Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mykerah Mackey-Robinson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mykerah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
One of the most significant risks I have taken was choosing to build my leadership consulting work in alignment with my calling rather than my comfort.
Before launching Robinson Literacy & Leadership Consulting, I held stable roles within education and leadership support. From the outside, the path made sense. But internally, I kept noticing something I could not unsee. I was watching talented educators and leaders burn out, disengage, or quietly exit environments where leadership culture was unhealthy. The issue was rarely a lack of skill. It was a lack of clarity, care, and intentional leadership.
The risk was not simply starting a business. It was trusting my discernment when there were no guarantees. It meant stepping away from predictability, consistent income, and familiar systems to build something rooted in purpose and integrity. I had to invest my own time, energy, and resources while learning how to articulate my value, set firm boundaries, and lead from conviction rather than fear.
What made the decision even riskier was my commitment to lead differently. I was intentional about not replicating leadership models I had seen cause harm. Instead, I centered emotional intelligence, presence, communication, and culture-building, even when that approach was slower and less conventional. I chose to believe that sustainable leadership is built from the inside out, not rushed for appearances.
That decision has shaped everything that followed. Robinson Literacy & Leadership Consulting has become a space where leaders feel both supported and challenged, where clarity replaces chaos, and where culture is treated as a responsibility, not an afterthought. The work continues to remind me that leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about having the courage to act when clarity meets responsibility.
Taking that risk ultimately reshaped how I understand leadership. I learned that leadership is not just about strategy or outcomes. It is about presence. It is about how you show up when there is no script, no applause, and no safety net. The way a leader carries themselves, communicates vision, and sets the tone often speaks louder than any title or plan.
I no longer separate how leadership looks from how leadership lives. People follow clarity, not perfection. They trust leaders whose values are visible before their results are. When courage, identity, and intention align, leadership becomes not just effective, but transformative. That is the standard I now lead by and the risk I would take again every time.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Mykerah Mackey-Robinson, a leadership coach, culture strategist, and author. I’m the Founder and CEO of Robinson Literacy & Leadership Consulting (RLLC), a leadership development and culture consulting firm that helps leaders and organizations build healthy, sustainable environments where people can thrive, stay, and do great work.
I entered this work through education and leadership development, where I spent years working closely with teachers, school leaders, and teams navigating high-pressure environments, constant change, and burnout. Over time, I began to notice a consistent pattern. Most challenges were not rooted in a lack of talent or effort, but in leadership gaps, misaligned values, and unhealthy cultures. I realized I was being positioned to do more than support instruction or operations. I was called to support leaders and the environments they were responsible for shaping. That realization led to the creation of RLLC.
Through RLLC, I provide leadership coaching, professional development, and culture-building consulting. I support leaders in strengthening self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication, and decision-making. My work helps leaders clarify expectations, build trust, establish healthy accountability, and address the root causes of burnout, disengagement, and retention challenges. At the core of my approach is the belief that leadership is not just about what you do, but how you show up. Presence, consistency, and alignment shape culture more than any single initiative.
In addition to consulting and coaching, I create leadership resources and creative works. I am the author of three books, including The Fruit of YOU, my top-selling children’s book that explores identity, character, and personal growth in an accessible and meaningful way. While written for young readers, the message of The Fruit of YOU resonates deeply with adults, educators, and leaders, reinforcing the idea that who we are and how we grow matters at every stage of life. My writing reflects the same values that guide my leadership work: intentional growth, reflection, and culture transformation.
What sets my work apart is my focus on embodiment and alignment. I don’t treat leadership as a performance or a title. I treat it as a practice. I help leaders align their values, behavior, communication, and presence so that trust and clarity become visible and sustainable within their teams. I’m also known for my ability to combine honesty with care. I tell the truth directly while supporting leaders in a way that encourages growth rather than defensiveness.
I’m most proud of the leaders who have experienced meaningful shifts through this work. Leaders who move from reactive to grounded. Leaders who rediscover their confidence, strengthen their voice, and build healthier teams. Those shifts create ripple effects that extend far beyond individual roles or organizations, and that impact is what makes the work meaningful.
The main thing I want people to know about me and my brand is that I am committed to transformation that lasts. RLLC is not about quick fixes or surface-level solutions. It is about developing leaders who cultivate healthy cultures and lead with clarity, courage, and consistency. Whether through coaching, consulting, or the creative resources I develop, my goal is to help leaders lead in ways that are aligned with who they are and what they are called to build.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
What helped me build my reputation within my market was consistency, integrity, and a clear commitment to doing leadership work the right way, even when it was harder or slower.
From the beginning, I focused on being trustworthy and prepared in every room I entered. Whether I was coaching leaders, facilitating professional development, or creating resources, I showed up with clarity, respect for people’s time, and a deep understanding of the environments leaders were navigating. I didn’t position myself as someone with quick fixes. I positioned myself as someone who would walk alongside leaders, tell the truth with care, and help them address root issues rather than surface symptoms.
I also believe my reputation grew because I stayed aligned. I didn’t try to be everything to everyone. I was clear about what I stand for, the type of leadership I believe in, and the kind of culture I help build. That clarity made it easier for people to trust my work and refer others to me.
Over time, leaders began to associate my name and my business with thoughtful leadership, strong presence, and meaningful culture work. That trust, built through results and relationships, has been the foundation of my reputation.
Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?
Yes, my business is intentionally structured with multiple and complementary revenue streams.
At the core of Robinson Literacy & Leadership Consulting are leadership coaching, consulting, and professional development services. Alongside that work, I also generate revenue through authored resources and creative works, including The Fruit of YOU, which has become my top-selling book and continues to reach schools, families, and organizations beyond traditional consulting engagements.
These revenue streams support one another rather than compete. My consulting and coaching inform the resources I create, and my books extend the reach of my leadership philosophy into spaces I may not physically enter. This structure allows my business to remain flexible, sustainable, and scalable while staying aligned with my values and mission.
As the business continues to grow, I’m intentional about building revenue streams that reinforce the same message: leadership matters, culture matters, and how we show up has a lasting impact. Sustainability for me is not just financial. It’s about building a business model that supports longevity, impact, and alignment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rllconsult.com
- Instagram: Mykerah_r
- Facebook: Mykerah Robinson
- Linkedin: Mykerah Mackey-Robinson
- Youtube: Mykerah Robinson
