Why Creatives Choose the Playing Big Model
Whether your challenge is reclaiming your creative self, making or sharing your art more boldly, money and sustainability issues, or good old fear and self-doubt, the Playing Big courses and community are here for you.
Many women artists and creatives struggle with playing small. We may be stuck in perfectionism or a fear of being seen. We often struggle to make time and space for our creative work, to take it as seriously as it deserves. Other times, painful experiences have left us hiding or doubting our worth.
Yet now, we long for something different. To share our creative work more boldly or fully. To be more visible so our work can reach others. Many of us long to finally let go of the self-doubt, embrace our art, and create what we truly long to create.
The Playing Big programs are here to support you in quieting your inner critic, rediscovering confidence and self-trust, navigate feedback, and building a creative business, and a creative life, that is truly flourishing.
We are here to help you fulfill your goals for you if:
You want to see a world being shaped far more by women’s brilliance, contributions and voices—and are committed to helping make that change in the world by supporting women through coaching-based work via 1:1 and/or group sessions; courses and/or workshops; independent from or inside an organization.
You are interested in coaching not as a form of hierarchical advising, but as deeper work of helping people tap into their own wisdom.
You are interested in using an approach that blends head, heart and soul—spirituality, ethics, data backed scientific research, business acumen and pragmatism, and a focus on women’s empowerment.
Like me, you know something was missing from your coaching training; something about how to really support women stepping into their full potential.
My own early coaching practice led me to develop the Playing Big toolkit to meet that need—honing tools that truly help women quiet the inner critic, find and tap into their inner wisdom, unhook from praise and criticism, move through fear, negotiate and communicate more powerfully—and more. Today, we’ve trained over 5000+ people in that powerful toolkit, with rave reviews and incredible results.
One beautiful part of this is that our training always has two layers: you learn the Playing Big toolkit to apply to yourself too—to support you in using your voice more fully, clarifying your vision, and stepping into your self-defined playing big. As a result, coaches have seen their practices thrive, developed new offerings with more confidence, and found ways to grow work that truly resonates with them and others.
With that, we layer on the facilitators lens—with teaching, skills training, coaching practice sessions and materials to share—all so that you can then help others step into their playing big too.
What Women Creatives Are Saying
Playing Big ignited a new sense of purpose in my work. Lots of new ideas, and forward momentum. I got such beautiful support and practical expertise from other women taking the course. Tara Mohr is a gifted coach; meaning she studies, practices and thinks deeply about what she is doing, giving personal thought and attention to participants. The course is well structured, and tools are multi-sided, applicable and memorable.
Laura Carmichael
Classical Clarinetist, Creativity Coach and Faculty, THNK School for Creative Leadership
Playing Big was the best gift I could have given myself. I was at a career crossroads, feeling overwhelmed and powerless in my career as an actor and new writer. Tara’s program re-introduced me to the authentic ‘me’… it mined and defined my unique strengths and calling to where I am finally comfortable in my own skin, empowered by the journey I’ve already been on and in charge of the road ahead.
Taryn O’Neill
Actor, Writer, and Co-Founder of Scirens
I am basking in the glow of Playing Big. Last weekend was the first of my two Open Studio events. This is the third year that I have shown my encaustic paintings and prints to the world, yet I felt a change in me and how I presented and stood by my work. I spoke strongly and confidently about what I did, why and how (gave a demo!). I held nothing back and spoke my truth. The Universe responded with the most generous conversations, people and surprises. Connections were formed, paintings were sold! And I gained a greater understanding of self.
Francesca Saveri
Artist
A Proven, Innovative Model
When you make the investment to be trained in the Playing Big model, you are choosing a proven approach that gets powerful results:
94% of participants trained in the Playing Big model report they can tap into their own inner wisdom more easily
93% report they feel more confident
91% share their ideas more frequently
95% feel a greater sense that they are “enough” to do what they aim to do in the world
What would it be like to experience these powerful changes in yourself and to help bring them about for those you support too?
Join Us For a Course
The Playing Big Course:
For Your Creative Journey
The Playing Big Course is a six-month live course designed to support you in reaching your playing big goals. You’ll quiet self-doubt and the inner critic, work through your own inner blocks, clarify your boldest goals, and take real action—all within a global community of women doing the same.
This is a foundational course designed to help you play bigger—in your creative work, your career, and holistically as you move through your life. Unhook from feedback, get in touch with your inner wisdom, communicate and negotiate more powerfully, and find the sustainable ways of working that help you thrive.
The next sessions of the Playing Big Course and Facilitators Training open for registration in September 2027.
Playing Big Course
The Facilitators Training:
For the People You Lead
Our Facilitators Training is for those passionate about women’s self-expression and empowerment. It includes everything in the Playing Big Course—plus advanced training in how to bring Playing Big coaching and tools to the people you manage, mentor, or coach.
If you support others in your work and want to go deeper into the issues that often hold them back, or the tools that can propel them into their boldest creative work, the Facilitators Training is for you.
You’ll gain skills and also come away with handouts, worksheets, and resources to share with groups, clients, students, or others you support.
Facilitators Training Course
The Coaching Way:
Take a Coaching Approach as You Mentor, Manage and Lead
The Coaching Way is Tara’s course on weaving coaching skills into the work you do. Learn how to ask the questions that create real shifts and how to help others find their own solutions—so you can stop rescuing and solving all the time!
The Coaching Way is also a beautiful deep dive into how we can more deeply listen to others, spark healing and unleash potential, while meeting each human being in their sacredness.
The Coaching Way
What is The Playing Big Model?
Tara Mohr’s Playing Big is a set of ideas, practices, and tools for women who want to play bigger — on their own terms.
1
Quiet the Inner Critic
That relentless voice telling you you’re not ready? It’s not the voice of truth — it’s a safety instinct. Playing Big teaches you to recognize it, name it, and stop taking direction from it, so you can lead from your real capabilities instead of your fears.
That relentless voice telling you you’re not ready? It’s not the voice of truth — it’s a safety instinct. Playing Big teaches you to recognize it, name it, and stop taking direction from it, so you can lead from your real capabilities instead of your fears.
2
Access Your Inner Mentor
Through Tara’s signature guided visualization, you’ll connect with a vivid sense of your older, wiser self — and begin using that vision as a compass. How would she approach this client, this pitch, this difficult decision? She becomes your North Star.
Through Tara’s signature guided visualization, you’ll connect with a vivid sense of your older, wiser self — and begin using that vision as a compass. How would she approach this client, this pitch, this difficult decision? She becomes your North Star.
3
Unhook from Praise & Criticism
Women are socialized to be deeply responsive to others’ feedback, which can keep you tailoring your work to please rather than to lead. Playing Big gives you tools to receive feedback without being controlled by it — so you can show up more authentically.
Women are socialized to be deeply responsive to others’ feedback, which can keep you tailoring your work to please rather than to lead. Playing Big gives you tools to receive feedback without being controlled by it — so you can show up more authentically.
4
Communicate & Negotiate with Power
Research shows women often default to speech and writing habits — hedging, qualifying, over-softening — that unintentionally undermine their authority. Playing Big helps you replace them with language that conveys the competence and confidence you already have.
Research shows women often default to speech and writing habits — hedging, qualifying, over-softening — that unintentionally undermine their authority. Playing Big helps you replace them with language that conveys the competence and confidence you already have.
5
Leap Before You’re Ready
Playing big isn’t about grand, dramatic gestures. It’s about taking small, connective steps toward the work that matters most to you — and adopting an experimental, iterative approach to your business, discovering what works through action rather than endless preparation.
6
Clarify Your Callings
If you aren’t sure what your callings are, this module will give you a specific way to figure that out. If you already know, it will help you fulfill them in even more satisfying and bold ways. For entrepreneurs, your callings are the compass for building a business that feels truly yours.
Plus modules on navigating fear, overcoming hiding, goal-setting, and so much more.
Transformational Tools, Not More Techniques
Doing creative work in these times is difficult. The online spaces where many of us share our work—or feel we should be sharing our work—are noisier and more transactional than ever.
AI is threatening to change creative work in significant ways, generating a fearful, frenetic energy in many artistic spaces.
At the same time, none of the enduring challenges of a creative life has gone away. There’s the challenge of taking ourselves seriously enough as artists, and of finding the time and space for our creative work. There are the challenges of fear, self-doubt, and self-criticism. And then there are the challenges around money, self-worth, and finding the right market and audience for our work.
There’s nothing wrong with us for facing these very real challenges. Playing big is about having the tools to face them effectively and open up new spaces of courage and creativity in you.
You’ll be alongside other women artists and creatives working in music, visual art, dance, creative writing, and other mediums. And you’ll be joined by wonderful, diverse women from other fields too—from healers and health practitioners to business and social sector leaders.
This is for you if...
You want to feel a sense of full permission to reclaim your creative life, to evolve it, or to share it more fully in the world.
You’re sick and tired of being sick and tired of hearing that self-critical, self-censoring voice in your head.
You’d like to feel less worried about how people will respond to your work.
You sometimes feel daunted by what’s required to be visible or financially viable as an artist—especially in noisy online spaces—and you’re wondering if there’s a better way for you.
You believe in an inside-out model of leadership and you feel called to forge your own authentic path.
You love learning and community and being inspired by others.
Hi, I’m Tara
I’m here to help you step into your unique expression of Playing Big—moving into what calls you, inspires you, and brings you fulfillment, in both work and life.
Early in my coaching work, I started to notice something: often, my brilliant women clients simply couldn’t see their own brilliance. They didn’t see how ready they were to go for their aspirations, to do the work they most longed to do, to bring their visions into reality.
I was quite attuned to this because I was in the same struggle myself. Though I had been a high achiever in both school and work, and I had lots of reasons to feel confident, I found myself holding back, tentative about my ideas, quiet with my voice. And I worked in an organization alongside many brilliant, capable women, but often their talents were underrecognized and their voices sidelined.
My early coaching practice became a laboratory to discover: what really makes the biggest difference in helping women play bigger in the ways that matter most to each of us? What helps us navigate the very flawed systems we are part of, so we can create sustainable, fulfilling careers that have positive impact?
What I discovered led to the development of the unique Playing Big model—a toolkit that helps women thrive in work and life: quieting the inner critic, tapping into our inner wisdom, unhooking from fear and criticism, moving through fear, and much more.
Along the way, I’ve been on my own journey of moving away from my creative playing small—reclaiming my love of dance, of writing poetry, and of the creative process. The Playing Big tools I teach have also helped me—and continue to help me—stay brave and centered in a thriving creative career built around writing and teaching.
It’s a true honor to support other women in finding their career and personal creative flourishing as well, through the Playing Big book, courses, and community.
Free Resources
Inner Critic Chapter
Get this free chapter from my book, Playing Big, and learn the unique approach that’s been featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and Oprah.com.
Meet Your Inner Mentor
Discovering and then consulting with your inner mentor is a powerful way to navigate personal and professional decisions.
10 Rules For Brilliant Women
It’s time to step up, brilliant women! Discover the ten principles for owning your brilliance and bringing it to the world.
FAQs
I want to play bigger, but I already feel exhausted and overwhelmed, and I'm trying to do less in my life. How does this fit with that?
Here, we embrace an inside-out definition of playing big. Playing big isn’t about striving harder or doing more. It is about honestly accepting one’s true aspirations and callings and playing big in going for them. Because it leads to us being more aligned with our authentic selves, and more tapped into our passions, playing big generally creates more energy, less stress, and far less striving in our lives. It’s an alternative to perfectionistic go-go-going—a deeper path of self-actualization.
What if I don't know yet how I want to Play Big?
That’s okay. Some participants come to our community with a specific idea of what playing bigger looks like for them. Others aren’t sure, but find that the skills and tools we learn in the course allow them to play bigger in all areas of their lives and support them as their next passion or professional direction emerges.
What is the typical age or career stage of people in the Playing Big community?
First of all, if you are asking yourself this question and wondering if you’ll be in a different stage of life than the group, we want you to know you aren’t alone! This question comes up a lot for people considering our programs.
The usual age range of course participants is 30s through 70s, with a strong, roughly equal-sized cohort in each decade!
We have many participants who are mid-career and are moving into new kinds of playing big. Some participants are pursuing creative outlets in addition to their other full-time work. Some are trying to figure out how to make their creative work their primary source of income. Others are senior in their organizations. We also have many participants who connect with this community when they are on the verge of retirement or are thinking of pursuing a new calling in their 50s, 60s or beyond. And we’re happy to report that women in all stages of their careers report that they find the Playing Big toolkit extremely valuable.
How can our programs work for people of such wide-ranging ages and stages? Think of these as your long-term, foundational toolkits for supporting you in reaching your career or contribution aspirations. People come back to the Playing Big model again and again—as new life chapters provoke new kinds of self-doubt, or require a reconnection with our inner wisdom.
You will be in good company no matter your career stage or creative pursuit. If you’d like, our private course discussion group will allow you to connect with others who are at a similar stage in life to you.
What's the difference between the Playing Big Course and the Facilitators Training?
In the Playing Big Course, you focus on your own Playing Big goals and journey, through 12 powerful modules where you apply the Playing Big tools in your own life and career. You’ll learn to quiet your inner critic, access your inner wisdom, unhook from praise and criticism and much more. Think of it as a multi-faceted personal and professional growth experience to help you achieve your Playing Big dreams.
The Facilitators Training includes that work plus training in how to support others in their Playing Big. You get access to the full Playing Big Course, as well as to our Facilitators Training. You’ll learn tools and coaching practices to work with others around their Playing Big—and get materials to use with those you support, and dedicated time to practice your new coaching skills with others in the course.
Is this just for people who identify as women?
We’re passionate about seeing a world where diverse individuals from all identities are leading and having impact. Much of the content in Playing Big explores challenges women face, and much of the content is applicable to people of all identities.
Individuals of all genders are welcomed as full participants in our programs. Graduates of the Facilitators Training and The Coaching Way can take what they’ve learned and integrate it into work with any population they desire to support.
What if I'm not sure online learning will work for me?
It’s a great question. Many past participants have been surprised at how easy and engaging the online format is. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Our course materials are always simple to access. The courses combine written materials, worksheets and exercises, live calls, and recorded audio and video learning. The variety of formats means you’ll be able to digest the materials in ways that work for you.
The pluses of a distance-learning approach are that you’ll connect with like-minded women from all over the world and that you can learn and participate in a way that works easily with your schedule.
Your Next Step
Join Us for an Incredible Community & Growth Experience
The next cohorts of the Playing Big Program & the Playing Big Facilitators Training open for registration in September 2026. The Coaching Way’s next live cohort runs March–May 2027.
Join the advance notice list to be the first to know about these programs — and to receive early bird pricing.
