Her Story
About La Toya
I have been in HR for over 15 years. My current role is founder and CEO of the Talent Practice, and I am at a year and a half in this role. Before that, I spent 26 years in corporate. I tell people I've had 3 corporate lives: my first was production supervision, my second was in purchases and procurement, and my third was in HR. The thing that most people know me for is my coaching ability. I am the first and only Black female to win the Bill Campbell Coaching Award.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with La Toya
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my academic foundation, the great people and relationships that I've built over my 27 years, and my fearless approach to my career. I wasn't afraid to raise my hand for the work that people didn't want to do, or to ask for the projects and things that I wanted to have.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best piece of advice that I've ever received was to get out of your own way. Sometimes you block your own success by listening to the inner saboteur that imposter syndrome starts to raise up. A woman told me: I can see you thinking and you're talking yourself out of doing what you know you should do, so stop.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Get started. I think the hardest thing is to start. Many women talk themselves out of putting themselves out there. I was that woman. And so, for me, it's take the leap, take the step, don't be afraid. Because you'll regret it in the end all the time that you talked yourself out of it, so get started.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in the HR or professional development space right now is market saturation. There are a lot of people out here who are consultants and coaches and trainers and development people, so the hardest thing is being able to identify the right provider. The biggest opportunity is to stand out, and to be unique, and to provide a service or a tool that no one else has.
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