Meet LaKisha Greenwade

We were lucky to catch up with LaKisha Greenwade recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi LaKisha , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Many mistake confidence for not having fear, when in fact it is taking action while feeling the fear. I believe that self-esteem is built daily through affirmations, a deep knowing of whose you are, in addition to consistently taking action or small steps toward a desired dream.

When you know your “why” it will fuel the journey into the unknown filled with bumps, bruises, and ultimately some success. My successes in life and business materialized because I kept my “why” in the forefront. For instance, early in my career when I became the first black female national account manager at a large privately owned company, and a business professor for undergraduate and business students, it was because I had never seen anyone like me in these roles and I wanted to change that. These “wins” in life helped me to contribute to historical business endeavors later in my career via the federal government by launching the executive coaching program and ultimately, building a global tech ecosystem.

As a result of achieving these “firsts” and gaining amazing mentorship along the way, my confidence increased and I started to see myself differently. To me, it matters most how one sees themself in the mirror everyday and determine if they can live with what is reflected. As a result of liking what I saw reflected, I made a vow that if I continued making historic “first” contributions that I would not be the last. I make room for others to join the journey and grow with me. One has to be confident enough to do that.

During my time in corporate America and other senior roles, I was often one of a few or the only black female in leadership, so I know the feelings that arise and the slights that come from gender and racial bias. I was able to succeed by leaning into my foundation of support, understanding that my value contributed to the bottom line,  and remembering that I was gifted to provide solutions to hard problems. Confidence and self-esteem develop like natural muscles. It is important to be tested because each new level will require an adaption version of it.

I know that safe spaces are needed to help founders and leaders further develop. This is why I created a community that embodies respect, values diversity of thought and connects good people. Ultimately, those connected to me will grow in confidence and self-esteem to show up as their best self everyday, regardless of the circumstances.

My career insights have been documented in my 3 books, 40 Days to Unshakable Self Confidence, Rejection to Reward, and The Audacity to Ask. These are great tools for those seeking to grow in the areas of confidence and self-esteem.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I work with founders and leaders to help them push past their self-imposed limits, unleash their innovative spirit and design the life of their dreams. If you want to grow, then I provide space and resources to do that.

In my work as a global ecosystem builder, I have developed community with with amazing leaders from Forbes.com, Nasdaq, Tech Stars, SXSW, and Anita B. Our community is focused on growth, support and coaching for the ultimate level. Monthly, we meet to discuss a book and podcast episode that will assist with innovation and professional development.

Too often we hear the leadership journey can be isolating and lonely. We fix that via our community. There is also an incentive for those building a business and need funding. For regularly attending participants, micro grants will be made available to assist with their efforts.
https://innovatewithcoachl.thrivecart.com/founders-and-leaders-book-club/

I also have programs for leaders seeking a plan to put their dream to the test and leadership trainings for small and medium sized businesses. I typically share these programs when I speak at conferences and seminars. https://innovatewithcoachl.thrivecart.com/put-your-dream-to-the-test/

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

3 qualities/skills that were impactful with my journey were

  1. honesty & character;
  2. the ability to connect with people and
  3. the ability to come to the table as a problem solver.

My advice for those early in their journey or those brave enough to try a new journey, is to

  1. learn something new everyday,
  2. value your network, and
  3. take care of yourself in the process, mind, body and soul. The dream doesn’t work without you.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I believe books offer non-traditional mentoring moments, which is why I designed a monthly club to discuss them. Personally, I read approximately 2 books a month in addition to digesting podcasts to stay current.

One of the best business empire building books to read is Why Should White Guys Have All of the Fun by Reginald F. Lewis. I also enjoyed the latest version of the book by Loida Lewis, Why Should Guys Have All of the Fun.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Get Cities Hack for Impact Dinner, Be More Bold Conference, SXSW Grit House Daily, Coppin State University I-Corps launch, and Sebroff Forbes Cultural Center.

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of

Productivity
Beating Burnout

Often the key to having massive impact is the ability to keep going when others

Leadership Development
Finding Your Why

Not knowing why you are going wherever it is that you are going sounds silly,