I recommended we not pursue an opportunity despite prior team investment, citing compliance concerns, a compressed timeline, and misaligned requirements... prioritizing honesty and sound judgment over comfort.
Tara Keyani, MPA, APMP, Six Sigma GB · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Tara
**About**
Tara Keyani is a Proposal Manager and U.S. Army veteran with experience in intelligence, law enforcement, human resources, and business analysis. She served as an Army intelligence analyst and deployed to Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011, where she also worked as a translator for her brigade commander. As the only woman on her team during missions, Tara became deeply aware of what her presence represented in a region where women had limited opportunities. She earned the Combat Action Badge and Army Commendation Medal for her service.
After leaving the military, Tara worked in law enforcement, human resources at Princess Cruises, and incentive analysis at JAFRA Cosmetics, supporting a sales network of approximately 70,000 consultants. These roles strengthened her analytical, organizational, and communication skills and prepared her for a career in proposal management.
Tara began as a Proposal Coordinator and advanced to Proposal Manager. She now leads responses to RFPs and other solicitations, coordinating with legal, technical, sales, and executive stakeholders to produce compliant and competitive proposals for public-sector opportunities. She is APMP certified and holds additional certifications in strategic response management and artificial intelligence. She applies the Kaizen principle of continuous improvement to refine proposal processes and improve each response.
Outside of work, Tara enjoys early-morning hikes, reading physical books, and spending time with her family.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tara
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to continuous learning, adaptability, discipline, and close attention to detail. My military background shaped my work ethic, resilience, and accountability, and those qualities continue to influence both my career and personal life. I follow the Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement, applying lessons from every RFP to strengthen my approach and processes. I am also naturally curious and committed to staying current with industry trends, learning new tools, and continually developing into the best version of myself.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received is to seek out and learn from people who have already built expertise in the areas where I want to grow. Rather than relying on a single traditional mentor, I make a point of reaching out to experienced professionals across my industry for guidance and perspective. I've found real value in asking questions and learning directly from those who have already navigated the challenges I'm working through, and that willingness to seek guidance has been essential as I continue to grow in the proposal management profession.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Stay curious, trust your abilities, and never stop learning. Proposal work rewards women who can think strategically, communicate clearly, and remain composed under pressure. Treat every RFP, deadline, and setback as an opportunity to strengthen your skills. Take advantage of resources such as APMP courses and certifications, seek mentors, and learn new tools, but do not wait until you feel completely ready to speak up or pursue an opportunity. Your perspective has value, and confidence grows each time you use your voice and take on a new challenge.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges in proposal management is responding to increasingly complex requirements within compressed timelines. Success requires quickly understanding each customer’s priorities, coordinating input from multiple stakeholders, maintaining compliance and accuracy, and delivering a compelling, polished response on time.
These demands also create opportunities to improve how proposal teams work. I apply Lean Six Sigma principles to identify inefficiencies, standardize repeatable processes, and reduce rework without compromising quality. My U.S. Army experience also taught me to remain disciplined, organized, and focused under pressure. As technology and AI continue to transform the industry, the strongest opportunities lie in using these tools thoughtfully while preserving the strategic judgment, collaboration, and customer insight that make a proposal effective.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Service, integrity, discipline, curiosity, perseverance, and family are the values that guide me. My military experience taught me to be accountable, support the people around me, and remain steady when circumstances are difficult. In my work, I try to leave every project and process better than I found it by reflecting on what worked, learning from what did not, and carrying those lessons forward. In my personal life, family keeps me grounded and reminds me that success is not only about professional accomplishments—it is also about being present, supporting the people I love, and creating meaningful memories together.
.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.