Dr. Tolu Akande, MCC is an executive and corporate coach who helps leaders and organizations operate at the intersection of purpose, performance, and impact. He holds an EdD in Leadership & Professional Practice, with his doctoral research on Internal Coaching Practices: Identifying Differences in HR Strategy, Staffing Models, and Executive Perception.

Dr. Akande has coached, pioneered, and helped shape and lead coaching practices and coaching cultures in organizations such as The Home Depot, EY, and Netflix, as well as many other Fortune 500 companies. He has also served on management and executive teams with a focus on leadership development and conflict resolution—experiences he channels into every coaching engagement while keeping the client at the center.

As a sought-after coach, facilitator, and speaker, Tolu is known for his ability to flow seamlessly in both in-person and virtual environments, creating meaningful, high-impact learning experiences that inspire positive change. His clients share that they experience clarity and action like never before, leading to transformative shifts in career, leadership, and legacy.

Dr. Shawna Norris is a International Coaching Federation® (ICF) and National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching® (NBHWC) fully credentialed Personal and Executive Coach, a State of Maryland Certified Mediator, and a public speaker with over 20 years of experience in private industry and government institutions. During her career tenure, she has played key leadership roles in crafting and executing multiple strategic organizational plans. Shawna holds a master's and doctoral degree in Public Administration and Health and Wellness Coaching & Clinical Nutrition. She also holds an executive education certificate from Harvard Business School, and multiple certifications in well-respected leadership assessments and tools. 

She is passionate about unleashing human potential, whether witnessing an individual unlock personal wisdom they didn't realize they had or creating, building, and scaling leadership learning interventions that impact the broader organization.

As a personal coach, she facilitates visioning, shifting mindsets, staying grounded through difficulty, and resilience.

As a corporate coach, she fosters psychological safety for others to be deeply introspective, resulting in greater self-awareness and leadership effectiveness.

Shawna specializes in the following:

• Executive Coaching

• Corporate Consulting

• Wellness Coaching

• Effective Communication

• Goal Setting 

• Conflict Resolution

• Culture Change

• Mediation

Connecting people with purpose. 

I am a life and executive coach that is passionate about helping you walk with intentionality and purpose. In serving as a coach, I've seen the importance of intentionality in decision-making. It's the catalyst for sustained growth and development. 

I have coached and trained thousands of leaders (senior executives to first-time leaders) on the importance of authenticity and connection. My areas of focus include: inclusive leadership, focused decision-making, effective communication, and difficult conversations. 

My decade of experience extends across coaching, leadership development, and learning strategy for a Fortune 50 company. I’ve built upon this experience by earning my Executive Coaching Diploma from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. I also hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Media/Communication Studies from Florida State University. Through each of these roles, I have led with a customer-focused approach. It's one of the qualities that my clients most admire during our engagements.

A commonality I see when coaching employees and leaders alike is the desire for genuine and meaningful relationships. What often gets in the way is a lack of awareness and/or set perspective that makes adaptability more difficult.

My goal for each session is that you feel heard, find more awareness, and walk away with more clarity than you had before. My role is to support you by creating a safe environment for you to share your truth and explore different perspectives to reach your goals. 

I have been guiding individuals and leaders on their unique paths to success for almost 20 years. As an HR leader, I have guided Fortune 50 executives to front line employees through their careers, assisted them through complex interpersonal dynamics, and provided direction and stability through organizational transformations.

As a personal trainer, I have helped people achieve health and fitness goals through personalized planning and accountability. These experiences have allowed me to understand motivations, human behavior and to leverage that understanding to maximize their potential.

I have since earned my coaching certification from International Coaching Federation (ICF) and my Executive Coaching Diploma from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. I also hold a Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business with a focus in psychology. 

In working together, you can expect to be taken on a journey of change, growth and exploration as you discover your dreams and clear the path for your life vision. You can expect me to show up fully for you, pushing you outside your comfort zone while still creating a safe and trusting environment. I use personalized techniques to help you move towards your desired goals and path.