We had the good fortune of connecting with Tonya Hill Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tonya, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

After leaving my 25 year corporate career in Human Resources in 2019, I wanted to grow a nonprofit I started in 2016 for single moms and their children called Diane’s Heart. The nonprofit was started in the memory of my wonderful mother Diane Hill Harrison. I read about a business validation course called Co.Starters being offered by Create Birmingham in my hometown of Birmingham, AL. I wanted to offer the course in the nonprofit because so many of our moms wanted to start their own business. One of the instructors of the course advised that I take the course as a new business owner to get the full effect of the program. I was already a certified professional life coach and had spent many years coaching executives and business leaders who were my HR customers. I decided to do what came naturally and easily to me and “pretend” as if I was starting a coaching business and 10 weeks later I completed the course and actually started an executive coaching business, Falala Life and a career coaching partnership, Career Triage HQ, with two other amazing coaches, cRene’ Washington and Gwen Hall. One year later, I took my executive coaching framework and put it in the nonprofit at no cost for single moms and “She Knew There Was More” coaching and mentoring program was born!


Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I’m the CEO of Falala Enterprises, LLC (www.falalalife.com) where I coach (mostly) women to walk in their authentic power and abundance. My predominant clientele consists of executive women and business owners and I focus on mindset coaching. I don’t care what role, profession, etc. you’re in, if your mind “ain’t” right, you won’t experience God’s best for you. I take a whole life approach when coaching because we take our whole lives to work, to church, business meetings or wherever we grace people with our presence. I help women remove the masks so they can be their authentic selves wherever they go. About a year ago, I closed my calendar to individual clients (but will reopen in fall of 2022) due to increase in contract services I provide to businesses and other organizations. Also, because I felt a leading by God to put all of my effort and energy into growing Diane’s Heart, a nonprofit I started in the memory of my mother. The outcomes have been nothing short of a miracle. God NEVER disappoints. I took a program from my executive coaching practice and placed it into the nonprofit (free to single moms) and it has been mind blowing to see what giving access and tools to these moms can do. Absolutely “ah-mazing”! The program is called “She Knew There Was More” coaching and mentoring and it is by far my most significant piece of work. It’s purpose work and it’s God’s business. I also published my first book in 2021, “Diane’s Heart:Transforming Loss to Purpose and Legacy” which tells the story of how I overcame grief with love and my mother’s legacy.


If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a total foodie, recovering shopaholic, nerd and lover of anything that looks and feels like luxury! We are getting the penthouse suite at a great boutique hotel for the weekend for a fancy slumber party with charcuterie boards, spa treatments, and lazy afternoons by the pool. We must have a hallelujah good time at church and a soul food southern style “Sunday Dinner” is a must.

Throughout the weekdays we are meeting for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner, shopping at the best boutiques and attending museum exhibitions, concerts/jazz clubs and spoken word/poetry event hopping. It will be a blast!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, a big shoutout to my beloved late mother, Diane Hill Harrison, who left this world too soon for me but instilled a lifetime of love, generosity and service in my heart. Her legacy lives on through my purpose work and philanthropy in Diane’s Heart (www.dianesheart.org). My bestie and personal life coach, cRene’ Washington (crenecoach.com). She called me back in 2009 about taking the life coach certification course and exam of which was nowhere on my radar. She came to see about me when I lost my mother, coached me through life transitions of leaving my corporate career and divorce. She’s amazing! Keisha Dixon (awellexperience.me) is my wealth transformation coach. I’m so grateful to Keisha for introducing me to my new self. She helped me put on display what was hiding inside and roaring to come out. I was able to blast through money mindset blocks and leave my corporate job in peace, not fear. Finally, the former and current Board of Directors of Diane’s Heart who have been in the trenches with me helping to build and grow Diane’s Heart. The word commitment is an understatement and “teamwork makes the dream work” has never been more true of this group of generous servant leaders: Jermaine Spann, Katrina Wilkins, Mary Robinson Walton, Sharon Sherrod, Stacy Kilcoyne, Michelle Burney, Dr. Brandi Pernell and Yelonda Jones.

Website: www.falalalife.com. www.dianesheart.org

Instagram: @thefalalalife @dianesheart

Linkedin: Tonya Hill Allen Diane’s Heart Falala Life

Facebook: Tonya Hill Allen @dianesheart

Image Credits
Taneisha Tucker Photography Melissa Denae Photography

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