We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Malika Begin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Malika , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

My parents are interesting people, so they gave me an interesting, different childhood. They were married for 10 years before they had me, their first child. They spent that time traveling the world, including 2 years in the Peace Corps in Sierre Leone, Africa. I was raised in the middle of America, Lincoln, NE. I’m thankful for the good-hearted people and traditional values that surrounded me, but also for the different perspective my parents brought. My dad was a stained glass artist and stay-at-home dad, really different from my friend’s parents. He had a lot of out-of-the-box ideas and a different worldview. He took me and my siblings to art festivals, theater, and galleries, infusing our childhood with building and creating. I have the courage to run my own business because my parents were not concerned with what others thought; they were confident in their own choices.
They unwittingly fostered my entrepreneurial talents at a young age, helping me set up stands to sell lemonade, cookies, painted rocks, pictures, and other art pieces I created. When I was a little older, my dad would allow me to sell his kaleidoscopes and other stained glass art to smaller stores, giving me a cut of the sale. I loved the challenge of walking into a place, introducing myself, and seeing if I could make the sale. I loved his art, so finding people who could also appreciate his workmanship was a treat.
They also told me stories of my grandparents, who were farmers, business builders, people of faith, and pillars of their communities. This inspired me to want to be a leader in something collective that improved life for everyone. Community and reputation are such a big part of small communities, and I was inspired by my grandparents’ character. Those stories still inspire me to do right by people and to work in systems design to create environments that support people’s best work and leadership.

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.

My name is Malika Begin, and I’m the CEO and Founder of Begin Development, a business consulting firm dedicated to developing leaders, executives, and managers. We specialize in building excellent cultures and healthy teams.

After creating and leading successful internal development programs for multiple businesses, I recognized the broader need for these services. This realization drove me to establish Begin Development, and today, we serve a diverse clientele, including public, private, and non-profit organizations.

What sets us apart is our focus on teams facing fast growth/problems/transitions and the empathy and compassion we are able to operate with while we deliver heart-centered organization development. Clients are often surprised at what we are able to accomplish while helping solve their most stressful challenges. Witnessing the rapid, positive changes that result from our efforts is incredibly rewarding. Our work with executive teams and boards has been particularly impactful, driving significant transformations within organizations.

I am proud to have built an all-female team committed to delivering effective change. We begin by asking prospective clients about their dream organization, the culture they wish to build, and the problems they need to solve. Partnering with them to exceed these dreams is nothing short of thrilling.

Our work helps organizations survive in competitive environments, attract and retain top talent, build necessary skills quickly and enhance communication. The strategies we develop, centered around objectives and goals, often serve as a five-year roadmap, guiding our clients toward sustained success. Knowing we play a crucial role in their growth is immensely fulfilling.

At Begin Development, we are passionate about our client’s success, and witnessing their achievements brings us great joy. Our unique approach and reliable team make us easy to work with and fun, transforming organizations one team at a time.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team and maintaining high morale is all about trust, and at Begin Development, we know it requires a multifaceted approach. Open and transparent communication, recognizing and celebrating achievements, fostering a positive work environment, and encouraging professional growth are foundational elements. The best managers value their people and demonstrate that through their actions. We focus heavily on conflict management, as these are challenging skills to master but essential for making clear commitments and holding each other accountable—both critical for achieving collective results.

Promoting a healthy work-life balance and cultivating an inclusive culture ensures every team member feels valued and can fully contribute their talents. We recommend development opportunities at every level of the organization and clear career paths to support professional growth. Empowering teams through effective delegation and autonomy fosters ownership and trust, while timely, specific, and balanced feedback drives continuous improvement.

Most importantly, creating a shared vision with common goals and connecting work to the broader mission inspires and motivates people. Without this strategic piece, teams can become confused and unfocused. If you want A players, you have to be an A player and prioritize hiring and retaining these people. By fostering a supportive, high-level environment, you can keep your team motivated and engaged so everyone can benefit from collective results.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I had my first baby, I just quit my job. I couldn’t imagine something more flexible than the 60-hour weeks I’d put in to build my career. After a wonderful year at home with him, I discovered that although being a full-time mom wasn’t my path, prioritizing family life remained very important to me. I was able to find a forward-thinking founder who allowed me to do full-time, meaningful work at the executive level but remotely and in reduced hours, only going into the office 2 days a week. It was a revelation to see the quality of work I could produce and the influence I continued to have despite not being in an office 5 days a week. After multiple acquisitions, that flexible working arrangement wasn’t available in the organization, and I knew the only way I’d have that autonomy moving forward was to be my own boss. My big revelation was that many wildly talented moms (and dads) share this desire, and working with them has brought an incredible level of talent to my small business that I never thought would be accessible. Building a business was as hard as I thought it would be, and getting a Master’s in Business at the same time greatly helped me with this transition.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.begindevelopment.com
• Instagram: begindevelopment
• Facebook: begindevelopment
• Linkedin: malikabegin
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeginDevelopment
• Other: Eventbrite: eventbrite.com/o/begin-development-30777098092

Image Credits

Cecily Breeding