We recently connected with Lisa L. Baker and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

When organizational changes meant two tenured and talented professionals had to find a way to co-lead a team, the company called me.

Lori, a high performer with a track record of success, found the new leadership structure fraught with conflict, miscommunication, and challenges that trickled down to the people who reported to them. It was also taking a toll on Lori personally and professionally.

I was brought in to work with Lori and her new partner both individually and together so they could learn to better understand each other. After six months of coaching, their communication skills had greatly improved, their ability to lead effectively – as a team – increased, and they developed better conflict resolution skills so they would have the tools to work through any future challenges.

Lori told me she had been in a place in her career that she’d never been before, one where she wasn’t sure she could overcome the challenges she was facing. But overcome them she did! And this is what she had to say about our time together:

“After my first session with Lisa, I created a bond with her that assured me I was in a safe place, and I no longer needed to feel the fear of “what if”. I knew I would be coming out of this experience in a much better place from where I was starting. Lisa is highly skilled at getting to the root of problems and providing extremely helpful coaching to give non-biased suggestions on how to communicate better, even when the situation is challenging. She has a special way of reading people and asking the right questions to get to bottom of any concern. I have been a people leader for over 30 years, and because of Lisa, I am an even better leader today.”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Lisa L. Baker, and I am the founder of Ascentim, a coaching practice designed to help high-achievers fulfill their potential and become the leaders they are meant to be. My practice zeroes in on the three core pillars of connections, careers, and finances because when someone gets those three houses in order, they simply thrive.

Here are a few things that I’d like you to know. I coach from a place of experience (30 years on a fast track in corporate America and the school of hard knocks) where I have endured and overcome my fair share of challenges and setbacks. Also, I am both an ICF-certified coach and a master financial coach, which means that I can help my clients increase their pay AND teach them proven financial principles to help them build wealth for the long term.

I focus my practice on women in general and women of color in particular. Ascentim helps them own their power and communicate with confidence so they finally get the reward, recognition, and salary they deserve. During those three decades, I spent at Fortune 500 companies, very few people with a seat at the table looked like me. My mission is to coach those who come after me so they can go farther, faster.

When you work with me, you’ll learn that I believe there is a place for everyone in this world. When you figure out what you were truly meant to do, everything finally falls into place. Part of my job is to take my clients on a journey of discovery to zero in on where their passion, purpose, and strengths come together – I call that operating from your unique area of greatness. Get in that zone, and you will be unstoppable!

In addition to my coaching practice for individuals, I am available for virtual and in-person speaking engagements. I’d love to hear from any organizations that want to support their workforce with professional development that builds confidence and develops the powerhouses of tomorrow.

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

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” It was a common refrain in the house I grew up in, as my mother raised me to be an independent woman. I heard it so often that it became a belief. And it held me back because eventually, I had to learn how to ask for and accept help.

I love my mama, but on this one, she was so wrong! None of us can exist as an island. It’s not possible, it’s not realistic, and it’s ineffective. I had to replace that self-limiting belief with a more empowering mantra. I chose an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” (PS – Teamwork is one of Ascentim’s values!)

When it comes to business, success demands that we depend on others and that we delegate to people we can trust. It would be impossible to grow or scale a business as an individual. We need to be able to build a team and rely on it if we have big goals. To be a true agent of change, we must let go of the notion that we can do it all on our own. We can’t, and we shouldn’t!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

One of the pillars that I work with clients on, CONNECTIONS, is the same thing that laid the strong foundation for my brand. Over the course of three decades of success in corporate America, I built and maintained positive relationships with colleagues and acquaintances at every level and in every vertical. I truly believe that a network of people who support you, and who you support in return, is the secret ingredient to maximizing your potential.

In addition, and without a doubt, delivering value, results, and excellent service for every single one of my clients is the foundation upon which I am building this business. My reputation only carries weight because of the commitment I make to the people I serve.

Finally, I’ve been intentional in garnering recognition and awards that lend credibility to my coaching and speaking services. These include Inc. 2022 Best in Business Coaching/Career Development and a Globee in the Women-Owned StartUp of the Year category, and earned media in magazine bylines, feature articles, and being quoted as a subject matter expert in notable publications like Ebony, Life Coach Magazine, and here in Canvas Rebel! I also take full advantage of social media to amplify ALL of these things so they get the attention they deserve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ascentim.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentim
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/ascentim
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-l-baker
• Twitter: https;//twitter.com/HereYouGrow
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfj1xAzL9Vh4arqsEoU5uJQ
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ascentim-towson?osq=ascentim

Image Credits
DeAsia Studios