We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Medley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My ex-husband walked out on me and our five children when our youngest daughter was just days old.

He came home, told me another woman was pregnant, packed his clothes in trash bags, and walked out. Almost every decision I made, from that point on, involved risk.

A year after he left, I went back to school to earn my Bachelor’s degree. That decision involved all sorts of risks. There was a financial risk, I had to leave my children by themselves way more than I was comfortable with, and there’s always the risk of failure. But I did it!

Two years later I was offered an opportunity to work as a contractor for a Fortune 100 company. In order to take that position, I had to quit my full-time job with the Red Cross and drive 144 miles a day for $13.00/hour.

I took the risk!

Five weeks into working in that temporary position, I was offered a full-time position with the firm. Over the next three years, I went from a call center agent monitoring debit card fraud to a senior leader responsible for training a 2200 person call center throughout the largest banking merger in history.

Risk taking is a career activator.

In 2019 I took another huge risk when I launched my executive coaching. I would’ve been comfortable working in corporate until retirement, but comfort isn’t the goal.

The goal is to always bet on myself!

What should our readers know about your business?
Lisa Medley Executive Coaching builds stronger, more confident leaders.

I am dedicated to helping Black women professionals accelerate their careers, build resilience, and gain more influence through confident leadership.

I love serving Black women in a way that affirms them.

I spent the majority of 2021 designing a 5-day group coaching program for Black women professionals because I believe in our collective power.

I also just released my first product, an affirmation T-shirt, designed with Black women professionals in mind.

Listen, only 9.5% of executive coaches are Black or African American. Being a corporate executive, yet never being offered the opportunity to work with a coach, is part of what fuels my passion to support Black women. Even though 86% of successful companies rely on executive and leadership coaching to prepare their leaders, “coaching clients are still overwhelming white males”.

I am not only proud to be in the number, but I am excited to be well on my way to realizing my vision of creating a thriving ecosystem for Black women professionals.

I didn’t start with this vision. In fact, until 2012, when I went back to school to earn my Master’s degree, I didn’t realize coaching was a profession. My exposure to coaching was limited to the coaching I either received from my managers or I provided my team as their leader.

When I decided to pursue coaching as a profession, my scope was broad. Coaching is such a powerful tool I wanted to help everyone, but I realized how coaching Black women made me feel. I felt connected to the days when me and a few Black women used to gather in my home for prayer, encouragement, and a soulful breakfast.

After to doing research, paying attention to my client base, and listening to practically every marketing guru around, I slowly pivoted my message to target Black women. It wasn’t easy. All I could think about was the people who wouldn’t do business with me because they weren’t Black, but I trusted my gut, took the risk, and moved forward in service of my vision.

Are there pros and cons? Yep. But, there’s a biblical Proverb that says your gifts make room for you. I’m here to tell you it’s true.

Do I coach other demographics? Absolutely. I have White, Black, and Latino clients. I serve men and women, but

Black women are my jam!

My message is simple, we belong on the call, in the room, and at the table!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Food and shopping are my go to experiences. At 55, I’m not about the night life although I do enjoy a good drink. That said, Charlotte has lots of great places to shop. If you’re into malls, then South Park and the Charlotte Premium Outlets should be on the list. In terms of food, I LOVE Pinky’s Westside Grill, Pinky’s has been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, If you go, their “pimped out fries with bacon” are a must. Amélie’s French Bakery & Café is another good one. Both establishments are unique in design and quirky with great food.

As an introvert, I love serenity. So a drive to Asheville is always on my list.

For my friends with children, Carowinds Amusement Park, the Aquarium at Concord Mills, and Go Kart riding at the Speed Park at Concord Mills.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My children have held me down in ways I cannot describe. They are my inspiration, motivation, and my chief encouragers.

Life hasn’t been easy for them. They were all under nine years old when their father left. They experienced my depression and sadness. My frustrations and fears, but they always make me feel like I am the best momma in the world.

When they were young, their little hugs, kisses, and handmade cards and trinkets gave me a second wind on the days I didn’t think I could make it. And, during that stretch of time I had to drive all of those miles, my oldest two girls kept things going for me at home.

As adults they continue to love on me completely unconditionally. They consistently tell me how proud they are of me.

Well, I am so proud of them too! The fact that I continue to be an example for them is one of the best gifts life has offered me.

Website: lisamedleyec.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisamedleyec/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamedleyec/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisamedleyec

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisamedleyec

Other: Online shop: https://confidentblackwoman.com/

Image Credits
Michael Wilson – MJW Photo

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