Series 1: STORIES FROM SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE - The power of Mentoring & Coaching.

We have all heard the phrase “Show me who you ‘hang’ with, and I’ll tell you who you are!”
At TimmerHaus, we love the idea that our authentic professional image is seeded in relationships that share our strong values and common aspirations.

We are proud to introduce Tara Fernandez y Mendez our Leadership Development Creative Director.

We originally secured Tara’s services during the pandemic to broadcast one of our leadership programmes to our home-bound audience, across multiple countries. She listened, understood, and applied the same level of realism and optimism to the challenges we faced, before executing a solution that united our leadership audience, despite its geographical segregation.

Tara worked with the TimmerHaus Operations team to translate the needs of the programme into a hybrid event of live, real-time, authentic connection, underpinned by technological genius!

A special mention and thank you should also go to the outrageously talented Simon Coene who, as Broadcast Services Production Manager at NEP Studios, joined forces with us to optimise our design and approach.

Over the last few years, as a result of our numerous professional alliances, we have got to know Tara more intimately, and have been hugely inspired by her story. Her life and career experience mirror so much of the work that we do at TimmerHaus, and so we thought we would invite her to share it as motivational capital for our readers!

We invited Tara to talk to us about her journey to the role of ‘Director’ in her own freelance media business, which she launched at the age of 21. Now, at age 30, her work as a Camera Director in numerous different media domains (including TV, live music concerts, and multi-genre festivals) allows her to lead teams and shape many communication experiences.

Tara is calm and enthusiastic, relaxed and in control as she engages, for once placing herself ‘center-stage’ rather than behind the scenes. This is where the story starts!

“I guess that I made my career discovery quite by accident! When I was 14, I experienced an emotional break-up with my first real boyfriend. To help me to make sense of what was happening I started to write about my feelings, and afterwards, I had an overwhelming urge to make a film about the whole experience. So, I got to work using my Dad’s old camcorder and translated my journal into a film, using my trusted friends as actors! We edited the video, transferred it to a DVD, and sent it to my ex-boyfriend... Not surprisingly, I never heard back from him again!” Tara chuckles to herself at this before continuing,

“But, without realising it, the process had been pure therapy – very cathartic – it appealed to my highly empathic nature and allowed me to explore emotions through the lens of a camera. I found I could make sense of my message this way and bring it to others with a powerful impact through ‘film’. It invited a meaningful connection and a sense of passion that I had previously not known. The process had my attention!”

Tara’s decision to write, or journal at such a young age, holds a direct correlation with the healing practice of reflection, commonly used in coaching to facilitate personal growth and find meaning in experiences.

Tara goes on to explain that she is literally “living her passion”, and that she brings her “whole self to work”, through the authentic synergy invited between media and creativity. So, what makes the role she plays so rewarding, we asked?

“Without a doubt, my job plays to my values”, concedes Tara with unnerving clarity for someone so young. “The clients I work with – whether music stars, or television actors, or quite simply business professionals seeking to heighten their communication impact – they all know that I will aim to make them shine…that I will amplify their voice… that I will focus the spotlight on them in a way that will elevate their success. I help them to translate their message, making full use of the most appropriate technology available. I create trust and cultivate equitable working relationships. I bring an ethos of hard work and best practice and I can offer them a wealth of different media experiences from my own history.”

Keen to know where this experience comes from, we asked Tara how she accumulated her skills and confidence.

“When I knew I wanted to be a Camera Director, I secured a place at the renowned TV College, RITS, in Brussels to get the required qualification. I felt no uncertainty there, just a hunger for more knowledge and opportunity”

“I clearly remember the tutorial where Hans Pannecoucke, a famous Director and ‘role model’ for me, gave us a talk. I was so inspired by him and so desperate to learn from ‘the best’ that I immediately followed up his lesson with an email asking whether I could shadow him and experience his talent first-hand. Later, I did this!”

At TimmerHaus, we celebrate this generous investment from others who are in a stronger professional position. You can never underestimate the power, and sometimes the life-changing effect of an altruistic act. The ripple effect of ‘giving something back’ creates such a positive cycle of ‘building something bigger’ – for the individual, society, and for our own legacy. Behind every success story, there is always someone who has acted as a positive catalyst: someone who has made a difference to our journey and influenced a potentially very different outcome. The opportunity to offer this with reciprocity is one of our primary values.

We were keen to understand the reality of the production world, the challenges that Tara encounters in her role now, and what aspects of her character she has had to develop.

“I would say that patience was the hardest skill to master. I am hungry for results and if I am interested in something, I want to know all about it, immediately! At 16, I got myself a job as ‘a camera assistant’.” Smiling with amusement, Tara continues, “That is a glorified term for a ‘dogsbody’ in the world of production! I did everything from holding a camera cable out of the mud during a lengthy outdoor-shoot, to making coffee for producers on set! I did these menial tasks until I turned 20, alongside of pursuing the academic route my parents encouraged me to complete.” Laughter precedes the next comment, “But I knew I would never be an Accountant!”

Tara reflects that without her academic achievements and the good counsel from her family and teachers, she would have been in a very vulnerable position to navigate the uncertainty of the competitive world in which she now plays.

Tara is very mindful that she is an established female contender in what is still, largely, a male-dominated environment. Back when she was a teenager, following crews around holding cables and making coffee, she worked with a broad spectrum of talent, some of whom now, ironically, report to her, for projects she manages today. At TimmerHaus, we recognise that this is not an easy dynamic to reconcile and that it might invite a sense of ‘impostor syndrome’ for some.

“It is true that I am a female in a heavily populated male world. There are not many female Directors in TV, certainly not in Belgium. And, when I work with corporate businesses, I am frequently the youngest on the team, despite being responsible for coordinating the whole programme. Some corporate executives automatically assume that I lack experience – that’s hard to accept and it drives an automatic need to prove myself even more. My self-belief is challenged in these situations, for sure…but so much can be changed by my approach and reaction”

“I may well be working with a more mature, male CEO, but their expertise needs my expertise – when we find a balance between our skills, that is when the magic happens!”

And as her accolades in the professional world continue to grow, we ask Tara to what she most credits her sustainable success.

“Connecting with my emotions has taught me self-sufficiency and has compounded my need to have a strong support network around me. I depend on myself, and I always have. But now, in later life, other non-negotiable things support me, the most powerful of which is my Coach.”

Tara explains that her Coach acts as her “mirror” – another perspective through which to view herself and explore both personal and professional situations for heightened clarity. She welcomes the sessions where misalignment is identified, her beliefs are challenged, and the need to honour her values is prioritised. These conversations help to hold her to account, and she attributes them to her strong self-awareness and high conviction. Her intimate circle of friends remain her Mentors and she nurtures her physical and mental well-being with regular yoga practice.

Tara also reflects, “My entry point as a junior also served me well.” She nods thoughtfully as she considers the question further impact of this early experience. “I learned so much by quietly absorbing the broader skills of those around me. I quickly learned how behaviour and actions govern the outcome of something. I saw the power of staying calm and treating people with respect. I am empathic – this is my superpower – and I really feel for the person I am supporting, so I see their fears and insecurities and know how to support them. I know what they need in order to translate their best side to their audience.”

We invited Tara to share her greatest learning from her independent, progressive career so far.  

“You should remember that there are small steps to take before arriving at the destination. It doesn’t all come at once – sometimes, you need to be patient, but equally, don’t sit around and wait! Ask the question! Approach people who can help! Be proactive in learning along the way!”

And are there any regrets? A pause. And a mental sweep through her professional history, before Tara confirms, “The trust part!” Tara’s eyes flash. She is passionate about this. “This Being overly trusting on occasion has been a pitfall for me in the past and has resulted in some really unpleasant experiences… But each experience has invited great learning and I am now well-practiced to listen to the messages that my emotions bring associated with a negative experience. It has made me stronger.”

We went on to ask what Tara would change in the world if she were given the remit to do so. Her reply was again, so spontaneous, insightful, deeply reflective, and highly self-aware.

“I know that even now, at the age of 30, I am seeking to navigate life better. I look back at what I was taught at school, and I see big gaps for yet more relevant learning. I would love to see greater stability in the next generation, with increased tolerance and understanding of one another.”

And finally, Tara shares a parting word of advice to anyone with similar professional aspirations to her own when she was a teenager:

“Follow your heart – make time for what energises you, but don’t ignore your head and good sense. Have a Plan B, because security counts and it will limit any guilt you might feel about pursuing the less safe option – without security, you can’t fully embrace the passion of your adventure! Do your homework and research it. Read about your subject matter. Talk to others working in those circles. Be proactive and be sure it is right for you! All of this will support you in successfully and safely realising your dream!”

Our tapestry at TimmerHaus is always richer for the professional alliances we create. When we meet people who reinforce our mission and sense of purpose, we are positively strengthening our own ripple effect.

Click here To learn more about our range of Leadership Development services and production capability. If you would like further information or fancy a chat get in touch.