We recently connected with Lachandra B. Baker and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lachandra B., thanks for joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

Building a legacy, for me, is rooted in my vision of a world where everyone feels as though they truly belong, irrespective of their backgrounds, challenges, or attributes. My vision for the future is deeply entrenched in my past, as I grew up in the rural south, witnessing first-hand the struggles faced by the marginalized communities I belonged to and befriended. These experiences ignited in me a fervor to be an agent of positive change, to be that force that consistently advocates for equity and inclusion.

In the quiet moments of reflection when I’m long gone, I hope people remember the woman who would shamelessly shake it’ to the tunes of Vanessa Williams’, “The Right Stuff,” no matter her age, but more than that, the entrepreneur who endeavored to empower, engage, and enlighten. LBB Edutainment isn’t just a business; it’s my heart’s work, my passion – and I hope it becomes synonymous with capacity-building, liberation, and encouragement.

I envision a narrative where individuals recall our collective collaboration, our shared stories, and the ways in which we tried to transform businesses and communities for the better. Through LBB Edutainment, I’ve strived to foster deeper human connections, aiming for a world where love, empathy, and compassion are at the core of every interaction.

Above all, I desire to be remembered as someone who passionately believed in intentional inclusion without harm, who communicated with empathy, and who relentlessly pursued a reality where everyone could live, work, and play in an atmosphere that uplifted and celebrated their unique identities.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello friends! My name is Lachandra Baker (LA) and I am a proud Black, female entrepreneur headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with an array of qualifications and training including a BA, MBA, a CDP from Cornell University, an Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) certification, and I am an official Columbus Tourism Ambassador (CTA). My journey began in the corporate world, where I accumulated vast knowledge and insights about leadership and engagement. In 2022, I decided to take a bold step and left the corporate sector to establish my own venture, Lachandra B. Baker Edutainment, LLC, also known as LBB Edutainment. Currently. the team includes myself, my husband Brian, the Creative Director, and our youngest, Aujie, who manages content. Together, we are a formidable unit, blending corporate expertise with boundless energy, creativity, and compassion.

What led me to create LBB Edutainment was a deep-seated desire to use emotional intelligence, relationship-building, and data-driven storytelling to enhance business operations. We have over 35 years of collective experience in this domain. Our primary mission is to support business leaders and departments seeking to elevate their employee engagement, company culture, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. We provide strategy development, training, and targeted coaching designed to touch the heads, hearts, and hands of the workforce. This comprehensive approach not only enriches the customer experience but also fortifies the business’s bottom line and results.

What truly sets LBB Edutainment apart is our people-first philosophy, underpinned by methodologies we’ve gleaned from academic research and real-world interactions with global organizations. Our end-to-end people solutions are crafted from a wealth of knowledge, paired with an undying conscientiousness for human rights.
One thing I’m immensely proud of is our ability to be capacity builders, liberators, and encouragers. We go beyond just offering solutions; we aim to empower, to engage deeply, and to foster creative and critical thinking, which in turn ensures sustainable success for our partners.

All in all, my vision and the essence of LBB Edutainment can be encapsulated in our mantra: “Helping people live, work, and play in an inclusive and equitable way.”

Our featured products and services are:

DEIB and Culture Audit – Improve and strengthen the culture of your organization which will improve your business outcomes.

Employee Life Cycle strategy – Reducing turnover, creating ambassadors, increasing productivity and innovation from engagement.

Leadership and team training & coaching – Educate leaders and teams on how to interact better with each other and will help them work better together to achieve business outcomes. Create accountability and more open communication among teams to build stronger relationships and work better together to achieve business outcomes.

Any advice for managing a team?

Maintaining high team morale is not only pivotal for employee satisfaction but also for the overall productivity and success of an organization. Every year companies lose nearly $500 billion due to disengaged workers, resulting in reduced productivity, decreased innovation, and lost customers. High morale often translates to improved collaboration, increased innovation, and reduced employee turnover. To navigate the challenges of team management effectively and ensure that morale remains robust, several key strategies can be implemented:

1. Embrace Inclusivity: Foster an environment where everyone feels valued and included, regardless of their background or role. Diverse teams that feel included are 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders in their market (Bourke, Juliet, and Bernadette Dillon. “The diversity and inclusion revolution.” Deloitte Insights, 2018).

2. Clear and Empathetic Communication: Establish open channels for dialogue, ensuring team members feel heard and understood. Frequent check-ins, open feedback loops, and an environment where constructive criticism is welcomed can ensure that everyone is aligned with the company’s vision and feels valued.

3. Celebrate Their Achievements: Regularly recognize and reward both individual and team accomplishments. Celebrations can boost morale, increase productivity, and create a positive organizational culture for your team.

4. Provide Opportunities for Growth: Encourage continuous learning and offer opportunities for professional development. One LinkedIn report found that 94% of employees would stay longer at a company if it invested in their learning (“2018 Workplace Learning Report.” LinkedIn, 2018).

5. Ensure Work-Life Balance: Advocate for a balanced work-life dynamic, which can significantly improve and reduce burnout.

6. Promote Autonomy: Trust your team by giving them the autonomy to make decisions. A sense of ownership can foster dedication and commitment.

7. Collaborative Environment: Encourage collaborative projects and cross-departmental interactions. A team built on solidarity, championship, and shared triumphs will ultimately experience heightened value and enthusiasm.

Managing a team and ensuring high morale is a multifaceted endeavor that requires a balanced combination of inclusivity, communication, recognition, and growth opportunities. Remember, the most valuable assets in a company aren’t the products or services but the people behind them!

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Building and nurturing relationships with clients is at the core of LBB Edutainment’s philosophy. In today’s fast-paced digital age, maintaining authentic connections is paramount. Our approach has always been to prioritize emotional intelligence and relationship-building by leveraging data-driven storytelling to keep in touch with our clients and extend consistent affirmations of our appreciation for their support and loyalty. We know that business partners and clients will recognize and appreciate the extra care you put into making their value prominently known.

We want to go beyond the transactional. It’s essential to us to recognize that every client interaction offers an opportunity to strengthen the relationship. We want to listen actively and respond empathetically to the needs and goals of each of our partners. We want to challenge ourselves to find deeper points of connection and pay attention to those meaningful details when interacting with clients. Another way we keep client rapport is by maintaining open lines of communication with our success and growth ventures. While data is compelling, personal stories captivate the heart. We merge the two to showcase both the tangible and intangible impacts of your services. Lastly, we strive to be consistent. Brand loyalty is not built overnight. It demands consistency in quality, communication, and value delivery.

We know that in the world of business, it’s not just about what you offer, but how you make your clients feel. By nurturing genuine, people-first connections, we lay the foundation for lasting brand loyalty and trust. We extend our company values to guide our impact and in doing so, ensure that equity, inclusion, and belonging is at the forefront of every client-driven initiative.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lbbedutainment.com/
• Instagram: LBBEdutainment
• Facebook: Lachandra B. Baker Edutainment, LLC
• Linkedin: Lachandra B. Baker Edutainment, LLC