Meet Clarena

Hi, I’m Clarena — a speaker, facilitator, certified grief life coach, nonprofit leader, and resilience advocate. I help people and organizations rise—with courage, connection, and clarity.

My work is deeply personal and profoundly public. I speak from lived experience, not theory. From keynote stages to community circles, I create brave spaces where healing becomes power and stories become tools for change.

As the founder of Clarena Tobon Collective, I use storytelling, emotional intelligence, and facilitation to support people and organizations through moments of grief, growth, and transformation.

Contact Me

If you're looking for a speaker or facilitator who leads from lived experience, meets people where they are, and moves them toward healing, growth, and real connection — let’s talk.

Together, we can build something transformational.

Why I do this work

Because I believe that healing is a leadership act.
Because no one should have to suffer in silence.
Because the words we don’t have can keep us stuck — and the words we find can set us free.

I created Clarena Tobon Collective to help others find the language I never learned — the language of grief, identity, belonging, and resilience.

Today, I speak, teach, and facilitate across communities, conferences, and organizations that are ready to lead with more humanity, more connection, and more courage.

This work is for the ones carrying untold stories, for those in the in-between, and for anyone who’s ever had to lead before they were ready.

Today, as the Executive Director of a non-profit, she’s reimagining how mental health advocacy shows up in communities—bridging visibility with impact, and rebuilding trust where it was lost. Her lived experiences inform a leadership philosophy rooted in wholeness over hustle, vulnerability as strength, and connection as the foundation for transformation.

Whether she’s speaking to nonprofit teams, community members, or emerging leaders, Clarena brings radical honesty, warmth, and a powerful message: you don’t have to be “fully healed” to lead—just fully human.

In my words….

I don’t believe we have to hit rock bottom to start rising.

I believe sharing our stories—honestly, imperfectly, and bravely—is how we begin to heal.

My work isn’t about having the answers. It’s about holding space, asking better questions, and helping people find the language they were never taught.

Whether I’m speaking to a room of executives, leading a healing circle, or meeting someone right in the middle of their pain—my goal is always the same: to remind people they are not alone.

Frequently asked question

I collaborate with corporate teams, conferences, schools, community organizations, and women’s groups—any space that values connection, emotional intelligence, and purpose-driven leadership. If your audience is open to transformation, we’ll be a great fit.
Absolutely. Whether it’s a keynote, workshop, or facilitated experience, I take time to understand your audience and goals so that every session is relevant, meaningful, and impactful.
Yes! All of my keynotes and workshops can be delivered in-person or virtually, depending on your audience and needs. I’m happy to work with your team to create an engaging experience in any format.
Keynotes typically run 45–60 minutes, with optional time for Q&A. Workshops and facilitated sessions can be customized from 60 to 90 minutes, or even longer for retreats and multi-part experiences.
I work with both! Whether it’s a leadership retreat with 10 people or a conference with 500 attendees, I tailor the experience to the size and energy of the room. Intimacy and impact matter just as much as scale.