Our story
In 2016, Maren Ohaks founded Brilliance Empowered to bring to life her passion for working with change-makers to be at their best, supporting their maximum creativity and productivity to make a positive impact in their communities.
Ten years later, we are grateful for all that we have accomplished, the companies we have helped, the problems we have solved, the lives we have improved. We are grateful to be able to continue to offer our gifts, and to genuinely enjoy the work we do in the world.
“Maren is a roaring success”
Maren is defined by a dynamic combination of pure intellect and a genuine, human-first approach to her work and life. Known as an intellectually driven professional and a purposeful action leader, she excels at navigating complex challenges with a quick mind and a level-headed demeanor, turning intricate problems into clear, actionable solutions. Maren's leadership style is rooted in being a compassionate connector; she is highly approachable, a stimulating conversationalist, and is celebrated for being truly present when collaborating with others. This relational depth is paired with a resilient and bold spirit, enabling her to take decisive action, make necessary risks, and persist until goals are achieved. Her reliable, trustworthy nature and upbeat spirit ensure that every engagement—whether with a client, a team, or a new challenge—is handled with integrity, enthusiasm, and an unwavering commitment to success.
Maren Ohaks: Strategy, Innovation, and Empowered Action
MBA, BS, PMP, Certified Awakening & Radical Brilliance Coach
Maren is a dynamic leader, strategist, and coach who works with organizations and change-makers to accelerate and enhance innovation, transforming creative ideas into sustainable, successful solutions. With over 25 years of high-impact strategic experience—including key roles at world-class organizations like the University of Washington, Amgen, and Washington Mutual—Maren operates at the critical inflection point where concepts meet market reality.
The Brilliance Empowered® Approach
Maren’s practice, powered by her proprietary Brilliance Empowered® programs, integrates the "best-of-the-best" strategic and analytical frameworks with a deep focus on human potential and organizational health.
Her core value proposition is to provide comprehensive, purposeful action across the lifecycle of organizational growth:
Technology Commercialization: Instrumental in bringing patented technologies (scientific instruments, medical devices) to market. She excels at partnering with scientific and technical teams to translate product features into compelling, meaningful language for key stakeholders, including investors and strategic partners.
Strategic Planning & Development: A proven change agent and accomplished leader valued for her ability to understand complex, diverse organizational parts, unite them for coordinated activities, and drive timely, successful results.
Fundraising Support: Leverages her expertise to define and communicate the value proposition to potential investors in both private and public markets, specializing in business case development and comprehensive diligence packages.
A Powerful Combination: Intellect and Integrity
Maren’s professional success is rooted in her defining qualities. She is a highly intelligent and thoughtful problem-solver who brings both pure intellect (M.B.A. and B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology, PMP certification) and a level-headed approach to every challenge. She is deeply genuine and trustworthy, known for cultivating mutually beneficial relationships, enlisting buy-in among diverse constituencies, and always operating with the utmost integrity.
Passion for Growth and Connection
Beyond her strategic consulting, Maren is a passionate teacher and coach. She works with individuals and teams to build environments that support maximum creativity and productivity, enhancing and accelerating change and growth.
Speaker & Faculty: An invited speaker on topics including technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and leadership development, Maren has also served on the faculty at the University of Washington (Biology) and Columbia Basin College (Project Management).
Advisory: A trusted leader and advisor to Non-Profit Boards (501(c)3 and NGO), providing support from formation and strategic planning to financial policy and compliance.
Maren's work spans diverse industries—Biotechnology, Medical Device, Finance, Agriculture, Clean Energy, and Academia—with entities ranging from Start-up to Industry Leaders. She is dedicated to making a positive impact by supporting change-makers to be at their best.