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

Hi Tanisha, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I was a first-generation college graduate and I was always told that completing college would set me up for success. Well, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication towards the end of the Great Recession and nothing went as planned. I did not secure my “dream job” and I was underemployed for quite a while. While going through this frustrating process I started to research more about career development and personal development. I ended up getting a job with a nonprofit working with youth and that was my first experience with implementing my newfound career development and personal development coaching skills. From that point on I knew that I would eventually open my own consulting business to empower people at all levels through career and personal development coaching.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart from others is that my personal story and struggle is what helped me bring Gold Ink Consulting into fruition. I managed to make it through an entire four-year college program before I realized there were so many missed opportunities. I did not have the best network, my resume wasn’t well polished, neither were my interviewing skills or my true understanding of the real world and the world of work at that point. Instead of giving up and being angry because I wasn’t as prepared as I thought, I decided to pull it together and immerse myself in career development and as my knowledge increased my drive for personal development also increased. So, this is something that I have been invested in and mastering for years. Right now, coaching is “trendy” and a “buzzword” but it’s my true profession and I get excited everyday knowing that I am able to empower people to achieve their goals by providing clarity, collaboration, and accountability. I got to where I am today business wise by being consistent, researching, networking, and by intentionally building in self-care to prevent myself from burning out because it was a lot of work for one person to take on day after day. I’ve learned to be more patient with myself and to celebrate my small wins. I want the world to know that Gold Ink Consulting is the real deal, not a trend, and that I take pride in providing every client with a high level of service.

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?
If you have a friend visiting town I would suggest taking them to the Dallas Galleria or North Park Mall to shop, Blue Mesa for Brunch, and the Arlington Improv for some laughs.

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’d like to shout out my Husband James Stokes Jr. he’s been riding with me throughout this entire journey and I thank him for challenging and supporting me throughout the process of getting Gold Ink Consulting off the ground. I’d also like to shout out Dr. Anton House we’ve been friends since college and he’s always supported and encouraged me in my endeavors and shout out to all of my friends and family members that call and text to offer encouraging words and support. I appreciate you all.

Website: https://www.goldinkconsulting.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldinkconsulting/

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