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

Equalla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Life is full of risk-taking. Risks were there from the moment a person could start making their own decisions. Risks involve uncertainty and the possibility of success or failure, defeat, or danger. I fully know the courage, strength, wisdom, and perseverance levels needed to take such leaps of faith, small or big.

In 2020, amid a global pandemic, I took one of those leaps and started a business, Inspire To Hope. I am not a stranger to entrepreneurship. I have been on this pathway for over 15 years. However, completing a graduate-level Behavioral Science program inspired and led me to offer professional coaching services to leaders, particularly those in the Christian faith communities, where I have unfortunately witnessed neglect in the mental health arena. It was important to me, alongside my husband, Wylie, a Co-founder, to act as a bridge connecting faith, mental and emotional well-being, and leadership. There’s nothing new under the sun. We are grateful for those who have linked faith and mental health, but we are undoubtedly pioneering in our way. We desire to make things easier for future generations of leaders.

These past few years have come with many ups and downs since 2020. Both offer opportunities for learning, reflection, and growth. There have been more positives than negatives. Every client and supporter of ours has been a testament to that!

In 2022, I took another risk or leap of faith and started a podcast, Good Day Leader, a branch of Inspire To Hope. Podcasting has been extraordinary! We currently have listeners in over fourteen countries and counting. Our guests are superb! Each invitee ranges from licensed therapists, pastors, authors, CEOs, and fellow coaches, to name a few. Note from someone who likes to shy away from public speaking. Yet, I am a business owner, coach, podcaster, speaker, and minister, all being risk-taking factors for me.

In April of 2023, we opened our online store, another branch of Inspire To Hope, offering our customers encouragement items for themselves or as gifts. Everything we do is centered around hope while empowering others who will receive it. And my hope is based on bringing glory and honor to God. In a world full of chaos, pain, and suffering, it is a blessing to help someone experience a new perspective on life with peace, healing, joy, comfort, or hope again after setbacks.

Here’s a little encouragement for you:

The seeds you plant today will be your harvest tomorrow. Meaning that the things that you prepare, plan, and execute for yourself, your family, your career or business, your ministry, or life, in general, will reap from your intentional leaps. Your hard work and willingness to do it, scared, will pay off. Don’t give up! Be patient, consistent, gracious to the process, and compassionate to yourself. As you have read, with each leap, you are branching out new opportunities and possibilities. The vision is more extensive than you because others will benefit, too. Keep leaping, keep shining, and keep growing.

Equalla, 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?

Thank you for the opportunity to share a little about myself. I am a certified Life & Hope Coach and Crisis Intervention Specialist. A few of my areas of specialization are mental health, pastoral counseling, crisis response, trauma, and emotional intelligence. I have over ten years of professional and ministerial experience in leadership.

No leader should feel unsupported, untrained, or afraid regarding mental and emotional health and wellness. This is why Inspire To Hope exists. We are a haven of encouragement and support for leaders.

Since my teenage years, I have been in the helping business of serving others in various capacities. Whether sharing sough-out advice with a friend, volunteering at a community event, lending aid at my local church or parachurch ministry, or through my profession, serving others with care and excellence is a top priority.

Growing up in a Christian home taught me the importance of trusting God and treating others how I want to be. My faith is the core of my identity, not superlative titles, accolades, or other privileges. I am glad I can continue such a legacy within my family. Being a wife and mother is the best gift and role that I have in my life.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I am an avid reader and lover of learning, so there have been countless books and other resources I could list that have been helpful on my entrepreneurial journey. Two books that have significantly impacted me in personal development and leadership are Successful Women Think Differently by Valorie Burton—and Mythical Leader by Ron Edmunson. They have been in my private library for years.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Three things can be challenging: experiencing patience, the process, and pivoting. You asked me about the latter. Anytime a transitional phase occurs, it comes with the teaching of endurance as things unfold, the anticipation of change, maybe some nervousness for the process, or fresh zeal for the new. However, I have noticed with my life and clients that pivots can also come with fear and resistance.

In every phase and stage of life, a pivot occurs for the better or worse. Graduating high school, marriage, starting and raising a family, death of loved ones, friendships established or dissolving, overlooked for promotions, health obstacles, racial inequality, sexism, financial hardships, gossip, going back to school after a hiatus, changing careers, and I could go on and on. I have learned to courageously face these life giants with grace and wisdom as I navigated the best I could in each of these times. How I reacted and responded carried weight into my next step. Did I always handle these shifts properly? No. But in the words of the late Dr. Maya Angelou, “When you know better, you do better.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.inspiretohope.org
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/inspiretohopeorg
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/inspiretohopeorg
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/equallafoster/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@inspiretohopeorg

Image Credits
Equalla Foster