We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brandy Mills a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Brandy , thanks for joining us today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?
I’ve had more than one experience where the organizations I worked for made it painfully clear that their priority was the bottom line, not the people who made that bottom line possible. I watched as leadership became more focused on metrics, numbers, and outcomes rather than the actual human beings doing the work. And in those environments, I saw the same pattern repeat itself… high turnover, low morale, disengagement, and a disconnect between the company’s stated values and its actual culture.
As I stepped into leadership roles myself, I found that the frustration wasn’t just about what I was experiencing, it was about what I was expected to model. I was being asked to lead in ways that didn’t align with my values. I saw firsthand the impact of leadership that prioritized authority over accountability, control over connection, and outcomes over people. But instead of accepting that as the norm, I made a decision that I would lead differently. I would become the kind of leader I wished I had. I understood that when people feel seen, heard, and empowered they take pride in the work they do because they know it matters, and things change. Culture begins to shift. Productivity increases. Customer experiences improve. People stay longer, innovate more, and become invested in the mission.
That realization stayed with me. And when I stepped into entrepreneurship, it shaped not only how I ran my business but also how I chose to serve others. I founded Brandy Mills Consulting with a commitment to developing leaders, business owners, and individuals seeking professional development who understood that leadership is about people, not just performance metrics. Through my leadership development services, I take my clients through a holistic approach, starting with their own perspective of what it means to be an effective leader, their responsibility in embodying that, and the experiences, both positive and negative, that have shaped their views on leadership. From there, we build. We create a foundation that allows them to lead with intention, integrity, and impact.
And you know what happened? The more I prioritized people, the more my business grew. Clients stayed. They referred others. My reputation has become one of trust, consistency, and authenticity. And every time I see a client light up because they feel supported, every time they share that a team member goes above and beyond not because they have to, but because they genuinely care, I’m reminded that this is the way business should be done.
Leadership isn’t just about revenue generation, metrics, processes, and outcomes, it’s also about people and how they are valued within the business or treated as a customer. And when you get that part right, success follows.
Brandy , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am Brandy Mills, a native of Asheville, North Carolina. Often described as a hidden powerhouse who brings magnetic energy to every room I enter, I am known as an advocate for growth, leadership, a passionate leader, dedicated mentor, and vibrant force for transformation. Recognized as an award-winning advocate for women, a dynamic keynote speaker, and a trusted advisor, I am the CEO and Executive Coach of Brandy Mills Consulting, where I where I take a holistic approach to leadership development, business consulting, and professional coaching. I work with companies, organizations, and individuals to help them develop the confidence, clarity, and strategies they need to get to walk into their next level of growth. I offer tailored coaching and consulting services as follows:
1:1 Coaching & Leadership Development – Helping leaders refine their approach by starting with their personal leadership philosophies, their responsibilities in developing others, and their lived experiences with leadership. Focusing on key principles of emotional and relational intelligence, empowering clients to define, sharpen, and enhance their leadership approach.
Strategic Planning & Vision Alignment – Partnering with businesses and organizations to facilitate long-term strategies that foster growth and innovation. Working collaboratively to align mission and vision, fostering a greater sense of belonging and driving improved outcomes.
Workshops, Training & Retreats – Guiding teams through leadership training, team engagement, and professional development sessions that inspire meaningful change. Designed to inspire growth and innovation within teams. The interactive sessions provide practical tools and strategies for professional development.
Keynote & Panel Speaking – Sharing insights and motivation in business, leadership, and growth to ignite take action towards reaching goals and step into their full leadership potential.
What sets me apart is that there aren’t many Black women in this field, particularly in my region, and that alone brings a unique perspective and cultural understanding to my work. But beyond that, my approach is different because I am fully invested in my clients. I don’t just consult; I walk the journey with them. Whether I’m helping an entrepreneur navigate their next step, guiding a leader through personal growth, or consulting with a company on strategic visioning, I’m not just offering solutions, I’m in it with them.
Clients often tell me that what makes me stand out is my ability to take what they’re trying to express and articulate it in a way that brings clarity and vision. I create safe spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to tackle their challenges with confidence. I believe that leadership and business success start with self-awareness, personal responsibility, and real, human connections, and that’s the foundation of my work.
While I work with a diverse range of clients, my heart is especially drawn to women and have a passion for empowering them. Women in business, women in leadership, and women navigating personal or professional transitions. That passion led me to found Woman Strong, a movement dedicated to inspiring, uplifting, and empowering women to step into their strength, embrace their worth, and create impact.
This same passion inspired me to write my journal, “Woman, You ARE Strong: A 21-Day Face It So You Can Fix It Journey”, a guided reflection tool designed to help women confront obstacles, heal, and move forward with confidence.
I would like you to know that I built my overarching business of BMillsINNERprize LLC, designed to help anyone that I come in contact with to do the inner work to achieve their external ambitions, and fosters real, sustainable growth. I take my clients’ journeys personally because I’ve been there myself. I’ve faced the challenges of leadership, business ownership, and personal development, and I’ve learned that the key to success isn’t just strategy, it’s knowing yourself, standing in your power, and doing the work to grow.
I’m most proud of the transformations I witness in my clients like when they go from uncertain to unstoppable, when their businesses thrive, when they lead with confidence, and when they realize that success starts with showing up fully and authentically.
If you would like work with me and get a copy of the journal, reach out me here: https://www.brandymillsconsulting.com/
Follow me on Instagram @BrandyMillsConsulting and @BM.WomanStrong
Follow me on Facebook @Brandy Mills Consulting and Woman Strong
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmillsinnerprize10062023/
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
If I had to sum up what has helped me to build my reputation in one phrase, I’d say “I show up, and I mean it.”
From the very beginning, my goal has never been just to sell a service, it’s been to build relationships. I don’t believe in surface-level connections or transactional interactions. When I work with someone, whether it’s an individual, a small business owner, or a corporate leader, I’m all in. I genuinely care about their success, their struggles, and their ability to grow beyond where they are.
What has truly helped me build my reputation is my commitment to being consistent, reliable, and deeply invested in the people I serve. My clients know that when I say I’m here to help, I mean it. If we set a goal together, I’m walking alongside them to see it through. If they hit a challenge, I’m there to strategize and support, not just when things are easy, but especially when they’re tough.
Another big piece of my reputation has been my authenticity. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do know how to ask the right questions, help people see what’s possible, and create a space where they feel safe to be honest with themselves and with me. I think people gravitate toward that because they know they’re not just getting a consultant or a coach, they are getting a real person who cares and is willing to go the extra mile.
And then there’s follow-through. I don’t believe in making empty promises or offering quick fixes. If I say I’m going to do something, I do it. If a client trusts me with their vision, I honor that trust with my time, my energy, and my best effort. That level of dedication has led to strong word-of-mouth referrals, long-term client relationships, and a reputation that speaks for itself.
At the end of the day, what has set me apart is that I don’t just do the work, I pour into people, and I believe in them even when they’re struggling to believe in themselves. That kind of investment creates real impact, and that’s what I want to be known for.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Before launching Brandy Mills Consulting, my husband and I owned and operated a cupcake bakery, right in the middle of one of the most unpredictable times in modern history, the COVID-19 pandemic. To say we had to pivot would be an understatement. We had to build a strong decision-making muscle fast. To add to this, I was also working full-time as an Emergency Room Registered Nurse…fun huh?
In those early days of uncertainty, it felt like every decision carried high stakes. Should we stay open or temporarily close? If we stayed open, how would we operate safely? Would we allow customers inside or switch to curbside pickup? How would we replace lost revenue from declining foot traffic due to quarantine and social distancing?
We quickly realized that waiting to see what happened wasn’t an option. We had to be proactive and strategic to survive. So, we reworked our website, shifting our focus to online sales, which required an investment in SEO optimization to ensure people could actually find us. We constantly navigated supply chain shortages and the increased cost of goods due to price gouging. We had to adjust employee hours, negotiate temporary modifications to our lease agreement, and introduce higher-ticket products and services to help meet our monthly break-even point.
We also had to think beyond our storefront. Instead of solely relying on customers coming to us, we established corporate vendor relationships that allowed us to wholesale our cupcakes to other shops around the city. This move not only diversified our revenue streams but also gave us more stability when individual consumer spending became unpredictable.
At every turn, we had to adapt, reimagine, and execute, all while making sure we didn’t lose sight of the quality and customer experience that made people love our brand in the first place. And in the end, despite all the challenges, we survived the pandemic and came out on the other side profitable.
That experience was more than just a business lesson. It was a definite life lesson. It reinforced my belief that success isn’t about avoiding change. It is about how well you adapt to it. It showed me the power of resilience, strategic thinking, and being willing to pivot when necessary. Many of the skillsets that I learned working in healthcare. And it’s one of the reasons why, when I started Brandy Mills Consulting, I made adaptability and strategic decision-making core elements of my leadership coaching and business consulting. Because in business, and in life, the ability to pivot is a necessity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brandymillsconsulting.com
- Instagram: @BM.WomanStrong
- Facebook: @BrandyMillsConsulting
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmillsinnerprize10062023/
Image Credits
Yvette Freeman-RedAngle Photography
Derrick Hang-DHang.mp4