Blog
Tara Zick, VP, Benefits Practice Leader, Turns a Personal Promise into Professional Purpose
Jul 7, 2025
At Taylor Oswald, we believe in the power of continuous growth—and few embody that value more than Tara Zick, who recently earned her MBA after years of dedication to both her personal journey and her professional mission.
What started as a bucket list conversation with her sister quickly became a transformative turning point.
“I had always wanted to get my MBA,” Tara shares. “My sister was terminally ill when she told me, ‘You should do it. Don’t wait any longer.’ That moment changed everything.”
That very night, she applied to an accelerated MBA program. Though her sister passed away before the first class began, the memory of that conversation became a source of strength throughout the rigorous accelerated online independent courses.
“Some days were hard to keep up, but I kept going because I had made her a promise—and I wanted to honor that,” said Tara.
This commitment to growth reflects one of the core pillars of Taylor Oswald’s culture: being a constant learner, as championed by CEO Eddie Taylor.
“Eddie’s support of my pursuit meant so much,” Tara says. “Being part of an organization like this is energizing— it’s the kind of environment where leaders push you to grow, because they’re right there growing with you.”
The impact of this journey is already evident in her role leading Taylor Oswald’s Employee Benefits Practice. Tara believes her enhanced strategic data analysis skills allow her to dig deeper, while broadening her communication abilities to deliver actionable insight to clients.
“The skills I was able to hone support my management of the Employee Benefits Practice at Taylor Oswald — to be a strategic advisor who understands the full business impact of employee benefits,” concluded Tara.
Her story is one of resilience, vision, and professional excellence. More than a degree, it’s a symbol of the dedication she brings to every client conversation, strategic planning meeting, and solution she helps design.
At Taylor Oswald, we’re proud to celebrate our people—their stories, their ambition, and the meaningful ways they show up for our clients every day.