Meet Renee Toppin | Whole Life Empowerment Coach

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

Hi Renee, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My business began as a solution to a problem. I identified the problem among my peers who are primarily women of color, as seeking wholeness from the outside in as opposed to healing from the inside out.

My thought process was, what if women of color had a safe space where they could work on themselves spiritually, emotionally, physically and financially. What if black women shifted their attention from the external to the internal.

I started Black Women Who Want MORE in the city of Philadelphia in 2007 with 17 women. It has now evolved into
Black Women Who Want More Academy. An online coaching community where women pursue personal development in 7 key areas via online zoom events as well as live interactive in person events.

We have grown from 17 women at a meetup in Philadelphia, to a global organization with over 695,000 Fans Worldwide.

What should our readers know about your business?
BWWWM ACADEMY was birthed out of the Black Women Who Want More movement in 2020. I am a Certified Whole Life Empowerment Coach and I specialize in helping women live their best lives in alignment with their purpose. I help women identify their purpose, polish the marketing and presentation of their purpose and then I promote their purpose.

The promotional aspect of my program is what truly sets me apart from other coaches and online course creators. Once a student completes my program, it is just the beginning.

I help my graduates secure speaking engagements, marketing opportunities like billboards and magazine covers. podcast appearances and book signings. I also feature my graduates on my website for one full year so that they can benefit from the high traffic that flows from our fan based of over 650,000.

This business, this dream, is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I messed up so much because I honestly thought it would be easy. I messed up the pricing, the structure, the offer, just about everything was wrong the first year. I wanted to give up so many times. But, what do you do when you give up the one thing that burns inside of you and fuels your passion What is left, but mundane mediocrity ? The thought of not living my dream and building black women who want more was scarier than the hardest of seasons. Scarier than being broke.

The lesson that I learned along the way is that every good idea needs guidance, mentorship, and a solid plan. I learned that your audience does not always want what you WANT TO SELL. I had to go back and do a survey to discover that my audience wanted tangible marketable, measurable results. They didn’t want the fuzzy, warm sisterhood camaraderie that I was selling in the beginning. I was attempting to sell personal growth packaged in sisterhood, when sisterhood should be organic.

I started this business because I was fired from a very lucrative marketing position. I always wanted to own my own business, but I didn’t have the courage to leave a high paying position and do everything from scratch. I had to be kicked out in order to be PUSHED UP. I want people to know that rock bottom is where the real building begins. When you hit that ROCK, its your foundation. You can lay down on it and let your dreams die, or you can stand on it and BUILD..

I want the world to know that the Black Women Who Want More Speaker, Leader, Author Boss Certification Program is a firm foundation on which to build their dreams. If you are a black woman, there is healing in your story and power in your voice that the world is waiting for .

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?
I love Atlanta. Even though I just moved here 5 months ago, my daughter attended Spelman College and lived her for 4 years so I am very familiar with the area. I have friends coming to visit next month. My idea of a great week in this area is a hike up
Stone Mountain dinner at Bones along with a late nigh tour of Atlantic Station.

A tour of all of the HBCU’s in the area Clark Atlanta, Morehouse and Spelman is a must. Atlanta is so rich in African American History and culture. A Black History and Civil Rights Tour is also a can’t miss, along with a drive-by of Tyler Perry studios. Slutty Vegan even for the meat eaters is a definite “try it you’ll like it” as well. For fun, the 3rd Spot, more food at Pappdeauxs, Chop and Lobster and The Old Lady Gang.. Lenox Mall and tour of the Coke Cola museum to round up the week

Atlanta is the place to be !

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?
I want to shout out my father. Senator T. Milton Street, Sr. My father was the one person who believed in me at all times. My dad believed that I could do and would do whatever I set my mind to. He was a fighter, who raised a fighter. Of all of his three children, I am the most like him in terms of resilience and determination.

Next, Nakia Muhammad. Nakia was my first business coach. Nakia was the first person who showed me what to do, advised me as to how to do it and then allowed me to do it MY WAY. There was no ego and no control, he trusted me to use his knowledge while incorporating my own unique style. He respected my ideas. He gave great advice and taught me how to lead large teams of people.

My current support team is priceless. Dr. Cassandra Burrell, Dr. Sheila Boone, Dr. Monica Savage and Laura Carpenter. These ladies help me run my growing business. They are my “ride or fly” cause we never say die !

The one book that shifted my mindset the most besides the Bible, is “The Way Of The Seal” by Mark Divine. I used this book to train one of the best teams that I ever had the opportunity to manage. It gave me “front sight focus”

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/black.women.who.want.more

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachroseisreneetoppin9053

Other: https://www.facebook.com/renee.toppin.9/

Image Credits
Kimazing Photography