Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lashana West. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

LaShana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

I really love this question because a lot of times, many people blame their parents, whether you were adopted, had a dysfunctional upbringing, or your parents did everything “right.” My parents instilled a line of courage and bravery in me that cannot and will not die no matter what. I was able to observe them bouncing back from adversity, working through being homeless, both having a drug addiction, infidelity, divorce – you name it, I’ve seen it! I call it drugs, sex, and rock ‘n’ roll. And still “we rise.” I think that some people don’t realize that no parent wakes up and thinks “I want to abuse my kid” or “I just want to suck at parenting today.” If they don’t have the tools and resources, they kinda just figure it out like anyone else. This has enabled me to build compassion and empathy for my parents, because at the end of the day, I know that they love me. In short, what my parents did right was provide opportunities for me to learn and grow; because of this, I have been able to trailblaze through Corporate America, excel in education, be brave enough to leave corporate and build my own multi 6-figure mindset coaching business, and make an impact with my intellectual property and expertise. The sky’s the limit from here!

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

I am a distinguished Business Therapist and Leadership Coach with over 20 years of expertise in mental health and professional development fields. Specializing in serving dynamic entrepreneurs, CEOs, and industry leaders, I have a profound understanding of mental health, personal growth, and business strategy; this blend of expertise makes me a valuable asset to high-achieving professionals.

My career began in a hands-on role, where I worked with individuals with developmental disabilities. This experience truly built the foundation that instilled in me deep compassion and a commitment to servant leadership; I currently use the servant leadership approach in my business, Accountability On Demand (AOD). As I progressed through various roles while climbing the Corporate America ladder, I honed my skills in program restructuring, professional training, quality assurance, and behavior modification techniques to name a few. These experiences have uniquely equipped me to guide both creative and business minds alike towards achieving their full potential in life and business.

I am most proud of myself for having the courage to leave corporate and become a full-time entrepreneur; it was definitely not easy to leave a steady job with a predictable routine and a sense of security. Ultimately, I knew there was something else out there for me, so I just took the plunge. I have AOD, Pop Up And Create, which is a multi-purpose content creation studio + event space, and my brand Healing While Building, which all keep me busy yet grounded and grateful. I know I have so much to give my Atlanta community and even the world.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I think of resilience, I think of growing up in a dysfunctional home where both parents were addicted to crack cocaine. Some may say that must have been hard, and I don’t disagree, but I also have realized that my background has helped make me into the powerful and ambitious woman I am today. Growing up in those conditions and experiencing trauma enabled me to learn how to adapt, adjust, be flexible, and ultimately be creative with my resources. Fast forward: I have been able to obtain 2 Master’s Degrees, leave corporate, scale my business to 6 figures, and make an impact in my community and the world. To me, resilience is being able to break free from hard times and persevering through struggles. The beauty of it all is that we can profit from our pain and put purpose. And that’s what I teach all of my clients.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When I first started my business, building my audience on social media came from being consistent. Even if you do not know exactly who you serve, how you serve or why you serve, the more you use your voice, share your expertise, and collect the data, the more clarity you will be able to gain. If you’re just now starting to build your social media presence, I just want to say congratulations! Getting started is the hardest part of creating a brand. Once you get started, you need to give yourself grace, ignore distractions of others who you think may have it all together or know more than you, and lastly, address any mindset blocks or negative thoughts that you may experience. This is going to build the foundation of you being able to keep up the momentum, stay consistent, and ultimately create intentional connection to make an impact and generate income.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mswestcreativecoach.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lashanawest
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mswestccc https://www.facebook.com/mswestcreativecoach
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lashanawest
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@healingwhilebuilding
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lashanawest

Image Credits

Dryden House Photography