Meet Edna Ellen Howard

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Edna Ellen Howard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Edna Ellen, 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?

Developing confidence and self-esteem has been a journey. I’ve spent most of my adult life nurturing and developing my positive belief in myself and my abilities. Overcoming the experience of teen pregnancy, abusive relationships, divorce, being a single mom, and working in the corporate arena as a Black woman in STEM has forged a kind of mental toughness that gave me the courage to build confidence and self-esteem. I break this down into four categories.
First, I had to shift my mindset, using positive self-talk to challenge negative thoughts, focusing on my strengths, and setting realistic goals.
Secondly, I had to be willing to grow beyond my experiences. This meant stepping outside my comfort zone, learning new skills, building a support system, and celebrating my successes, no matter how small.
Third, I developed a spirit of resilience. Learning from failures, developing problem-solving skills, and practicing gratitude helped me view setbacks as opportunities for growth.
Lastly, I focused on my physical well-being. A regular exercise routine, a healthy diet, and sufficient sleep have been essential for my overall well-being and cognitive function.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the founder of Voices of Encouragement LLC. My life’s work is dedicated to empowering women and girls. As a mindset development coach, inspirational author, podcaster, DEI advocate, motivational speaker, and social entrepreneur, I’ve spent over three decades equipping women to achieve their full potential.
My passion lies in helping women build confidence, set goals, and create thriving lives. I believe in empowering minds to transform lives. Through coaching, consulting, and inspiring content, I guide women on a journey of self-discovery and growth.
My inspiration to design an organization that empowers women and girls stems from two core elements: a lifelong passion for serving others and my spiritual gift of encouragement, which I believe is my true purpose. Serving feels innate to me.
The pivotal moment came when I fully grasped that VOE could become a haven for women to connect, grow, and share openly.
Launching Voices of Encouragement was initially daunting. The familiar “what ifs” raced through my mind: Would enough women attend the workshops? What if someone criticized VOE’s mission? The doubts were relentless.
Yet, I pressed forward, embracing the motto “Do it Afraid.” While I haven’t conquered every fear, I maintain my faith and keep moving forward. I operate with complete surrender, trusting that God will continue guiding my path.
VOE is a divine vision I hold dear. Over time, it has naturally evolved into a training and coaching business. My unique coaching style, infused with biblical principles, helps women tap into their faith to overcome life’s challenges. I’ve developed a proven three-step framework to transform perspective, attitude, and choice, fostering the confidence, clarity, and behaviors needed to thrive in lifestyle, wellness, and mindset, which led to the book I authored “Mindset Reset”.
Having coached hundreds of women – from stay-at-home moms to CEOs – I’ve discovered a universal struggle: self-confidence. It’s a crucial skill for achieving life’s goals, yet everyone faces doubts at some point.
The truth is, that everyone deserves confidence, the opportunity to become their best selves, and the chance to build a fulfilling life and legacy.
Through empowerment workshops and coaching programs, VOE has made a tangible impact.
Our journey began in 2010 when I founded VOE in my home, inviting women from diverse backgrounds to join me. Our vision remains unchanged: to create positive change by offering encouragement, hope, and promise through prayer, workshops, coaching, consulting, and educational resources.
We gathered quarterly over the years. In 2012, while working as a management consultant, I was nominated as a WOC in STEM as a Technology All-Star. Attending the Women of Color in STEM conference in Dallas filled me with excitement to connect with inspiring women. However, I encountered a recurring theme among the attendees: a lack of confidence and self-belief, even amidst impressive accomplishments.
This experience resonated deeply, as I had personally faced challenges as a woman of color in corporate America. I realized women needed a safe space to heal, connect, and empower themselves. While our home gatherings continued, I felt a growing urge to transform our efforts into more structured workshops to reach a wider audience. With support from an amazing team, we developed a roadmap and expanded our reach.
In 2017, we launched our first empowerment workshop at the Belmont Country Club in Ashburn, VA, marking a significant milestone. When the pandemic hit in 2020, we swiftly pivoted to virtual platforms with the Encouragement Café, offering a series of wellbeing webinars and mindfulness workshops to support women navigating the changing landscape.
We expanded our offerings to include topics like work-life balance, stress management, mental health, and resilience. Our virtual platform enabled us to reach women both locally and globally.
In 2021, I established ICE Coaching and Consulting services to provide one-on-one coaching alongside workshops.
The encouragement and testimonials from women who have benefited from VOE fuel my motivation. Knowing that I’ve helped others walk in their purpose is incredibly rewarding.
As a mindset coach, I’m dedicated to helping women overcome self-doubt, reclaim their authentic power, boost their confidence, and unlock their full potential.
I am committed to inspiring, coaching, and empowering women worldwide to live their best lives. By joining the VOE community, women gain access to essential tools and resources, including workshops, podcasts, newsletters, coaching, networking opportunities, and charitable initiatives.
VOE is more than an organization; it’s a movement empowering minds and transforming lives.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Top 3 Qualities, Skills, or Areas of Knowledge for me are
1. Self-Awareness:
• Understanding your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
• Recognizing your strengths, weaknesses, values, and beliefs.
• Developing emotional intelligence to navigate relationships and challenges effectively.
2. Open-Mindedness:
• Being receptive to new ideas and perspectives.
• Challenging assumptions and preconceived notions.
• Embracing change and growth.
3. Reflection and Introspection:
• Spending time alone to contemplate thoughts and feelings.
• Journaling or meditating to gain clarity.
• Analyzing past experiences to identify patterns and lessons learned.

My advice for someone who wants to improve on and develop these qualities would be to take a deep dive into their Self-discovery, it is a profound journey of introspection and exploration, aimed at uncovering one’s authentic self, values, passions, and purpose. To embark on this path, cultivating self-awareness, open-mindedness, and reflection is paramount.
Self-awareness involves delving deep into one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By practicing mindfulness, journaling, and seeking feedback, individuals can gain profound insights into their inner world. This understanding serves as a foundation for personal growth and meaningful connections.
Open-mindedness is essential for expanding horizons and challenging limiting beliefs. By embracing diverse perspectives and experiences, individuals can broaden their worldviews and discover new possibilities. This quality fosters adaptability and resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
Reflection is the process of turning inward to examine one’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Through solitude, journaling, and personal growth activities, individuals can gain clarity and perspective. This introspection allows for the integration of new insights and the alignment of actions with personal values.
While self-discovery is a continuous process, nurturing these three core qualities provides a solid framework for navigating the journey. By consistently cultivating self-awareness, open-mindedness, and reflection, individuals can unlock their full potential and live a more fulfilling life.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

The ideal client for me as a mindset coach is typically someone who is experiencing a sense of dissatisfaction or stagnation in their life and is actively seeking personal growth and transformation. They are individuals who recognize the power of their thoughts and beliefs in shaping their reality and are willing to invest time and effort into developing a more positive and empowering mindset.

Common characteristics of ideal mindset coaching clients include:

A strong desire for personal growth: They are intrinsically motivated to improve themselves and reach their full potential.
Open-mindedness and curiosity: They are receptive to new ideas and perspectives, and they are willing to challenge their existing beliefs.
A willingness to take action: They understand that mindset coaching is a partnership and are committed to implementing the tools and strategies learned in coaching sessions.
A sense of purpose: They have a clear vision for their life and are seeking guidance on how to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
Ability to invest in themselves: They recognize the value of personal development and are willing to invest time and resources in coaching.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Alimond Studios

Jackie Hicks, M.Photog., Cr., CPP

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