Mara Ryan is a mom, dreamer, doer, and children's health advocate who believes strong families are the foundation of a strong society. She's on a mission to show her three daughters that neurodiversity is a superpower — and that anything is possible with faith, gratitude, and grit.
A resilient parent who's navigated pediatric food allergies, ADHD, a high-risk pregnancy, and a four-month NICU stay during a global pandemic, Mara is no stranger to overcoming obstacles with grace and determination.
When she struggled to find books that were both readable and "cool" enough for her dyslexic second grader, she rolled up her sleeves and created one. Her debut children's book, Lucky Dog, combines rhyme, alliteration, and decodable words to boost confidence in emerging readers — while honoring her family's heartfelt goodbye to their beloved pup.
Mara serves on the Foundation Board of Directors at Children's Minnesota, the largest independent pediatric health system in the Upper Midwest. She also contributes her marketing, strategy, and advocacy skills to multiple ventures that support families and children.
She holds a Master's in Business and a degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of St. Thomas, where she was a winner of the Fowler Business Concept Challenge. She has also completed coursework through Stanford and the Aspen Institute.
Whether Mara is building brands or bedtime stories, her goal is the same: empower families, elevate children's voices, and lead with compassion and creativity.
