We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ebony Small a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ebony , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

Small-midsize companies are founded by visionary leaders who want to scale at a speed that eclipses their people resources. Many such companies are now moving to hire fractional leaders to provide executive leadership, implement the systems and structures necessary to scale, so they can focus on ideating and increasing their companies exposure.

Businesses have also shifted from a command and control leadership model to developing managers as coach-like leaders. As the need for coaching increases, my company offers 1:1 coaching for business professionals or executive leaders. It is an invaluable value-add to any company.

Ebony , 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 started Transforming Leaders Consulting (TLC) in 2020 in preparation for the launch of my first book, “The Leader In You.” Initially, TLC was to be my platform to serve businesses and churches in areas of leadership development and training. However, TLC has expanded to offer fractional leadership, management consulting, organizational development, and executive coaching services.

We solve the need to offer C-suite leadership services to allow businesses to scale and secure new business.

I am most proud of our ability to be agile, resourceful, and successful in support of our clients.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

When I started TLC, I had a full-time role with a nonprofit. I’ve always been entrepreneurially driven; I previously had a wedding planning company for 10 years. However, in 2022, my role with that nonprofit was eliminated, and I was offered a new position that would have required a relocation. I immediately turned down the opportunity as I knew intuitively this was not the direction I was to head in. I put out a lot of feelers for other executive roles, and two promising opportunities fell through. I was at a crossroads and a place of unfamiliarity. I had to reckon with why seemingly areas of ease (securing new roles) were becoming a challenge, and then I wrestled with whether it could be that my company should become my main career.

My decision process led me to acknowledge that my entire career had been focused on building other people’s legacies, and TLC would provide me a platform to establish my own as a business leader with a unique blend of servant leadership, consulting, and coaching.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve had to unlearn being afraid and questioning if I could succeed on my own. I’ve had to stop comparing my success to that of colleagues and friends and celebrate wins from my journey. I’ve had to surround myself with coaches and cheerleaders who remind me of what they see in me, what I’ve done, and what they know I am capable of. I’ve had to accept that I have needs! I need support, I need encouragement, I need rest, I need help, I need champions, and I need destiny helpers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ebonyssmall.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebonyssmall/
• Facebook: https://tr.ee/aTdFsHj0ps
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebonysmall/

Image Credits

Sobitart Photography