Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Tonicia Freeman-Foster.
Hi Dr. Tonicia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey began in high school when I entered the health and nursing academy. In this academy, we conducted clinicals at the local nursing home and hospital. I witnessed how vulnerable individuals were treated based on their insurance status and demographics. I learned the importance of human-centered leadership, advocacy, and engaging individuals in their care as participants, and not just patients.
My high school experience was the catalyst for my focus on leadership in my career and college degree. I understood then, and even more so now, the critical role that leaders play in the lives of staff, clients, patients, students, communities, and the world. I also understand the internal and external challenges and barriers that leaders face, which hinder their ability to thrive. As an independent leadership development coach and consultant, I leverage my experiences, expertise, and lessons learned to support leaders in realizing their full potential in terms of purpose and passion.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My road has not been entirely smooth. It has been a journey marked by both smooth and rough roads, as well as unpaved paths. I’ve navigated both toxic and healthy workplace cultures. I’ve navigated spaces where my voice and perspectives were penalized, and I’ve navigated spaces where my perspectives and voice were sought and genuinely valued. I’ve had to heal the harm caused by toxic leadership and workplaces. I’ve navigated cancer. As a cancer warrior, God blessed me to be here today for a reason. I believe nothing in life is in vain or a coincidence. Every experience is an opportunity to learn, assess, and evolve. I will not be silent. I will use all of my experiences, both positive and negative, to support leaders with strategies that enhance their own success and the success of those who depend on them, their advocacy, actions, and transformational impact.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
LEIDOSWEL is a national leadership development coaching and consulting firm that specializes in supporting mid- to executive-level leaders and entrepreneurs to lead in their skin and win. We have a healthy obsession with leaders and all things leadership because we understand the power leaders possess to make the world a better place for EVERYONE. The three foundational pillars of LEIDOSWEL are Learn Well, Lead Well, and Live Well. We believe all three are necessary for transformative, generational, and sustainable impacts to occur.
Many leaders struggle with questioning their sense of belonging, their decisions, and their impact on others. Rightfully so, leaders have a profound effect on the lives of others, good and bad, so this role should not be taken lightly or these feelings shamed. A little fear and questioning is healthy. Our goal at LEIDOSWEL is to ensure leaders don’t become debilitated and stuck in their decisions and actions. We support leaders in becoming UNstuck by enhancing their leadership skills and challenging them to navigate their discomfort by digging to the source of the barriers. As coaches, we help leaders navigate negative self-talk, imposter syndrome, confidence challenges, and their fears, so they can achieve their goals and lead their teams to wild success through our signature transformational coaching and mentoring experiences: Lead In Your Skin & Win™ and Sunkissed Sunflower Queens™. Lead In Your Skin & Win is designed for mid- to executive-level leaders and entrepreneurs. Sunkissed Sunflower Queens is a leadership community tailored to support the unique needs of Black women leaders.
Many organizations struggle with consistently engaging their staff, clients, and communities. It’s not impossible, but it can be challenging to identify and troubleshoot issues when you’re working in the specific environment or workplace in question. Leaders may not fully see themselves, staff may not feel free to share their honest feedback with their leadership, and clients or patients may fear consequences for speaking up. Organizational leaders who genuinely want to enhance their engagement, relationships, and outcomes seek assistance. This is the advantage of having a consultant on your team, someone who is removed but understands the organization’s dynamics, and has a relationship where staff, clients, patients, and community members feel safe and protected in speaking up. As consultants, we help organizations develop engaging programs, increase their efficiencies, and foster environments where staff, clients, patients, and communities thrive because they are seen, heard, supported, and celebrated through our premier LEAD consulting experiences.
What makes LEIDOSWEL different? Many organizations focus on topical solutions, which are often performative, more harmful, and unsustainable. LEIDOSWEL focuses on digging to the roots of individual and organizational challenges. We believe in meeting leaders where they are, exploring their successes and challenges, identifying the root causes and root motivations, and walking alongside and supporting them as they endeavor the discomfort necessary for them to soar.
I am most proud of the opportunities to work with and learn from such phenomenal leaders and world changers. I feel blessed to have the honor of being a coach and consultant. Witnessing leaders’ evolution within themselves, their lives, their teams, and their communities is something I cherish, as I understand the broader impact and ripple effect of their work.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
– Book, Lead with HEART: Dear Leader, Set the Tone and Do It First by Kathy Taylor
– Book, Becoming by Michelle Obama
– Book, Planted to Produce: 7 Shifts to Activate Your Creative Soul by Attorney Ticora Davis
– Podcast, Work is Third with Dawn Hunter
– Podcast, Talking Beyond Trauma with Mordecai Dixon & the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
– YouTube, Dr. Dharius Daniels TV
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leidoswel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leidoswel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LEIDOSWEL
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toniciaff
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.toniciafreeman-foster7600
- Other: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-reclaiming-her-leadership-270993471
