Small Business Profile Features: “ You Are Enough.”
personally rewarding, especially when the Ah Ha moments occur and the light bulb comes on when they can see it. The recognition and awards are nice, but it’s the people that truly matter most. What do you do to encourage others? I encourage others through coaching and speaking, sharing my experiences that have not always been pretty, offering knowledge and insights, but more importantly, practical tips and tools to get and stay in action. I invest my time, talent and treasure in people to empower them to be their best and live authentically, bringing their whole self to what they do. I believe we all have gifts and talents and shouldn’t rob people of our gifts by not using them. Who has been your biggest inspiration? Hands down, my mother. She was a wonderful woman who was full of love, encouragement and strength. She taught me the value of a strong work ethic and belief in myself. She instilled in me great confidence because she said I could be anything I wanted, do anything I desired if I was willing to work hard, treat others fairly and have faith in God. I believed her.
WITH YOLANDA SMITH
YOLANDA
is a speaker, author and success coach with expertise in personal branding and professional development. With 15+ years of public speaking experience and a passion for empowering others to achieve their highest potential, she founded Branding 4 Success, LLC where she currently serves as Chief BrandthrupistTM. She is a certified brand analyst and diversity, equity and inclusion communicator, coaching corporate professionals and entrepreneurs to develop and master a powerful brand signature to achieve visibility, financial freedom and success through career advancement and business growth. What do you most enjoy about what you do? I would say building relationships and connections with others, supporting them along their journey. I love working on the business structure with strategy and personal branding – it’s exciting when I can help clients through knowledge sharing, pushing them to identify and solve problems with innovative solutions. Most of all, inspiring others to dream big. Seeing opportunities to add value is so gratifying and 22
hopeforwomenmag.com
WINTER 2022
What inspires you? My biggest inspiration comes from seeing others achieve. That is so gratifying, especially knowing that I played a small role in helping them get the results they desired. I am in my element when I am engaging, educating and empowering others to be their best and reach their highest potential. What obstacles have you overcome? Whew, where do I start? I was mid-career before I ever had a mentor, coach or sponsor. I didn’t know what it was because no one ever told me or suggested that I needed them. So, imagine matriculating through your career by trial and error, with no formal guidance from those who have been where I am trying to go. It wasn’t easy, I made many mistakes, was demoted, passed over and often felt undervalued. Yet, it was my tenacity, curiosity and take-charge attitude, with a whole lot of grace from God that allowed me to experience success in my career. In essence, I like to think I built my storied life and career brick by brick, fighting fears, failures and setbacks to have the success I always knew was mine to claim. What is your personal quote or life’s motto? Never give up. When you know who you are and you know your worth, no one can take that away. They will try and you may buckle or bend, but you will not fall. If by chance you do, Look Up so you can Get Up. Never stay down! What’s one message you wish all women could hear? Plain and simple, “You Are Enough”. Follow Yolanda @branding4success.
