We were lucky to catch up with Amber Covington recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amber, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
There was a season in my life where persistence wasn’t a choice—it was survival. I didn’t walk away from my career; I was forced out of an environment that no longer had room for who I truly was becoming. That experience was painful, disorienting, and deeply humbling. It shook my confidence and made me question my value, my voice, and my future.
Healing from professional trauma became part of the work before the work. I had to unlearn survival mode, rebuild trust in myself, and allow God to restore what rejection tried to steal. That healing required honesty, rest, boundaries, and faith—especially when the opinions, whispers, and doubt felt louder than God’s promises.
What I know now is that what felt like rejection was actually redirection. In the quiet that followed, I leaned heavily on my faith. I prayed for clarity, healing, and courage. That season stripped me of titles and external validation, but it anchored me more deeply in purpose.
Third & Ten Consulting was born out of that forced transition—not from a place of certainty, but from obedience. I built it with prayer, resilience, and a commitment to do meaningful work with integrity. The same voices that questioned my exit became background noise as I focused on stewardship, excellence, and impact.
I persist by remembering that God often uses uncomfortable endings to birth aligned beginnings. When criticism or naysayers show up, I return to discernment: Is this meant to shape me or shake me? Third and Ten is a pressure moment—but it’s also a moment of trust. I stay focused, trust the play God called, and keep moving forward knowing that my assignment doesn’t require approval—only faithfulness.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m the Founder and CEO of Third & Ten Consulting, a workforce and economic development firm rooted in strategy, equity, and execution. At its core, my work is about helping communities, organizations, and systems move from good intentions to measurable impact—especially in spaces where access, opportunity, and alignment have historically fallen short.
What makes Third & Ten special is that it was built at the intersection of lived experience and data. I don’t approach workforce and economic development as theory—I approach it as someone who understands how systems actually work on the ground. My work focuses on ecosystem mapping, workforce strategy, grant development, and program design, helping cities, nonprofits, and partners align education, training, employment, and health pathways in ways that drive both economic mobility and regional growth.
The name Third & Ten comes from football—a pressure moment that requires focus, trust, and execution. That philosophy guides everything I do. I specialize in helping organizations navigate complex challenges, make smart plays with limited resources, and build sustainable systems that strengthen local economies and improve quality of life.
Beyond consulting, my brand is deeply values-driven. Faith, integrity, and stewardship shape how I lead and serve. I believe in building tables, not just taking seats—and in creating pathways that allow individuals, families, and communities to thrive, not just survive. That belief informs my equity-centered approach to workforce strategy, youth pathways, and community-led economic development.
Looking ahead, my vision is to help communities build fully aligned ecosystems—where workforce development, economic growth, health, and education are not siloed, but intentionally connected to support whole families and long-term stability. I’m especially excited about an upcoming project with an HBCU focused on family health, which expands my work beyond workforce alone and into how economic opportunity, wellness, and generational outcomes are deeply intertwined.
Professionally, this season has been one of continued growth and expansion. Third & Ten Consulting is preparing to conduct new work in Mississippi, deepening partnerships on a local work-based learning initiative, and beginning to lead workforce efforts in partnership with a nonprofit organization in the community where I grew up—work that is especially meaningful to me as it centers on ensuring residents have access to quality jobs, living wages, and long-term economic stability.
Legacy, for me, is about leaving behind systems that work better for the people who come after us—not just reports, contracts, or programs.
At the heart of everything I do is the belief that purpose and preparation create opportunity—and that faithful execution can transform communities.
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?
Looking back, three qualities have been most impactful in my journey: faith-driven resilience, strategic thinking, and the ability to build and sustain relationships.
Faith-driven resilience has been foundational. I’ve navigated professional trauma, unexpected transitions, and moments where the path forward wasn’t clear. What sustained me was not just grit, but faith—believing that setbacks were not failures but redirections. For those early in their journey, my advice is to develop an internal anchor that isn’t tied to titles or external validation. Whether it’s faith, purpose, or values, know what grounds you so you don’t lose yourself when circumstances shift.
Strategic thinking has been equally critical. I learned early that passion alone doesn’t create impact—strategy does. Understanding systems, data, and how decisions connect across workforce, education, and economic development allowed me to move from ideas to execution. For those starting out, invest time in learning how systems actually work. Ask questions, study the “why” behind processes, and don’t rush mastery. Being able to think several steps ahead will set you apart.
Finally, relationship-building has shaped every opportunity I’ve had. Progress rarely happens in isolation. Trust, credibility, and collaboration open doors that talent alone cannot. Early in your journey, focus on building relationships with integrity—listen more than you speak, deliver on your commitments, and value people beyond what they can do for you. Relationships built the right way compound over time.
If I could offer one overarching piece of advice, it would be this: give yourself permission to grow in seasons. You don’t have to have everything figured out at the start. Stay curious, stay grounded, and stay faithful to the process—the rest will unfold with time.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
My biggest area of growth in the past 12 months has been learning to lead from a place of healing rather than survival. For a long time, I operated in constant overdrive—proving, protecting, and pushing through. While that mindset helped me endure difficult seasons, it wasn’t sustainable.
This past year required me to slow down, rebuild trust in myself, and set healthier boundaries—personally and professionally. I’ve become more intentional about how I steward my time, my energy, and my voice. I no longer feel the need to overexplain, overextend, or overperform to earn legitimacy. Instead, I lead with clarity, discernment, and confidence rooted in purpose.
That growth has also shown up in how I care for myself. I’ve invested intentionally in my health, including committing to personal training—which has been one of the best investments I’ve made. I’ve learned that I cannot show up fully for my work or my calling if I’m not well. A healthy me is essential.
Professionally, this shift has shaped how I choose partnerships, structure my work, and define success. I’m more focused on alignment than volume, impact over visibility, and sustainability over burnout.
At this stage of my life, my priorities are clear: God first, with family and health equally important. Everything else flows from that foundation. Leading with faith has given me peace, discipline, and clarity, and it’s allowed me to grow in ways that are not just visible, but lasting.
Takeaway: Success means nothing if it costs you your peace, your health, or the people you love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://third10consulting.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/third-ten-consulting/?viewAsMember=true
