We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful TeNita Ballard. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with TeNita below.

TeNita, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I knew something had to change when I ended up in the hospital as a result of neglecting my own health. I remember it like it was yesterday – right before I went into surgery, the doctor told me he was concerned that due to the size of the growth, I may have to wake up with a hole in my neck. Thank God I didn’t, but I remember thinking, “How did I get here?” I was the one who was showing up for everyone else, helping people find their voices, and I lost mine. It was a wake-up call that made me reevaluate my life’s purpose. I realized that I had been neglecting myself for far too long, and I needed to make a change. That’s when I decided to start doing the work – which included prayer, therapy, and multiple sessions with my Life Coach.
Through my journey of healing and self-discovery, I discovered my true passion – empowering others, especially women, to reach their full potential. I knew that I had the knowledge and expertise to help others, and I wanted to use my experience to make a difference in the world.
That’s why I founded TeNita LLC with a mission to empower leaders and multi-passionate women with the tools they need to advocate for themselves, prevent burnout, walk in purpose, and live a life of abundance. I knew that there were other women out there who were struggling just like I was, and I wanted to help them avoid the same pitfalls that I had experienced.
With over 18 years of experience in various industries, I’ve seen firsthand the struggles that women face in the workplace, and I’m committed to delivering exceptional consulting services that focus on women empowerment, diversity & inclusion, leadership development, self-care, and employee engagement.
My goal is to offer both private and group sessions that cater to the unique needs of my clients, helping them to achieve their goals and succeed in their personal and professional lives. I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential, and I am dedicated to helping my clients do just that.
In summary, my personal journey of healing and self-discovery led me to found TeNita LLC with a mission to empower women and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. I am passionate about my work and remain committed to helping my clients achieve their full potential.

TeNita, 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?

TeNita is an extraordinary woman with 18+ years of experience in HR, diversity & inclusion, and leadership development. As a Diversity & Inclusion Leader, Adjunct Professor at USC, Coach and Speaker, TeNita is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their full potential. Her commitment to SERVICE is unwavering, and she follows Christ’s lead, allowing Him to direct her path. TeNita’s life experiences, being a Black girl growing up in the Inner-City of Los Angeles, attending Magnet Schools outside of her community, the oldest of three and working in Corporate America pre the “Bring Your Full Self to Work” days, have groomed her to be the STRONG One. She found herself advocating for everyone around her yet found that she lost her own voice. She had to realize that everyone IS NOT her assignment to find her OWN voice.
As a Coach and Speaker, TeNita empowers professionals and organizations with the tools they need to advocate for themselves, prevent burnout, walk in purpose, and live a life of abundance. Her services include consulting services to individuals and corporations, with a focus on women empowerment, diversity & inclusion, leadership development, self-care, employee engagement, and more.
TeNita’s vast experience, coupled with her passion for empowering individuals and organizations, makes her the perfect solution to your personal and organizational challenges. She has a proven track record of delivering results and is committed to helping you achieve your goals. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work with TeNita, the powerhouse of a woman who is dedicated to your success.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2020, I started a meal prep business called “Seasoned To A Tee”. I saw a need in my community for healthy and delicious meals, and I wanted to provide comfort to my customers by feeding them physically and spiritually. I loved cooking and creating experiences for my customers, and my business quickly became popular.

However, as time went on, I found myself becoming overwhelmed with running the meal prep business. Although I enjoyed cooking, it wasn’t sustainable for me in the long run. I knew I needed to make a change.

I was strategic with not including my corporate experience to avoid creating a conflict of interest. But after being laid off, I decided to go all-in and include all of me in my business, TeNita LLC. I expanded to include D&I, Executive coaching, training, development, and more.

In addition to my corporate side of the business, I also empower Black women to live their passion through my movement, Girl Live Your Passion. This movement is for the women who shows up for everyone in their lives, yet feels unfulfilled and knows that there is more to life. I am passionate about helping these women discover their purpose and live their best lives.

After much reflection, I decided to pivot my career to coaching and speaking. I realized that I had a passion for helping others and inspiring them to live their best lives. I wanted to share my knowledge and experiences with others, and help them to achieve their goals and dreams.

I spent months honing my skills as a coach and public speaker. I attended workshops, hired mentors, and practiced my craft every day. I poured my heart and soul into my new career, and it paid off.

Today, I am a successful coach and public speaker, offering a range of services through my business, TeNita LLC. I have inspired countless people to live their best lives and achieve their dreams, especially Black women through my movement, Girl Live Your Passion. I have found a new sense of purpose and fulfillment in my life, and I am grateful for the pivot that brought me to where I am today.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Lesson: The Myth of Doing Business Alone For most of my life, I’ve been the strong friend that people turn to for advice and guidance. As a result, I learned to rely solely on myself and believed that I could accomplish anything on my own, including building a successful business. However, this belief turned out to be a myth that I had to unlearn. Here’s why.
Backstory:
As I climbed the corporate ladder, I quickly learned the importance of my network and getting out of my comfort zone. I realized that success often requires collaboration and that I could accomplish more by working with others than by working alone. However, as the world shifted to the virtual space, I had to adjust to new ways of meeting people and cultivating my network. I learned to be more intentional in reaching out to others and building relationships.
Through joining some entrepreneur cohorts, I was able to expand my business and network even further. I realized that I could outsource some of the tasks that I didn’t want to do or that I wasn’t skilled in. I learned that building a team could help me achieve my goals faster and more efficiently.
Lesson:
The lesson I had to unlearn is the myth of doing business alone. While it’s important to be self-sufficient and independent, building a successful business requires collaboration, networking, and building a team.
Here are some reasons why:
1. You can’t be an expert in everything.
As much as you may want to do everything on your own, you can’t be an expert in everything. There will be tasks that you’re not skilled in or don’t enjoy doing. By outsourcing these tasks to others, you can focus on what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing.
2. Building a team can help you achieve your goals faster.
When you work with others, you can achieve your goals faster and more efficiently. You can divide tasks among team members and leverage each other’s strengths to get things done more effectively. This can help you grow your business faster and reach your goals more quickly.
3. Networking can open doors and create opportunities.
Networking is essential in business. By building relationships with others in your industry, you can open doors and create opportunities that you may not have had otherwise. You can learn from others, collaborate on projects, and gain valuable insights into your industry.
While being self-sufficient and independent is important, it’s crucial to recognize the value of collaboration, networking, and building a team when it comes to building a successful business. By unlearning the myth of doing business alone, I opened myself up to new opportunities and achieve greater success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.coachtenita.com
• Instagram: @tenitaspeaks
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tenitaballard
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TeNitaSpeaks

Image Credits
Emily Cloutier Photography @Emilycloutierphotography Portraits With Passion @Portraitswithpassionla