We were lucky to catch up with Trina (ramsey) Lipscomb recently and have shared our conversation below.
Trina, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Resilience has been my life’s constant companion, forged in the fires of adversity and polished through hard-won triumphs. I grew up in humble circumstances, facing challenges that many might find insurmountable. Losing my mother to suicide at just 14, followed by the death of my grandmother only months later, shaped me in profound ways. In those moments, I learned the power of perseverance and self-reliance, even as a teenager.
For much of my life, I over-indexed on the “superwoman” trope, wearing strength as a badge of honor while burying my own needs. That drive pushed me to excel, but later in life I also learned the value of slowing down, embracing self-care, and leaning into my community for support.
I’ve also used these skills to reinvent myself several times, which has helped me to develop a strong and interesting professional story of growth, hard work and determination.
Resilience also showed up when I faced the heartbreak of divorce after 17 years of marriage. At the time, I couldn’t imagine rebuilding my life, but it turns out that chapter became a stepping stone to rediscovering myself and my joy. Now, at 58, I’m experiencing a beautiful second act as I just married my true soul mate after years of being a single mom – proof that love and new beginnings are possible at any stage of life.
Through all of this, resilience has taught me to honor my emotions, trust the process, and take life’s challenges as opportunities to grow. I now use those lessons to inspire and empower others, especially women, to navigate their own journeys with strength and grace.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Thank you for the opportunity to share my story! I’m Trina (Ramsey) Lipscomb, a coach, author, and advocate for reinvention and self-empowerment. After spending over 30 years in nonprofit fundraising and management, along with 15 years running a coaching business as a side hustle, I finally embraced full-time entrepreneurship in 2023—a leap of faith that has been as rewarding as it is transformative.
At the heart of my work is helping women—particularly those over 40—take charge of their lives unapologetically. Through my coaching practice and the Just Do You Institute for Women’s Empowerment, I empower women to shed limiting beliefs, set boundaries, and step boldly into their power. This can include career coaching, team building, pre-retirement coaching, or helping women to reclaim themselves after their kids grow up and they have more time to focus on themselves. I’ve also hosted women’s retreats and online talk radio shows, continuing to hone into the needs of the people that I serve
One of the most exciting milestones in my journey was becoming an international best-selling author. My book, Just Do You: A Declaration of Independence from Guilt, Obligation, and Shame, has resonated with so many women who are ready to reclaim their joy and pursue the life they’ve always wanted. Writing that book was both a professional achievement and a deeply personal act of liberation.
I also continue to work with nonprofit leaders through programs like the Ultimate Nonprofit Leadership Experience, where I help leaders balance their personal power with their organizational mission. My services also include fundraising training and consulting, and working with boards and leadership via training and retreats. It’s been incredible to witness the ripple effects of these programs as leaders find ways to thrive personally and professionally while creating a bigger impact in their communities.
Looking ahead, I’m thrilled to launch Sweet Freedom in early 2025, a program designed to help women rewrite their narratives and finally break free from societal and personal expectations that no longer serve them. It’s about giving yourself permission to live a life that feels authentic and aligned—on your own terms.
At the core of everything I do is my belief that reinvention is possible at any stage of life. My journey has taught me to trust my instincts, embrace the unknown, and celebrate new beginnings—including my own upcoming marriage! I hope my story inspires others to lean into their dreams and recognize that it’s never too late to create the life you deserve.
I am also passionate about mental health issues, having lost my mother tor suicide when I was a teen. After years of downplaying this tragedy, I have been on my healing journey and now speak and write about mental health issues as well. I’m working on a memoir about my family’s story as well. I am sharing my journey through my blog on Medium: https://mycoachtrina.medium.com/
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, three qualities and skills stand out as most impactful in my journey: balancing strength with empathy, authenticity, and the willingness to take risks.
BALANCING STRENGTH WITH EMPATHY
As a leader, coach, and advocate, I’ve learned the power of balancing strength with empathy. Strength allows you to set boundaries, make tough decisions, and stand firmly in your values. But empathy is what creates connection and inspires others to trust and grow alongside you. Whether in my nonprofit career or coaching women through life transitions, this balance has been key to building relationships and making an impact.
Advice: Practice active listening and seek to understand others’ perspectives, even when you disagree. At the same time, stay rooted in your values so that empathy doesn’t become people-pleasing. Having a mentor or coach to speak with as a leader will help you to build the skills necessary to learn how to have tough conversations, give and receive feedback, and maintain your voice and authority as a leader.
AUTHENTICITY
Living authentically has been one of the keys to my success. For too many years, I hid parts of myself, feeling the pressure to meet external expectations. Over time, I realized that embracing who I truly am—without apology—was the key to stepping into my full power. When I started showing up as my most authentic self, I not only attracted the right opportunities and people but also found true fulfillment.
Advice: Start by identifying what truly matters to you and begin living in alignment with those values, even if it feels
uncomfortable at first. Authenticity is a practice that takes time, but it’s the most liberating journey you can take. Learn how to stop apologizing and to embrace your quirks and unique qualities as part of your super power.
TAKING RISKS
I’ve been a risk taker for most of my life. Afew examples include when I left a lucrative career at IBM in my 20s to embrace nonprofit fundraising, and investing in my coaching training before my kids were college age. Stepping into full-time entrepreneurship after 15 years of side-hustling was one of the scariest—and most rewarding—decisions of my life. It required me to trust myself, even when the path wasn’t clear. Every major breakthrough in my life came from a willingness to step outside my comfort zone.
Advice: Start small. Take one risk at a time—whether it’s speaking up in a meeting, applying for a role that feels just out of reach, or launching a passion project. Each risk builds your confidence for the next one.
Ultimately, my advice to anyone early in their journey is to trust that you are more capable than you realize. Life will test you, but every challenge is an opportunity to grow, every setback a chance to learn. Stay curious, stay courageous, and don’t be afraid to rewrite your story as you go.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Absolutely! I’m always open to collaborating with like-minded individuals who share my passion for empowering women and creating positive change.
Ideal Partners:
Fellow Coaches and Mentors: I’m interested in cross-promotion, joint workshops, and co-creating programs that offer a wider range of expertise for our clients.
Nonprofit Organizations and Consultants: I’m eager to partner with organizations that align with my values, offering coaching services, fundraising support, team building, board or leadership development programs.
Event Planners: I’m open to collaborating on women’s retreats, workshops, and conferences. I’m available as a keynote speaker or workshop leader.
How to Connect. Below is more information about my work and contact details.
https://trinaramsey.com/home
https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinaramsey/
@MyCoachTrina on IG
Speaker Reel on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf8Q2FGGYCmrXCkxJHpXjaw
Contact Info:
- Website: https://justdoyouinstitute.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mycoachtrina/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyCoachTrina
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinaramsey/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyCoachTrina
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf8Q2FGGYCmrXCkxJHpXjaw
Image Credits
Brittany Thomas
Women’s Journal
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