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

Hi Cynthia, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

My parents did everything they could to keep me out of Hollywood, yet I found myself “at the very center'” of it as I was growing up. They made it clear that I was destined for business. Therefore, I had business dreams.

“Business Dreams
1. Lead an Empire.
I managed a territory from Santa Barbara to San Diego

2. Work downtown in the Financial District
I worked for America First at City Creek.

3. Work in Silicon Valley
I worked for a Silicon Valley company, eHealth,
doing business in Utah in the heart of Silicon Slopes.” – Mind Matters: The Story of My Life

LVL UP with CW is my business and my brand.
It began in May 2022 while I was on a career sabbatical.

For context, after 20+ years in strategic business management and a wonderful Christmas in Cabo, I began my sabbatical in January 2022. It felt weird to not work. As a result, I began working with Club Pilates and its franchise owners for the first quarter of 2022. From that moment forward, I found myself actively using my business expertise, my skillsets and my influence for good to help professionals and local businesses level up within my community, Park City, Salt Lake City, Silicon Slopes and throughout Utah. That Spring, my accountant recommended that I obtain a business license. As a result, I did and that was when LVL UP with CW was created.

Like most people, I have a bucket list of items that I want to accomplish within my lifetime. Owning a business, writing a book and attending Columbia University are a few that I was able to tackle while on sabbatical. Attending Columbia University catapulted me as an international leader and social media influencer. That was the catalyst to write my book, MindMatters: The Story of My Life, which is nominated for The Eric Hoffer Award.

At it’s inception, I had no clear business plan. I trusted the process and my business savvy to organically grow my business. I used a website for a hot second, then I suspended it because the word-of-mouth business kept opening doors of opportunity with ease.

I am a brand builder and culture creator. My expertise in leadership development, emotional intelligence and quality improvement are shared with my clients as they or their businesses learn, lead and grow.

Today, LVL UP with CW is my business and my brand.
It encompasses the following:
1) My self-published book – Mind Matters: The Story of My Life
2) My social media influencer portfolio with my strategic partners (ie. Freepeople, Parade, and more)
3) Strategic social media and content creation management for small and scaling businesses
4) Strategic business development and organizational support for new, small and scaling businesses
5) Coaching and mentoring of middle level executives who are looking to “level up” within their careers

In March 2025, I was awarded a Business Excellence Award at the CXO 2.0 Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the convention, I was a panelist on the topic: “Leading Beyond the Norm for Organizational Success.”

I have a few more projects in the works, including two more books.

People ask, “what’s next?”
To that I answer, I’m enjoying the present and looking forward to the future. Perhaps it is time to bring back the website? Or delve back into a corporate career? My dream would be both.

Cynthia, 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 began my work as the CEO of LVL UP with CW as a “mom mission” after being a trailblazer in my industry to make the world better for my daughter, her friends and all our children. I wanted to use my influence for good, to be a vessel for good, to help drive positive change and to bridge the gaps that exist in business for them.

Originally, I thought I was creating a guide for my daughter and my niece to follow by documenting my work on Instagram, “a yellow brick road”, so to speak for them to follow. I did not expect for it to grow into what it has become…

As a strategic leader recognized for driving results through agile collaboration and exceptional communication, I was able to use networked leadership to optimize results globally, beyond my business and my clients. It has been humbling to hear my messages echo around the world.

Being honored with The Business Excellence Award at the CXO 2.0 Conference in Las Vegas was the moment that I fully understood the depth and the reach of my work as an international leader and social media influencer. They said I was “famous.” I never thought about fame entering into this work. To me, it was and still is service work. People first, then profits will follow. I knew my “why”… I truly wanted to level up my community, its “up and coming” leaders and make the world better for my daughter, her friends, all children. After all, I think we all want that, a better world for our children.

I wrote my book, not for money, but to share my story to help others, as a form of Hope. It is a grind with grit journey of resilience, mental stamina, emotional intelligence and physical strength that proves the power of the mind, mindset, is the key to overcoming any challenge or adversity.

With my deep expertise in emotional intelligence and quality improvement, I have excelled in promoting engagement between teams and senior leaders. I have this innate ability to build brands, cultivate culture, bridge communication gaps and enhance team dynamics that enables organizations to thrive in fast-paced environments. My leadership is defined by my commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and empowering professionals to reach thief full potential. I share those talents not only with my clients, but also with the various philanthropic boards and committees that I sit on to help them grow and thrive.

In a nutshell, I am dedicated to helping individuals and teams elevate their skills, mindset and performance. I am forever grateful to be in this position. I trust the process and look forward to the future.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The Ego.

“I have never been super graceful so all the ski equipment made me look like a big klutz when I did fall on skis. A big uncoordinated mess. At least when I fell on a snowboard, I looked cool. My ego and vanity could more easily absorb the blow of a wipeout on a snowboard better than a yard sale on skis… Either way, falling is part of becoming better.” – Mind Matters: The Story of My Life

I had a big ego as I climbed various corporate ladders.
My daughter once told me, “Mom, you are a great leader, but you suck as a mom.”
WOW. That was a harsh pill to swallow.

Now, I know and she knows that I did the very best that I could for her as a single mother. Yet, I took her words to heart. I re-evaluated myself as a mother first and a leader second.
I had to really make big changes to be a better mother. Hence, the sabbatical. My commitment to her and myself to do all that I could to make my little sphere of the world better for her.

“At first, it was hard. I was embarrassed. I cared so much about what people thought of me. Once I realized how superficial that was, it became easier to “let go and Let God.” The more I was able to surrender my ego, the more I was able to share my story. The more I shared my story, the more people saw the value and thanked me for my efforts. I love that I don’t care anymore, not in a hurtful way, but in a peaceful way.

I stayed focused on My Why.

…my resilience as a trail blazer opened doors and created opportunities for other women to follow. There were so many times that I wanted to quit. I knew that I could not give up. I knew that I had my daughter, her friends, and the women at eHealth watching me blaze my trail. As I look back, I am grateful to have had the stick-to-it-ness that I did. I exceeded expectations and did more than my job, I chose to protect Americans on Medicare.

As an agile leader, I learned to suspend my ego and to focus on the development of my team and the new leaders within the organization…

Therefore, I set out on a “Humble Quest.”
I had to surrender my ego and learn. Learn from the best.

I went to work on myself first. I began clearing my chakras and aligning my vision with my goals. I was not on this journey for money. It was service work…” – Mind Matters: The Story of My Life

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Despite the wins, there were some losses during this time. I was in hiding for most of 2023 and was completing my studies at Columbia University.

“When I returned to Utah, my Corporate Governance class was almost complete. I was evicted…

I had no job, no income and no place to live until September when my tenant’s rental contract for my condo that I own expired. Because of the predicament Vail put me in with my job, I did not work enough hours to claim unemployment. My parents helped me secure a room at a local hotel with underground parking and 24/7 security. I was now living the suite life. Sweet.

I had lots of time to think about world issues and strategically prepare for the 4th Quarter. I moved back into my own condo in September. My September calendar was full. It included two massively important business summits: the Forbes Women Rising Summit and Silicon Slopes Summit. By the way, while at the Silicon Slopes Summit, I picked up Motherline Healing, which was so apropos for my mom mission and took it to the next level. I had recently been appointed as the Legislative Committee Chair for A Bolder Way Forward and was engrossed with that work, which aligned with both summits.

As I trusted the process and God’s plan, everything started to fall into place. Moreover, I had plenty of free time to ponder Mind Matters, including AI, offering strategic recommendations to mitigate the fear that it was creating among society and the business world. The day I communicated my recommendations, rainbows covered the Utah sky.

“Only from the heart can you touch the sky.” – Rumi ” -Mind Matters: The Story of My Life

Contact Info:

• Instagram: misscdub
• Facebook: LVL UP with CW
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-washington-1b13a265