Favorite person/guru you follow and why? 

John Lewis  He so strongly believed in working for the greater good and equality for all, even up to his dying day.  He wrote to us as his last gift and URGED us “to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe.”  This is my goal each day. 

Advice you would give someone starting out on LinkedIn or in networking?  Just be YOU.  be authentic, write content from your heart, set up coffee chats and most importantly give back.  Support others.  Together we Rise. 

Ways we can help support you on LinkedIn?   

I am doing a walk for suicide prevention and I would love if you all could donate, or share the locations and join a walk in your area, or just support my team with your kindness and love.  

Please share my stories with others with whom you believe they may help. We can be the change. One person can make a difference.

Anything else you want to say? 

I want to end by sharing the lessons my son and I learned in this journey that I hope might be a roadmap for your success. I shared them in an earlier post. 

1. Ensure that you are putting your health (mental and physical) and general well-being first. Nothing and I mean nothing is more important.
2. Define success on your own terms. The definition is personal to each of you- yet I encourage you to ask this simple question- "Is my career in alighment with my core values, my authentic self and do I have time for the people and things that mean the most to me?"
3. Do not give up. Do not ever give up!!! You will fail, you will make mistakes, you may even come to the lowest point in your life (as did I) - yet know "On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sails and begin." - Gregory S. Williams. My boy and I made a pact, we do not give up.
4. This one is easy! Christian, my son says- "just be kind, be nice, help other people."