We were lucky to catch up with Keshawn Hughes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Keshawn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.

The journey to securing my first client beyond my immediate network started with building intentional relationships in an online community for marketing consultants. I connected with their DEI advisor and a decision maker in charge of employee training and development. After sharing my deep interest in inclusive leadership development, they witnessed it firsthand through a LinkedIn video I posted about C.A.L.M. (Conscious, Acceptance, Labeling, and Mitigation), addressing unconscious bias. Soon, I was invited to facilitate a training workshop I created, “Changing Bias Changes Lives,” and feedback from the experience was phenomenal! I believe the trust we built and my relatable, engaging approach in the middle of our global pandemic played a crucial role in them choosing my services.

Keshawn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have many roles and titles, but I think of myself first as an intuitive listener, lifelong learner, wife, and mother. As the founder of NeuroSavvy® Leadership, I serve as a passionate advocate for people to live more meaningful, connected, and joyful lives. I work with organizations seeking to improve employee motivation, productivity, engagement and satisfaction. In the process, I help individuals heal the root causes of their leadership challenges for good by developing greater well-being, professional influence, and positive impact. NeuroSavvy® core competencies include coaching, consulting, training, and content development. What sets us apart are our trademarked solutions which have received countless positive testimonials and proven boosts to productivity, retention, and engagement by 98%.

I am particularly proud of two key aspects that define my work. First, I actively practice what I preach and embody NeuroSavvy® tenets myself. One fundamental principle is that positive change originates from within. By prioritizing their health and consciously changing ingrained habits to recognize their own worth and value, leaders initiate a ripple effect that transforms not only their lives but also the lives of the individuals and teams they lead. Testimonials from clients like Dr. Alex Keller and Elizabeth Weingarten resonate deeply, highlighting the profound impact of this transformative approach.

Second, I firmly believe that leadership development is not just an option but a must in the workplace. The business world has a unique role in nurturing leaders to be inclusive and accountable through embracing human-centric, growth-oriented mindsets and ways of existing. Imagine the positive benefits that can occur when organizations recognize the opportunity and responsibility they have to foster leadership development within their employees for the greater good of humanity. With over 160 million people in the US workforce alone, this intentional approach could bring about positive changes and make significant impacts on individuals and society as a whole.

“Working with Keshawn is life-changing. I’ve been lucky to work with many wonderful coaches, but Keshawn’s unique angle of connecting the emotional and neurological aspects of ourselves helps to unlock layers of potential that you didn’t know existed. If you’re looking to truly connect with yourself to find that deeper meaning in your work and take your career (and life) to the next level, you’ll want to work with Keshawn. One of a kind.” – Dr. Alex Keller, ND, Medical Director, Fullscript

“I had the pleasure of working with Keshawn in my role at Torch. I invited her to be a guest on our webinar series, Leadership (Re)Development, and she stole the show. Keshawn has a magnetic quality to her that makes you want to just keep listening to whatever she has to say. She was a hit with our audience, in part because she also strikes the balance between being an expert in her subjects of neuroscience, leadership and DEI, and being highly relatable and understandable. She’s moves easily between sharing her own stories and behavioral science facts, teaching her audience things they never knew, and making the process of learning highly enjoyable. As a journalist who interviews a lot of people, I know that this skill is rare. If you want an engaging speaker who is also a delight to work with before, during, and after an event – book Keshawn.” – Elizabeth Weingarten, Former Director of Thought Leadership, Torch

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Three pillars that have contributed to building my reputation are to – build aligned relationships, establish my unique brand and voice, and share testimonials that validate my brand promise.

Build aligned relationships – I gave an example above of how I built relationships that led me to secure business opportunities. The key is being intentional and engaging in communities to meet, converse, spend time, and make memories with people who appreciate my vision and share my values.

Establish my unique brand and voice – I consistently share stories and ideas that reflect my unique sensibilities and perspectives on LinkedIn and during speaking engagements. The key is to identify the platform that works best for you and own it. Mine are LinkedIn and connecting with audiences from the stage. Yours may be sharing TikTok videos or essays on Medium. Whatever it is, share and own it!

Share testimonials that validate my brand promise – Finally, I actively seek feedback from my clients about their experiences working with me. I find that there is immense value in understanding their perspectives and sharing firsthand experiences in their own words establishes a deeper sense of trust. A proven successful track record, as articulated through client testimonials, resonates powerfully, and is one of the loudest forms of reputation endorsement.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As a neurocoach, I’ve actively rewired my default tendency of trying to be everything to everybody; a pattern that inevitably led me to burnout. Transforming deeply entrenched behaviors and mindsets has been a process that includes prioritizing every aspect of my well-being—from spiritual to vocational. I practice courageous self-advocacy by saying “No” whenever possible and focus on being fulfilled versus busy and always on. I hung up my super hero cape and entrusted people closest to me to hold me accountable and support me when I needed help. The result has been a significant improvement in my overall well-being. I am happier, healthier, and more focused now, and better able to be present for who and what matters most to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beneurosavvy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beneurosavvy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeuroLeaderKHughes/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keshawnridgelhughes/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_DFcPQ44n_j7PlpBw5SoQ