Influential Woman · Consulting

Latasha Gaston

Lead Consultant and Mentor, iSpeak4UNow! LLC

St Louis, MO

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Graduate of Harrisdale State University Degree 300 credit hours of trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness training Degree Currently pursuing master's in trauma-informed yoga Degree Mindfulness Degree And SEO practice Cert 300 credit hours of trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness training

Her Story

About Latasha

I work with teens and preteens, ages 11 to 18, in after-school programs and at the juvenile detention center here in St. Louis, Missouri. My day involves settling in with the young people and doing mindfulness work and breath work together. I guide them through hands-on activities where they're learning about how to be socially responsible online and offline, and I help them build healthy relationships - not just peer-to-peer, but also with their parents, teachers, and any other adults in their lives. One of my most notable achievements has been the work I've done in the detention center with the teenagers, seeing them go through the transformation of learning about triggers with aggression and anger. Some of them didn't have really strong relationships with their parents, but they opened up more, and the ones who get to go home are able to go home with strategies to reintegrate into their homes. I've actually gotten to see a couple of them outside of the detention setting, and they still use those mindfulness strategies, which has been very rewarding. I've been in this industry for about 5 years now, and the journey has been challenging but rewarding because I've learned how to accept no and to continue going.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Latasha

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to a few people. My mother, who has supported me through this journey and cheered me on. My bishop, Bishop Baker, who has seen the value in the work that I do and actually helped me get my partnership with the detention center. And my business coach, who has really given me valuable tools that I can use not just with her programs, but beyond her programs.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I've ever received is to persevere, even through times where it seems low. To always remember that no doesn't mean it's over - that just means that you go harder and continue the process, because a no could still turn into a yes.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

The number one advice I would give is to find a good coach and remain coachable. So whatever they tell you to do, trust the process, implement, implement, implement.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I've seen very many opportunities, not just in the school districts being a consultant, but also with community organizations and partnering with them. It's not just going in as 'hey, this is what I have, take this and see what we can add on,' but actually an integration. Those opportunities of integration - I'm actually in the middle of doing that now, integrating my programs into a music center. Some of the challenges have just been getting myself out there and taking it from people seeing the value in the work that I do to actually allowing me to show them in their organizations that this work is valuable. Having that data is very important, so that's been a challenge for me - just getting past the 'this is very valuable' to 'yes, we want you in our program.'

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Being self-aware, showing up authentically, and using my voice in an impactful way are most important to me. I teach this to the teams that I work with as well - to always go with your core values, whatever those may be.

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