I unleash superheroes

i’M tRACEY bREEDEN

I am a thought leader, bestselling author, speaker, coach, advisor, and activist.  My nickname is Tornado.

you are the superhero you’ve been waiting for.

I believe that you can find the pathway to purpose in what is breaking your heart.  Where are the currents of your heart pulling you to action? I help you activate your personal power and unleash the superhero within you to empower you to create a better self and a better world.

I draw on my unique perspective and lived experience as a queer woman and leader to share actionable strategies that ignite that unique place inside of you, leading you to achieve the desires of your heart and make an impactful difference in the world.  I am a mission-driven thought leader who stands in a place of hope while assembling others and activating collective power for a more just world.

My Superhero Story

i found purpose and power in what broke my heart.

I grew up in a middle-class family in rural midwestern America. I was raised in a loving home … but a culture that told me what I “should do” and that I was “not good enough” just being me. My story is the message of my heart and so many others. For it is in what broke my heart that I found purpose and personal power to become fully and authentically me. I rose up to stand in a place of hope and courage, embracing my values and mission. I chose disruption and freedom. 

I unleashed my inner superhero and embarked on an extraordinary journey of personal growth and expansion as well as professional elevation from street cop to corporate executive in the Tech industry, successfully coaching individuals and leading mission-driven teams with purpose, passion, and lived experience.  

I still choose disruption and freedom everyday as I stand for myself, the most marginalized, and all those who are seeking to expand and rise. Together, we can achieve a better self and a better world when we activate our power from the margin.

books

ignite your personal power for a better self and a better world.

How do you take what is breaking your heart and turn that into action, achieving impactful and sustainable change? Match-Striking for Beginners: Activating Individual and Collective Power for a More Just World is your playbook to ignite power from the margin, inviting you to discover the pathway to a better self and a more just world by recognizing your personal power and unleashing the superhero within you. 

In my best-selling book, your roadmap for individual and collective change, I draw on my own unique perspective and lived experience as a queer woman and share actionable steps I used to amplify my own personal power to create organizational and societal change. The specific challenges and harm members of historically marginalized groups experience often slow or stop progress, but my method incorporates essential practices and bold moves to help you break through those blockers to ignite your inner superhero, activate collective power, and drive the social change our hearts ache for. 

A personal playbook that is also a #1 Amazon Bestseller in the categories of Workplace Behavior and Discrimination & Racism Studies

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Sometimes life throws you a bone; you meet a person who changes you for the better, who makes the world a better place and makes you believe you can leave a positive impact too. That’s Tracey Breeden. In the years I have known her, she has taught me how to not only approach change, but also to evoke it in ways that can make my world as a woman better for all of us.

Match-Striking for Beginners is one of the most important books I’ve had the honor of reading. I watched it grow from a flicker of an idea fueled by passion into the honest, thoughtful, raw, yet approachable, work it is now. This roadmap is filled with the truths that motivate us to want better for our world, as well as the ways in which we can do our part to get there.

I more than recommend, I insist.

– ginger scott, usa today, wall street journal and amazon bestselling author

The journey of becoming one’s self can be a challenging ride for women. Even having the courage to share our stories—raw, honest, and unfiltered—can be overwhelming, but this is how we truly find authentic connection. In this powerful narrative, Tracey creates a safe space for personal reflection, while providing tools to find our real voice and inspire us to act.

As the CEO of a global women’s travel community, the book inspires me to stand in a place of hope and ultimately create meaningful and much needed social change. After all, if not me, then who?

– carolyn ray, ceo & editor of journeywoman
and chair of satw canada, tmac, and ttc herald

This book is a powerful reminder that each of us has the potential to spark change. It shows that with passion and determination, even the biggest challenges can be overcome, inspiring us to make a significant impact.

An essential read for anyone who dreams of making a positive difference in the world.

– pamela zaballa, ceo of no more,
a global public awareness initiative to end domestic violence and sexual assault
– carley lake, co-founder & ceo of Lucky Sweater APP
and former head of women’s safety marketing at uber

While reading Tracey’s book, I was constantly presented with the opportunity to reflect on being an outlier for 18 years. I was a Black female in an environment dominated by white men. My company at the time struggled greatly in human resources. Upper management would turn you into a target of condescension; you had to fix the problem of not “fitting in.”

I wish Match-Striking for Beginners had been available when I became an executive with the power to change things. I would have incorporated it into our training program; it would have resulted in a safer, more understanding environment for all. Tracey’s book is filled with powerful lessons that can be successfully applied across many workplace environments. For instance, education would benefit from the concepts Tracey presents, welcoming the fact all children are different so shouldn’t be taught alike.

Match-Striking for Beginners is a compelling book that will take those that are narrow-minded to open-minded, provide clarity to those who feel trapped and invisible who feel dismissed, anxious, and frightened, giving them hope that they can change things rather than quit life. Tracey’s book lets you know it’s okay to be who you are because you are valued and safe.

– carla d. debow, Retired Corporate Executive, Middle School teacher & Diversity Consultant 

Getting to know Tracey Breeden in real life is such a joy. But reading Tracey’s story and wisdom through these pages is the second-best thing! From personal tales in childhood to making change in professional settings as an adult, Tracey shows us that making an impact is possible if we’re willing to speak out. Packed with actionable tips and real-life examples, this book will leave you feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to stand up for what you believe in. 

– calen otto, Author of The Art of Unruly Travel on a Budget and Creator of unrulytravel.com 

I am thrilled to see this book come to life! As someone who: 1) believes in Tracey’s vision, 2) needs inspiration to act, and 3) could use a framework for delivering on social change, this book is exactly what I (and so many others) need. The tools, the encouragement, the inspiration garnered from Tracey’s lived experiences and other anecdotes, all of it together in one place is going to provide so many people with opportunities to create social change— many who may not otherwise be able to deliver on it. 

– Jessica Johnson, Director of Product at match group

Tracey’s passion and desire to create positive change in the world is always glaringly obvious in any conversation you have with her. In this book, Tracey does a beautiful job of helping you to feel the same desire for change as she does. Tracey doesn’t just put statistics in front of you but pairs the painful reality of marginalized groups with actionable tools so that you walk away feeling like you truly can make a difference.

– Dianni Hall, podcast producer

I had the great fortune of meeting Tracey Breeden through a leadership program that I was facilitating at Uber. The program ended and that was the beginning of a friendship, sisterhood, and commitment to support each other as we lean into our individual and collective work to be a part of much needed systemic change. Her book illuminates that we have a long way to go to create a harmonious and just world for everyone; no exceptions. And she has bravely offered her life stories in service of shining a light on things we prefer to not see or know about. It also emphasizes what it means to live aligned with values, purpose, and a vision of something better. The best part is that she does not leave us there but rather creates a roadmap and tools for making change happen. And gives us the much needed hope that it can happen.

– nan watts, ceo and founder, nan watts coaching 

Match-Striking for Beginners is a unique book in the self-improvement space—an inspirational, actionable, and supportive guide to identifying and developing the unique superpower that will propel you forward in life and work. Tracey’s career path is not typical, yet the personal stories she uses to demonstrate how she found and used her unique power to make change are entirely relatable. We had the good fortune to work with Tracey in a number of capacities and learned something new every time. Whether you are in the workforce already, or just entering, Match-Striking for Beginners is a must read.

– Robbie Karp & Jane Randel, co-presidents, karp randel llc

INSPIRED! If you don’t walk away feeling like that after reading this book, then you might want to read it again. Tracey’s personal anecdotes and vision are clear and social change is what we all need! From start to finish you can’t put it down and by the end you are trying to figure out how to help others you may have overlooked in the past. This book is about helping ALL people and I hope it is something that you strive for now too.

– Liann latour, Executive Support Specialist

I Don’t Just Inspire, I Activate!

Speaking

Real, raw, thought-provoking, and knowledgeable. I’m known for my insights on leadership, personal development, achieving success, collective action, overcoming adversity and the unique challenges faced by women, the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups. My philosophy is rooted in the idea that everyone has the personal power to be fully who they are and have the desires of their hearts, by unleashing the superhero within to make an impactful difference in the world.

Want To Work With Me One-On-One?

coaching & Mentoring

I provide one-on-one coaching and mentorship that helps individuals achieve their personal and professional goals. Let’s work together to help disrupt the unique challenges you are facing head on so that you achieve the personal growth and expansion your heart is aching for.

Ready To Ignite Personal Power Together?

Be Better Bootcamps

Be Better Bootcamps are one- to four-day group programs for women and non-binary individuals, focused on igniting the personal power within us for a better self and better world, helping individuals achieve the desires of their hearts while also building community for collective action.

Ready To Partner With Me?

Advising organizations

Too often companies become a part of societal problems, but playing a role in addressing the unique needs of women and marginalized groups can be a point of pride and differentiation. As trusted thought leaders, my team and I bring lived experience and decades of expertise to help you build loyalty and create safe spaces for both employees and consumers.

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She has the type of personality where she can be giving this speech right now to an executive team, but then … just have this fresh and on-the-ground approach with a grassroots organization because of her passion.

– pamela zaballa, ceo of no more,
a global public awareness initiative to end domestic violence and sexual assault

I’ve lived my life dedicated to serving and empowering people.

I am a thought leader with over two decades of experience transforming lives and organizations. As a corporate executive and leader, I assembled and led high performing, mission-driven global teams and have successfully coached individuals along both their personal and professional journeys. Known as a fearless people leader, I fought for and created safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for women and historically marginalized groups. I am a published author and sought-after speaker with a special focus on women, LGBTQ+, and marginalized group empowerment, self-development, activism, and safety. I have presented to individuals and large groups and have presented keynotes at conferences internationally. 

A former law enforcement officer and Medal of Valor recipient, I led efforts in tech as Uber’s first Head of Women’s Safety and Gender-Based Violence, creating Uber’s first global team dedicated to the safety of women and other vulnerable populations. I advised on some of Uber’s most notable safety and inclusion products and I’m known for creating Uber’s first human trafficking prevention initiative and Uber’s first bystander awareness initiative, and for spearheading safety and social advocacy programs including Uber’s Global Driving Change commitment and program engaging with over 200 advocacy and activist organizations globally focused on women, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC communities, resulting in transformational partnerships and global initiatives. 

I was also the Vice President, Head of Safety and Social Advocacy, at Match Group, the parent company of global dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid. I stood up Match Group’s first-ever dedicated Central Trust & Safety program and assembled team of nearly 30 experts to work in partnership and guide online and in-real-life safety and advocacy efforts across the portfolio’s 15+ brands. While there, I was named one of the top 50 LGBTQ women and nonbinary innovators in business and tech.

I’m now the CEO and founder of Disrupt the Landing, LLC, providing speaking programs, coaching and mentoring, and advisory services for both individuals and organizations.

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Tracey had a clear vision for what global rider and driver safety could be at Uber. Working collaboratively with regional general managers from around the world and corporate functional leads, Tracey transformed Uber’s approach to safety to be best in class.

– megan prichard, vice president of ridehail at cruise
and former uber executive

Featured in top media outlets

 

Awards & Accolades

My mission-driven work in safety, advocacy, and leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations and outlets, including Fast Company, where I was named to the Top 50 Queer List of queer women and nonbinary individuals transforming business; Mashable, where my Uber team’s work was recognized as 1 of “14 Innovations that helped make the world a better place in 2018”; and in policing, with the Chief’s Award for Excellence along with the highest public safety honor one can receive, the Medal of Valor.


Ready to Disrupt?

conversations that impact, inspire, and activate.

Embrace your personal power and find your purpose, unleashing your ability to create a better self and a better world.  The disruptor in you can interrogate the systems and institutions that cause harm to others, uncovering ways to achieve transformational impact across society.

We are Tracey Breeden and Michelle Pelton, the hosts of The Disruption Podcast. We are queer activists and changemakers. We’ll share our personal stories of disruption with you and the stories of our community of fellow disruptors, all with the hope to inspire and activate you towards the big, bold change that you want to see in yourself and in the world.