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

Hi Toia , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The rebirth and re-launch of IamToiaWallace the Brand was in the works for a while. After spending five years helping people build their businesses from the ground up, I knew the time was right to level up. In recent years, I earned many labels like Business Consultant, Solutionist, Idea Bank, and Trainer’s Coach. With multiple successful businesses in my name, I felt it was the right time to move up and give back to the entrepreneurial community by sharing my knowledge and experience with others.

With this vision, I pursued corporate training, helping individuals launch their drug testing centers, clinical labs, and pre-employment agencies. Soon, I realized that facilitating growth was a passion and skill that came naturally to me. I also realized being able to create a curriculum where students won’t have to go elsewhere to seek assistance was another craft I had to master. So, I studied the skill and learned everything I needed to help others prosper.

As a trainer’s coach, I coach trainers from different industries with different specialties on how to market themselves and become renowned experts in their domains. All done while ensuring trainees get the best experience and never receive anything less than 100% from their mentors and trainers.

Right from the get-go, I knew this would work because I offered something unique, an experience unlike any other. I stepped into this venture; not as a master but as a learner dedicated to moving forward, learning new things, identifying weaknesses, and solidifying strengths. Every training class was different, with new students, new questions, new challenges, new resources, new strategies, and new concepts, making it a win-win for everyone involved.

More importantly, I stepped into this niche to do things the right way. To overcome shortcomings and recognize and implement what other training programs lacked. For instance, most training programs weren’t fit to cater to students with unique learning styles and would often overwhelm students at early stages. As a result, learners would lose the engagement, focus, and attention to reach their true potential.

As a trainer, I had a clear-cut plan of action. I wanted to ensure my students don’t just receive quantitative resources but attain qualitative material, everything they need to embark on their entrepreneurial journey and make success a certainty.

Yes, I was 100% certain I was solving a problem that was left ignored. As an educator (Middle/High School Teacher), I always felt we must design programs with students at the core. Not the students with no problems or concerns but those struggling to catch up and truly attain the full riches. However, this wasn’t the case with most programs, so I created mine to address this and present a solution that impact lives positively.

I created this venture with the goal to UNDERCHARGE and OVERDELIVER. However, I intentionally kept it hidden to test whether I achieved this feat or not. The feedback I received made me most excited. The graduates of my program who applied the knowledge to build their businesses always felt the same: it was a steal of a deal.

Moreover, as many students in my program migrated from other similar ones in the market because they were left unsatisfied with their methods and delivered knowledge also excited me. I knew my program was OVERDELIVERING and presenting solutions the way I desired.

As I said earlier, I have been called a solutionist, and I believe I got this label due to this program that solved many unsolved problems exceptionally. I am humbled to say God has graced me with expertise and talent in this area and gifted me the ability to share my experience with others to help people succeed.

Toia , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

From the day I stepped into the corporate world, I knew 9-5 was not for me. So, in 2012, I became a Florida Notary and embarked on a career as a Mobile Notary Public and a Notary Signing Agent. Next up, I enrolled in school to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management while running my notary business. Back then, the goal was to master the art of entrepreneurship and take my business to the next level.

While studying, I also established my second business, an online store selling virgin hair extensions. In four years, I made both ventures a success, yet I still felt an unfilled void. I knew there was more to do and more to give. That’s when I started to provide business consultancy services to young entrepreneurs struggling to build lucrative businesses.

In truth, consulting was never the plan. It is something I picked up along the way and ultimately realized how much I love it. With two successful businesses under my name, it didn’t take long to make a name as a consultant in the industry. People wanted to know and learn what worked for me so they could apply the same and build their businesses into success stories.

Due to the warm welcome and love I received from the community, I decided to leave everything behind and consult full-time. I had the passion, experience, and skills, but still, I was a little unclear. I wanted to offer the complete package so students who enroll in my program graduate with detailed knowledge. So, I further expanded my skills with certifications.

The new knowledge helped me scale the consultancy service and open a clerical services business assisting individuals with all things administration, contracts, immigration, and photo ops.

As years passed, the desire to teach and empower others ultimately superseded all other desires and encouraged me to pursue a career as a corporate trainer.

I am all about helping men and women capitalize upon growth opportunities and build their dream lives. I strive to help individuals unlock their business potential, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, and amass the tools and knowledge to take the leap of faith.

As a brand, I help others become self-sufficient and pursue entrepreneurship. However, that is not my ultimate goal. I serve to help people unleash a happier and more productive version of themselves. Make dreams possible by providing my students with the guidance, mentorship, and support needed to transition seamlessly from a 9-5 work environment to an entrepreneurial workspace.

To achieve these, I cater to the foundational needs of aspiring businesses, so business owners and entrepreneurs can focus most on grooming their creative sides and transforming their skills, talents, and expertise into success stories.

I am most proud of being able to positively impact lives and help people attain the tools and knowledge to pursue their dreams and become self-sufficient.

Above all else, I take great pride that my actions positively impact my sixteen-year-old daughter, my biggest motivation. I am humbled to receive such an incredible opportunity from God, and with every step forward, I strive to represent him well and do everything I can to create a positive impact.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think the desire to help others, especially those who cannot afford the services, played a big part in making this dream a success. Moreover, my natural desire to see people win beyond their imagination and unlock their true talents helped me build a brand on the cornerstone of trust, authenticity, and commitment to service.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I am honest, transparent, and personable with my audience, and I do a lot of pop-up lives on Facebook. I believe authenticity and transparency worked in my favor and helped me build an audience of like-minded individuals.

Advice……
Be transparent and consistent.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.IamToiaWallace.com
• Instagram: @iamtoiawallace
• Facebook: Toia Pynk (Personal) or IAmToiaWallace (Business)
• Youtube: Salt N’ Stilletos

Image Credits
Makeup: Danielle Brown (Makeup Craze, Jax & ATL) Hair: Shatoya Jenkins (San & the Dolls, Jax)