Meet Keyonna Taylor

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Keyonna Taylor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Keyonna below.

Hi Keyonna, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

For me, overcoming imposter syndrome wasn’t about pretending to be fearless. It was about becoming so rooted in my purpose, so aligned with the value I deliver, that fear never holds the mic anymore.

I don’t wait to feel ready.
I prepare.
I study my craft.
I speak with clarity.
I choose professionalism over perception.
And I walk in knowing:

I earned my seat.
And I’m building tables for others who’ve been overlooked.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am the Founder and CEO of Key Focus Group, a Customer Success and Revenue Retention consulting firm that helps organizations scale with clarity, alignment, and operational discipline. After almost two decades in SaaS, healthcare, and service industries, I saw that many companies wanted stronger retention and healthier customer relationships but lacked the systems and leadership support to create them. Key Focus Group exists to close that gap.

My work focuses on building customer success engines that strengthen communication, improve onboarding, increase adoption, and create predictable revenue outcomes. What energizes me most is seeing leaders and teams gain confidence. When a company finally understands the path forward and sees measurable progress, it confirms the impact of this work.

Key Focus Group stands apart because we provide true execution support along with strategy. We embed, build, and guide companies through every stage so they experience real, sustainable results. Our approach blends emotional intelligence, clear communication, and data driven decision making.

We have already launched Focus Infinity, our fully managed customer success solution that gives companies an expert CS function without the cost of internal headcount. We continue to expand Key Foundations across both tech and healthcare and are strengthening our advisory partnerships and operational frameworks. My personal brand platform, KeyonnaTaylor.com, is also growing as a space for leadership development, speaking engagements, and performance coaching.

My vision is simple. I want to help leaders build organizations that serve their customers well, empower their teams, and grow with integrity. That is the heart of my work and the legacy I am committed to building.

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?

When I look back on my journey, three qualities stand out as the most influential. These were not just professional tools. They became anchors that shaped how I lead, how I build relationships, and how I create outcomes for the companies I serve.

1. Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence changed everything for me. It helped me read a room, lead with empathy, understand unspoken tension, and manage difficult conversations with clarity. It allowed me to connect with both customers and internal teams in a way that builds trust and removes friction.

How to develop it: slow down and learn to observe. Listen without planning your response. Pay attention to tone, patterns, and what people are not saying. The more you understand people, the more influence and stability you gain.

2. Mastery of my craft
Customer Success is not a department. It is an operating philosophy that touches every part of the business. The more I studied the craft, the more confident I became in boardrooms, with founders, and in partnerships across industries. Mastery reduces imposter syndrome because preparation gives you authority.

How to develop it: study your field deeply. Learn the business model, the numbers, the customer journey, and the operational gaps. Do not chase titles or shortcuts. Build real competence. When you know your craft, you move differently.

3. The ability to communicate clearly and professionally
Professional presence has been one of the strongest drivers of my success. Not performance. Not code-switching. Professionally grounded communication. It positions you as someone who can be trusted with customers, strategy, and revenue. It also opens doors that talent alone cannot.

How to develop it: practice communicating with intention. Choose clarity over complexity. Ask powerful questions. Learn how executives think and speak in terms of impact, resources, and outcomes. When you communicate well, you elevate your influence.

My advice to those early in their journey

Start with the inner work. You do not need to be perfect, but you do need to be committed. Be curious. Be accountable. Become someone your future self would be proud to follow. Invest in your growth, even when no one is watching. And remember this. You do not rise by accident. You rise because you prepare, you practice, and you choose to keep walking even when it feels uncomfortable.

Your journey will stretch you, but it will also shape you into someone powerful, steady, and capable of impact far beyond what you imagined.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I take a step back and get grounded. I pause, breathe, and look at the situation without emotion. I ask myself what is truly required, what needs to be delegated, and what needs to stop. Overwhelm is usually a sign that something is out of alignment, so I slow down long enough to correct it instead of pushing through it blindly.

I also reconnect with my purpose. When I remember why I am doing the work, the noise settles and I can make decisions from clarity instead of pressure.

My advice to other women is simple.
Do not ignore the feeling. Acknowledge it, then organize it. Break the situation into manageable steps. Ask for support when you need it. Set boundaries that protect your energy and your effectiveness. And give yourself permission to pause. Overwhelm is not a failure. It is a moment. You can reset, realign, and come back stronger.

That approach has kept me steady in leadership, and it is what I encourage other women to practice as they grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.keyonnataylor.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keyonnataylor