Tara A. Pierce

Meet the Founder

I founded Restoring Sustainability after years of studying the intersection of ecology, law, art, and institutional systems — and recognising a persistent gap.

Much of mainstream sustainability operates within the same economic and institutional frameworks that created ecological harm in the first place — optimising within systems that were never designed for mutual flourishing.

The result is an incremental changes where transformation is needed.

My work focuses on leaders at pivotal moments — those ready to think differently, lead differently, and embed regenerative principles into the structures they shape.

  • I grew up where the redwoods meet the sea.

    In small coastal towns, you understand quickly that ecosystems are not abstract concepts — they are life support systems. Harvests, seasons, fisheries, and forests shape livelihoods. Interdependence is not a theory; it is visible.

    That early understanding — that all flourishing is mutual — has guided my path.

    If our institutions remain misaligned with living systems, it will be at our own peril. But if we redesign them in relationship with ecology, something far more hopeful becomes possible.

    This work is both strategic and deeply personal.

  • My work synthesises systems thinking, biomimicry principles, psychology, and ecocentric legal movements — alongside community-building practices and values-based reflection.

    At the heart of my approach is a framework I developed in my legal research: ecocentric equity — aligning human activity with habitat so that all life can flourish.

    This requires more than new metrics. It requires a mindset shift.

    Together, we examine:

    • The underlying assumptions shaping decisions

    • The systems your organisation operates within

    • The values driving strategy

    • The opportunities for regenerative positioning

    I integrate rigorous analysis with radical imagination — because institutions cannot evolve if leaders cannot first envision alternatives worth building.

  • My entire life set me up to start this business. Ever since I was a child, I searched for ways to make the world a better place; decades of exploring the forces that shape society, environmental decision-making, and the values guiding human interaction with the natural world led to three graduate degrees and a body of work spanning policy briefs, program development, and trans-disciplinary projects. Along the way, I discovered patterns across systems and quickly guided diverse groups and individuals in clarifying their vision and developing meaningful strategies.

    When a friend jokingly said I was “everyone’s executive coach,” it hit me: my niche is a hybrid of executive coaching and sustainability strategy. That realization became the foundation of my work today — helping leaders and teams shift mindset, gain clarity, and take practical action to lead in ways that are regenerative, equitable, and sustainable.

  • I guide leaders through a three-phase process: Reflect, Integrate, Implement.

    Reflect
    We clarify values, goals, and long-term vision. We surface assumptions and identify the systems shaping your decisions.

    Integrate
    We connect new insights — ecological literacy, governance design, regenerative strategy — to your existing institutional context so they become coherent rather than abstract.

    Implement
    Once aligned, strategy becomes clearer. We design practical steps to embed regenerative thinking into governance, culture, and operations.

    I bring structured tools when useful and deep dialogue when needed. I ask probing questions. I challenge gently but directly. My role is not to solve problems for you — it is to expand your capacity to lead at a higher level.

    Clients often describe the work as both grounding and expansive — clarifying their direction while strengthening their courage.

Kind Words from a Past Client

“Tara brings genuine care to the work she does. 

She helped me step back and see my business from an entirely new perspective, allowing me to focus on what truly matters and reconnect with the deeper purpose behind my work. Her ability to translate big ideas into clear, practical strategies that actually work for me has accelerated my progress in ways I did not think possible. 

The clarity and time I gained through her guidance have saved me from significant frustration and potential burnout. Working with her has been both empowering and energising, and I highly value the insight, structure and forward momentum she brings to every collaboration.”

Founder - Private Practice

Portland, Oregon