We were lucky to catch up with LaTonya Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, LaTonya thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I can’t think of two better people than my parents. They are the epitome of love, grace and sacrifice. And while they did so many things well as it relates to raising me, two things stand out – (1). Instilling in me the importance of believing in myself and (2). Creating a safe space for me to grow, to fail and to land.

These two things equipped with the confidence to dream big, to take chances and to not be afraid to fail. My parents taught me that failure is a part of learning and that true failure only occurs if you quit. As I reflect on the many of the opportunities I have pursued, it is likely I would not have gone after my dreams if it were not for the foundation given to me by my parents. I’ve been blessed to advance somewhat quickly professionally, not just because I am capable, but because I am confident in my ability do my job well. Confidence is key.

My parents also taught me how to love without conditions and to see the best in others. To meet people where they are and, if I can, help them along the way. It is with this love that I am able to help my clients, my friends and others that I serve. I am who I am, because they are who they are.

LaTonya, 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 am a Community Builder and Mentor for Recently Divorced Moms and Moms Navigating Divorce. I create safe spaces to help moms go from hurt to healed after divorce, in community, by emphasizing the importance of prioritizing themselves so they can achieve life goals and create a joy-filled future for their children. I am also a self proclaimed master encourager and trusted confidant. I truly find joy in helping and seeing others thrive.

I hold a doctorate in education and have over 19 years of experience where I have served as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, principal, director and now a consultant. My work has afforded me the opportunity to not only impact the lives of students and communities but also coach and develop hundreds of professionals. It’s honestly what I do best!! And the key is simple…help others believe in their own greatness!

In 2020, like for many of us, life happened!! I decided the marriage I was in was no longer good for me, filed for divorce, moved me and my then one year old out the home we once knew, lived with a friend for four months while working remotely with my little one, bought a new home, continued working from home but this time sharing a nanny with a friend, started preparing to transition to a new job and finalized my divorce all before the end of the year! A lot happened quickly!

In 2021, I decided to pair my professional skills and personal experiences to create the LaTonya Shanae platform. While our divorce journeys vary, one common thread we all share, is the desire to be a good a mother to our child(ren). I help moms prioritize their healing so that they can show up fully for their children. I approach this as a friend and mentor and stress the importance of healing in community. We have been conditioned to suffer in silence, so my response is to create spaces where everyone feels safe to share lived experiences so that we heal together.

Through trusting God, leaning on my community and believing in myself, I have been blessed to rebuild my life and create a home filled with love and peace for my son and me. God has over supplied for all of our needs and I want other mothers to know that if he did it for me, he will also do it for you.

LaTonya Shanae offers community/sharing circles and coaching for recently divorced moms and moms navigating divorce. Community circles are opportunities for women to come together to share and connect with the ultimate goal of healing collectively.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Consistency and authenticity

I have learned how to consistently show up for my audience as my authentic self. I share the good days, the hard days and all the messiness in between. I share stories about the limiting beliefs I have to challenge and the fears that I still have to overcome. I share stories about my son and how we are growing together and I am not afraid to say when things are hard.

While consistency is key, if you are not authentic it will show and your growth will be impacted.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Choosing to leave my marriage with my one year old at the start of the pandemic required a tremendous amount of resilience. Not only did I have deal with the divorce process itself, but my son and I lived with a friend for for serval months while I worked remotely with no childcare. The most difficult thing I had to do was pause to take care of myself. I wanted to pour myself into ensuring my son was okay, but I had to pause and ensure that I was okay first. I had to put my mask on first so that I could help him breathe. And giving up was absolutely not an option.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @latonyashanae
• Facebook: @latonyashanae

Image Credits
Christina Deshomme Photography