Amber Lea Naylor, Senior Project Manager - HHS Cyber on Influential Women

Influential Woman · Coaching Training

Amber Lea Naylor

Senior Project Manager - HHS Cyber, Booz Allen Hamilton

Richmond, VA

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's in Communication and Psychology Degree Texas A&M University Degree 2012 Degree MBA in Entrepreneurship Degree Rice University Degree 2022 Cert Narrative Trauma Facilitation Level 1 Certification Cert Integrated Life and Leadership Coaching (500+ accredited hours towards ICF) Cert Trauma Foundations Coaching

Her Story

About Amber

My work is a living, breathing embodiment of what I have experienced in my own journey. That is through the mentors, coaches, and light that I have found - it really is my distinct honor to carry on this work, to really pay it forward to the women that I now serve through Embodied AF. I've been in the leadership development space since about 2016, focusing on business professional coaching through corporate leadership development. Sales was a big part of my history. But I got burnt out - so many women like me who are high-achieving, who have done all the resume padding and checked all the checkboxes, I found myself burnt out and broken. It wasn't until 3 years ago, when I had a debilitating anxiety attack that kind of took me to my knees, that I realized I wasn't listening naturally and true to who I am. That's what led me to create Embodied AF in 2023. Now, through coaching, one-on-one coaching, retreats, and different in-person offerings, as well as online workshops, I lead women to an embodied life. No longer are they performing or having to check boxes they were never meant to check, or maybe they are deconstructing from a high-control religion, and they're not really sure where they fit or what they're meant to do. Now they get to live authentically to a life that is completely 100% theirs. At the end of the day, I get to go to sleep knowing that the women that I talked to that day are laying their head a little bit more proud, a little bit more healed, and a little bit more open than what they started the day with.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Amber

01What do you attribute your success to?

Taking that one next step, even if I didn't know where it was going. You know, you can easily get caught up in doing what the world tells you is best for you, or what others tell you is right for you. And, you know, you've got to go up the corporate ladder and make it all work, and do the 401Ks, and all of that. The greatest accomplishment I've ever done was actually using my own brain and following my heart. Stepping into this work would be the greatest accomplishment that I've ever done. I say that from the point of view that you can easily get caught up in doing what the world tells you is best for you or what others tell you is right for you.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

The picture may not always be clear, and your inner critic may want to tell you to stop. I would highly advocate that you don't.

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