We caught up with the brilliant and insightful TaSheena Braxton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi TaSheena, really appreciate you joining us to talk about a really relevant, albeit unfortunate topic – layoffs and getting fired. Can you talk to us about your experience and how you overcame being let go?
I’ve been laid off twice in my career. The first time was in Retail. The second, in Biotech.
The first layoff came when I was 8.5 months pregnant with my fourth child and transitioning into life as a single mom. It was a devastating blow to my ego and confidence. I had poured 15 years of my life into that job—I had grown up there. It was the only professional home I had ever known. And suddenly, it was gone.
I didn’t know who I was without it. I remember sitting on the couch every day in a fog, asking myself, “Now what?” I signed up for government assistance, but what I really needed was a sense of direction. The biggest barrier I faced? I was visibly pregnant—who was going to hire me when I was about to pop? But I applied anyway. I showed up to interviews anyway. Not because I had it all together, but because I needed to prove to myself that I could still try—that I still had something to offer, even if I didn’t fully believe it yet.
The second layoff happened just last year, in 2024. I was older, married, and more grounded. This time, I had intentionally built my skillset—earned certifications, led teams, facilitated trainings, and grown into a coach and strategist. I had also quietly begun laying the foundation for my own business. So yes, it was another blow—but it didn’t knock me down the same way. I had tools. I had vision. I had evidence that I’d be okay.
Still, when something like this happens twice in ten years, it rattles you. You begin to question your purpose—Am I meant to grow in these corporate spaces? As a Black woman, I had moments where I felt like I was doing everything right and yet I was still expendable.
But those layoffs taught me something I couldn’t have learned any other way: the power of resilience, grit, and stepping into my own leadership. The first time, I was becoming a new mom. The second, a new business owner. Both were births—transformative and stretching. Even when the titles and roles were stripped away, there was still a quiet voice that said, Keep going. You’ve got this. Don’t give up.
That voice came from my mom.
She passed in 2023, but before she did, she always told me, “Sheena, you’re doing the damn thang.” I pursued my education—earning my Master’s during a global pandemic—because I wanted to honor her. She always pushed me gently and loved me fiercely. And when I got laid off the second time, I remembered how she showed up for me the first. And I reflected on how she kept going while battling cancer to stay around for 7 years before passing away. Her strength became mine. Her voice became the one in my head, whispering, Keep going. I learned resilience and grit from witnessing her strength as a Mom and while battling cancer. Something that I will never forget, and that will always be the reminder that you can keep going no matter what.
Today, I run my own coaching business, helping women—especially women of color—see themselves as leaders, even when the world tries to write them off. Because I’ve been there. Twice. And I know the way through.
Nothing is ever the ending—it’s always the beginning. And when you believe in yourself, when you trust yourself, there is nothing you cannot overcome.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a leadership and team coach, speaker, and strategist who helps women of color step into leadership—whether or not they have a formal title. My work is deeply rooted in equity, visibility, and authenticity. I believe leadership is not about fancy titles but about owning your story, building your presence, and getting a seat at the table for yourself and others to thrive.
What makes my work so special is that it’s not just about helping my clients get a better-paying role or grow their confidence—it’s about helping them rewrite the narrative they’ve been given. Many of the women I work with are already high-achieving, but they’ve been made to feel invisible, underqualified, or like they have to constantly prove their worth. I help them shift that. Together, we build strategy, self-trust, and systems that support their goals and their wellbeing.
What I love most about what I do is witnessing the moment a woman realizes she’s been the leader all along. That moment when she stops waiting for permission and starts leading from her expertise, values, and power. It’s transformational—both personally and professionally.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding my signature 1:1 coaching program, which is designed to help high achieving introverted women of color get promoted and earn more pay 90 days. My unconventional approach guides these women to see promotions as not only climbing the ladder, but also special projects, greater visibility and new opportunities that expands their networks. I also recently launched a podcast called Leadership Beyond the Title, where I share tools, stories, and strategies to help women of color lead without a fancy title.
And one of my signature offerings is a 5-day Networking Challenge to help women grow visibility and build genuine relationships that open doors. Because in leadership, relationships are everything—and women of color deserve to be seen, heard, and supported.
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, the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey were being open to learning, self-trust, and the ability to build genuine relationships.
Being open to learning allowed me to grow through every season—whether I was navigating a layoff, stepping into leadership, or launching my own business. I didn’t always have the answers, but I stayed curious. I asked questions, sought feedback, took courses, and surrounded myself with people who challenged me to expand how I thought about leadership, equity, and success. That openness created opportunities I never saw coming.
Self-trust was something I had to build over time. For a long time, I waited for others to tell me I was ready or qualified. But the turning point came when I started listening to my voice—trusting my instincts, my lived experience, and the value I bring to the table. That’s what helped me lead with confidence, even in rooms where I was the only one who looked like me.
Relationship-building has opened every major door in my life. And I don’t mean surface-level networking—I mean building real, mutual relationships rooted in trust and authenticity. Whether it was finding mentors, collaborators, or clients, the strongest connections always came from being myself and being genuinely curious about others.
My advice for anyone early in their journey:
1. Stay open to learning. You don’t need to know everything to get started. The willingness to grow is often more powerful than expertise.
2. Build self-trust. Document your wins, speak kindly to yourself, and remember—you don’t need to wait for external validation to own your power.
3.Nurture relationships, not just contacts. The people who truly see and support you will often be the ones who help you unlock your next opportunity.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes, I’m always open to meaningful collaborations—especially with folks who are committed to equity, leadership development, and creating spaces where women of color can thrive.
I’m looking to partner with organizations, coaches, speakers, and content creators who are aligned with values like authenticity, inclusion, and transformation. Whether it’s co-hosting workshops, speaking on panels, developing leadership programs, or building community-driven initiatives—I believe powerful things happen when we come together with shared purpose.
If you’re someone who’s passionate about disrupting outdated leadership models, amplifying underrepresented voices, or simply supporting women of color on their leadership journey, I’d love to connect.
You can reach out to me directly on LinkedIn @TaSheena Braxton, or via email at coaching@tasheenabraxton.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tasheenabraxton.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_tasheena/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasheena-braxton-msod-cpcc-orscc-ccmp-pcc-11b14a69/
Image Credits
Yuwen Chu
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