We recently connected with Tamiko Drummond and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Tamiko thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
“It started with a business on the brink of closing—and ended with a waiting list.” A coworker’s transcription business was fading fast. I offered to help her rethink her messaging, refresh her presence, and speak directly to the clients she actually wanted. The turnaround was fast—and undeniable. Before Lotus even had a name, I had a line of people saying, “Whatever you did for her—can you do that for me?”
That’s when I realized this wasn’t random—it was a repeatable process. The way I thought about strategy, branding, and communication was getting real results. That was my idea-to-execution moment. I decided to turn it into something intentional.
I named it Lotus Consulting & Marketing. I registered the LLC, opened a business bank account, built a simple website, and created an onboarding process so every client had a clear, guided experience. No more casual favors—I created defined service packages focused on brand clarity, messaging, and marketing strategy, all tied directly to their business goals.
For the first few years, I kept my full-time job while Lotus quietly grew through word of mouth. One standout moment came from a company I worked for at the time. They had been running the same ad for years with zero results. I asked if I could redesign it. I applied the Lotus method—clear message, clear audience, clear call to action. After the redesign, around 80% of new calls mentioned the ad. Same budget. Same placement. Totally different outcome.
Behind the scenes, I had to figure out pricing, contracts, timelines, and boundaries to make the business sustainable. But the core idea remained simple: pay attention to what works, build a framework around it, and refine it with every project.
Lotus didn’t grow because I had flashy marketing. It grew because the work delivered real, measurable impact—and people talked. That impact has been my best marketing strategy from day one.
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.
Those early wins taught me something simple but powerful: when you combine clarity, strategy, and execution, businesses move. That principle became the foundation of everything I do today.
I’m a Strategic Consultant, Speaker & Author, and the CEO of Lotus Consulting & Marketing, LLC. I work with founders, HR and business leaders, and purpose-driven organizations who are exceptional at what they do—but often find themselves stuck in questions like:
“What’s next?”
“How do we position this?”
“How do we grow without burning out the team?”
What We Do at Lotus
Lotus is a boutique consultancy designed for leaders ready to move with intention. We sit at the intersection of:
Business & Growth Strategy – helping refine the big picture: your vision, offers, pricing, and growth moves so your business model supports the life and impact you actually want.
AI & Systems Consulting – making AI and automation work for you, not overwhelm you. We help streamline content, onboarding, and internal workflows in a way that’s smart, ethical, and still human.
Brand & Communication Strategy – ensuring how you show up (online, in rooms, and on paper) reflects the excellence of what you actually deliver.
The Clients We Serve
Most of our clients come to us in one of three situations:
People don’t fully understand what they do—or why it matters.
They’ve outgrown their old story, systems, or audience.
They know tech and AI could help, but feel overwhelmed or wary of losing their voice.
Our role is to clear the fog. I ask the questions no one else is asking, and then help translate all that complexity into a clear plan—one they can actually execute with confidence.
How I Got Here
My approach is shaped by both real-world experience and formal education. I hold advanced degrees in Organizational Management, Human Resources Management, and Marketing, along with executive and entrepreneurship training—including a Women in Entrepreneurship certificate from Cornell University.
That background allows me to zoom out and see the full ecosystem: people, operations, brand, and culture—not just what’s trending online. Clients often describe me as part strategist, part translator. I take what’s in their head and heart, give it language and structure, and help build the systems that sustain it.
I’m direct, grounded, and deeply practical. If something doesn’t make sense, I’ll say so—and then help rework it in a way that does.
Beyond the Brand
I’m also the author of Grief, Giggles & Grace, a faith-centered book for people navigating loss who want something real—not clichés. It’s an extension of my larger mission: helping people name what they’re walking through and offering tools that bring clarity, comfort, and forward motion.
What I Want Readers to Know
What moved my business forward wasn’t trends, it was outcomes. Clients got real results and weren’t shy about telling other people.
At the heart of it all, my work is about alignment: aligning your strategy, story, and systems—including the wise use of AI—so your work becomes more seen, sustainable, and positioned for what’s next.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was this: being helpful and being valuable are not the same thing.
In the early days of my business, I said yes to almost everything—extra calls, custom favors, endless revisions—because I wanted clients to feel supported. I underpriced my services, over-delivered in silence, and told myself, “This is what good service looks like.” But in reality, I was unintentionally training people to treat my strategy like a free bonus instead of the product itself.
The wake-up call came when I looked around and realized my calendar was full, my clients were thrilled, but I was drained—and my business wasn’t reflecting the level of expertise I’d spent years building. I wasn’t operating like a strategic consultant and CEO; I was functioning like a super-skilled assistant.
I had to unlearn the belief that overextending myself was proof of care. Now, my proof is in the clarity of the strategy, the structure of the offer, and the outcomes we generate. I shifted my focus from “How can I do the most?” to “What’s the most sustainable and effective way to get you the results you hired me for?”
That meant raising my prices to match the value, defining real boundaries around scope, and designing offers that give clients access to my best thinking—without access to my entire life. It also meant owning my role as a strategic and AI consultant, not just someone who can “fix the brand real quick.”
Unlearning that pattern changed everything. My clients still feel deeply supported—but now there’s a healthier, more empowered balance. They respect the strategy, not just the extra effort. And I get to run a business that honors my energy, my expertise, and the future I’m building—not just the moment I’m trying to survive.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
My reputation has been built on a simple, consistent promise: If you bring me the mess, I’ll help you find the message and the plan—and it will actually work in real life.
On paper, I’m the founder of Lotus Consulting & Marketing, a strategic consultant, speaker, and AI advisor. But underneath that, my reputation has grown because of three core things: results, relationships, and how I show up.
Results – I care about what happens after the strategy session. Whether I’m helping a founder refine their offer, supporting an HR leader aligning brand and culture, or guiding a team through the smart use of AI, I’m always asking: “How will we know this worked?” Clients have gone from unclear to fully booked, from chaotic to systemized, from disconnected messaging to powerful positioning. Those kinds of results speak for themselves—and often lead to new clients hearing, “You need to talk to Tamiko.”
Relationships – I don’t treat clients like transactions. Many of them have worked with me across seasons—rebrands, career shifts, book launches, internal restructures. I ask the honest (sometimes hard) questions, but I also hold space for the human moments: the fear, the doubt, the “is this worth it?” That mix of strategy and emotional intelligence has led to long-term trust, repeat work, and a steady stream of referrals.
How I show up: I lead with clarity, curiosity, and practicality. My goal is never to overwhelm, but to co-create strategies that make sense for the people who have to live them out. When I’m in the room—consulting or speaking—I’m paying attention to what’s really happening, connecting the dots, and shaping it into a plan that feels both doable and meaningful. I stay current with AI and technology so I can help clients work smarter while keeping their voice and values at the center.
I think that’s what’s helped my reputation stick: I’m consistent. I do what I say I’m going to do, I tell the truth even when it’s not cute, and I genuinely want my clients to win. In a world full of quick hacks and copy-and-paste advice, my lane is thoughtful strategy, real partnership, and solutions that actually fit the people who have to live with them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lcmatlanta.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandsuccesscoach/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamikodrummond/
- Other: Grief, Giggles & Grace: https://a.co/d/4rnYMbY
Image Credits
Lotus Consulting & Marketing, LLC designs/photos