Keyonna L. Taylor: The Leader Who Learned to Lead Herself First
From Self-Doubt to Self-Admiration: A Journey of Strategic Leadership
Keyonna L. Taylor: The Leader Who Learned to Lead Herself First
Let me tell you something about confidence: it's not something you're born with, and it's definitely not something that comes with a title. I learned that the hard way.
Early in my career, I was that person who delivered incredible results but couldn't seem to own them. I'd present game-changing strategies, watch teams exceed their goals because of the work I'd done, and then somehow find a way to deflect the credit. I thought I was being humble. Turns out, I was just scared, scared of being seen as arrogant, scared of taking up too much space, scared of what people might think if I actually acknowledged that yes, I was pretty good at this.
The wake-up call came when I realized I'd been choosing mentors who didn't actually have my best interests at heart. There's nothing quite like that moment when you discover someone you trusted to guide your career was more interested in keeping you small than helping you grow. It stung, but it also taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life: be very careful who you let speak into your future.
That experience changed everything. I started thinking more strategically, not just about the work, but about the people around me, the decisions I was making, and the domino effect of every choice. It's like I developed this internal GPS that constantly asks, "What happens next? And then what? And then what after that?"
The Daily Workout That Changed My Mind
Here's something that might surprise you: I work out every single day. Not because I'm obsessed with fitness (though I do love feeling strong), but because that hour in the gym is where I think my clearest thoughts. It's where I process challenges, work through strategies, and honestly, where I permit myself to be proud of what I've accomplished.
Those daily workouts taught me something crucial about leadership: you can't pour from an empty cup. As an empath (and yes, I feel everything deeply), I had to learn to balance my natural tendency to absorb everyone else's emotions with the discipline of protecting my own energy. The gym became my reset button.
From Humble to Strategic (With a Side of Humor)
The woman I am today thinks and speaks very differently from the one who started this journey. I've learned to be genuinely self-admiring, not in an arrogant way, but in a "I've overcome some real challenges and I'm not going to pretend I didn't" way.
I still have moments where my humor wants to break through in the middle of a board meeting (executive presence is real, y'all), but I've learned when to let it show and when to keep it professional. Sometimes a well-timed laugh is exactly what a tense room needs.
The Global Perspective That Grounds Me
My travels aren't just passport stamps, they're perspective shifts. In Spain, I learned about rhythm and joy in work. In France, I discovered that elegance isn't about what you wear, it's about how you carry yourself. Japan taught me discipline, Italy showed me artistry in everything, and the UAE demonstrated what's possible when innovation meets tradition.
Each country I visit adds another lens to how I see problems, people, and possibilities. It's made me a better leader because I can connect with people across cultures, industries, and experiences in ways that feel authentic rather than forced.
The Real Why Behind the Work
At the end of the day, everything I do comes back to family and community. My passion for developing others isn't just professional, it's personal. I want to create opportunities for people the way I wish someone had created them for me earlier in my career.
Through Key Focus Group, I get to extend that impact beyond individual coaching. We help organizations fuel growth and strengthen customer success, but what I'm really doing is creating environments where leaders can thrive, where teams can exceed what they thought possible, and where companies can scale with confidence and integrity.
The Leader I've Become
Today, I'm the leader who thinks 360 degrees before making decisions. I'm the one who challenges people, not because I want to make them uncomfortable, but because I believe in their potential more than they believe in themselves sometimes. I'm the woman who learned that true elegance isn't about being perfect—it's about being present, purposeful, and authentic.
I've built my career on the belief that influence isn't granted by titles; it's earned through how you treat people when the roles could easily be reversed. And maybe most importantly, I've learned that the best way to serve others is to first become the leader I needed when I was finding my way.
The obstacles I faced didn't define me; they refined me. And now, I get to help others do the same thing: transform their challenges into fuel for extraordinary outcomes.
That's the leader I am today. And honestly? I'm pretty proud of her.
