We had the good fortune of connecting with Tonia Ramsue and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tonia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Why did I start my own business? Lotus Image Consulting started because I was doing something that I loved to do. I like most women today, love to look good.
Fashion was always a part of my life. I grew up in the house with a bunch of seamstresses. My mother and sisters sewed. One of my sisters sewed everything that she wore but my oldest brother was the meanest seamstress in the house. He not only sewed but he drew his own designs and made his own patterns. Now I am not a seamstress although I did give it a try a time or two. So fashion was something I lived with. I loved dressing my Barbie dolls up to have fashions shows. I as a teenager have participated in several fundraising fashion shows, often time modeling my brother’s designs. My original dream was to become a model but my height would not let me be great.
Just because I wasn’t tall enough to walk the runways of Paris and Milan didn’t mean I couldn’t use the city streets as my runway. Growing up in New York, as a young girl I used to love walking down Fifth Avenue to window shop and see all the latest fashion trends. So when I graduated from college and landed my dream job in the merchandising world of Lord & Taylor, I was in heaven. I would spend time walking the store and picking out items in their designer shop to purchase.
When I moved to Atlanta my wardrobe of designer fittings also came with me. Lotus Image Consulting started by me being me. Walking the halls of The Coca-Cola Company, I would often be complimented on how I looked. Women would ask me to help them get the polished look that I exuded. I began going shopping with women and men to help them with their work attire especially since Business Casual was becoming very popular in corporate America. After all I loved to shop and there’s nothing better than shopping with other people’s money.
Lotus Image Consulting has since expanded its offerings to career coaching and behavioral assessments because I quickly learned that just looking the part isn’t going to get you what you wanted for your career. So I became a certified professional career coach and DISC consultant to help my clients build their brand on the inside and out.
What should our readers know about your business?
Lotus Image Consulting, L.L.C. was re-established on 2018. Lotus Image Consulting, L.L.C. helps executives build their brand inside and out. I developed this concept after realizing it takes more than just hard work to get the recognition, we, as executives, deserve. Executives must possess an outstanding brand, the look, the emotional intelligence, as well as the talent. These three things must work together in their favor when they are not present.
Lotus Image Consulting, L.L.C. will help clients build their confidence through executive coaching sessions to achieve their personal growth objectives. Feeling good internally will be transferred externally by their confident interaction in business settings. DISC Assessment will help the client identify their communication style, identify other communication styles and adapt their communication to create valuable relationships. Since your brand is what people say when you’re not in the room, we want our clients to have a positive impact with all people they work with. Their brand would allow them to advance their careers by making the unspoken statement with the way they look and carry themselves in their working world.
The road ahead is long and competitive. In the last several years the number of career coaches have grown exponentially so making my brand stand out amongst the great competition is not going to be easy. I’ve learned that your marketing plan cannot be static. It has to grow, change, and morph to accommodate the times that we are living in.
One of my favorite quotes and I’m not sure who the author is but “when you win, we win”. My passion is helping others. After all that is why God created us to give Him praise, fellowship, and help one another. So when I help a client develop their “Brand Bridge” to move them from one position to another, or when I help that college grad take the first career step, or when I help someone feel confident about themselves that they are able to get unstuck, I am living in my God given purpose.
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 am such a beach girl so we would definitely have to take a road trip to Savannah. We would stay on a beach front property where we could wake up to the ocean sound and feel the breeze from the water. This would be a great space to pray and meditate on God’s word. A walk along the beach to get some exercise and clear my head before I start my day. Although, I am not much of a breakfast person, I could go for some good pancakes or a delicious smoothie.
Next on our agenda would be to enjoy the ocean a little more. I would lay out on the beach to soak up some vitamin D. While sunbathing, I would either listen to music or read a great book to take my mind off everything. After a few hours of enjoying the ocean, I would shower and have lunch at a patio restaurant in downtown Savannah. To kill some time and stimulate my mind, I would take a guided tour to learn a bit of history of Savannah. Once the guided tour is done, it’s back to the hotel for a nap before dinner.
Dinner has to be my best meal of the day. Finding a great water front restaurant with delicious fresh seafood would work for me. Dressing up in a beautiful sundress, with makeup, and hair styled perfectly is great for a casual or fine dining establishment during the summer in Savannah.
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 parents for giving me my work ethic. My family for supporting me through this journey. My mentors, coaches, friends, sorority sisters, and prayer partners for sowing inspirational seeds into my life.
Website: https://www.lotusimageconsulting.org
Instagram: lotusimageconsulting
Linkedin: Lotus Image Consulting, LLC
Facebook: Lotus Image Consulting, LLC
Image Credits
Makeup by: Painted by Pettina Photography: Tyrone Myrick