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

Alright, LaKendra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

That would be my mother and my grandmother. They were my highest example of what entrepreneurship looked and sounded like and taught me about resilience, consistency, and discipline.

When I was younger, my grandmother had to step in to be a parent/guide for me. She instilled in me that I needed to believe in myself, be tough, and to believe in God. She once told me “put your faith in God. And when you do, you won’t struggle academically.”

Because I believed her, I started believing in my own capabilities. So I literally went from having to repeat a grade in school to being gifted and talented academically.

My grandmother’s involvement in my life was the catalyst for me to discover that I wasn’t “dumb”. I tested ‘gifted’ in the areas of creativity and leadership from an essay I wrote in school that my teacher entered into a contest that I ended up winning.

That win encouraged me to keep excelling and I was enrolled in a Montessori school. I graduated with high honors from high school up until the completion of my Masters degrees..

Granny said “you gotta believe in yourself and be tough. You can’t let people bring you down because they are always going to find a way to bring you down if you let them”. I took that to heart and excelled.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

First and foremost, I am a God-girl and truly want to aid in ending human suffering. As a lover of humanity, I became the founder and CEO of The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs Incorporated. The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs is both an online and off-line school that teaches leaders how to use life coaching principles to build their platforms and help make a difference in the world.

Ending human suffering is important to me because when I was younger, I remember feeling like I had all these things that were supposed to count me out from success. One, I’m from inner city Dallas and was born with an Attention Deficit Disorder where I struggled with focus and academics earlier in life. Two, I had to repeat a grade and graduated on my 19th birthday.

I also watched my mother battle with clinical depression- which is what ultimately inspired me to start my journey as a global leader, coach, and heart expert. I’d always go with my mother to the public library and watch her read self-help books in attempts to improve her quality of life. Realizing the amazing impact these self-help books had on her by helping her conquer unfavorable life challenges, I became passionate about humanity, psychology and in dismantling trauma and loss of hope in order to create a better and happier life for people.

Despite my challenges, I am the founder and CEO of a 7-figure-earning company, The Global Institute for Coaches & Entrepreneurs, Inc. The Global Institute for Coaches & Entrepreneurs, Inc., a school dedicated to training and certifying one million life coaches around the globe. As a certified life & business coach, I’ve made it my mission to help leaders with their self-healing.

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

Getting The Global Institute for Coaches & Entrepreneurs to its next level was a massive hurdle for me. Yes, The Institute was able to certify life coaches, but I wanted to take things a step further. I wanted The Global Institute for Coaches & Entrepreneurs to also be able to hire coaches and see clients through us- and I wanted The Institute to be able to bill insurance.

During the peak of COVID-19, after hearing 6 years of “no”, we finally got our “YES”- and The Global Institute for Coaches & Entrepreneurs was finally credentialed to bill for targeted mental health case management through insurance! So now, we are not only able to certify life coaches, but we are able to train and provide clients for those same coaches- and we are    the FIRST TO DO IT!

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

Not having legal business aid and representation. I’m considered a heart-centered business, so for me, I automatically trust people to do what they say they are going to do. And sometimes, with that you get burned.

What I learned from my experience is to ensure there are contracts in place, in addition to proper documentation of any and all agreements.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://globalcoachentrepreneur.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/giceloves/
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/master-coach-lakendra-smalley-b9839023
• Other: [email protected]