Female Disruptors: LaTonya Baker of Generation of Excellence Trendsetters On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Not seeking validation from others to dictate my decisions. This was something I needed to realize internally after self-reflecting. When I make a decision, if it’s not approved, it can still bother me. When I learned to put myself and value my own opinion firstly, everything shifted. If someone loves me, they’re going to love me for me — and it was something I taught myself through painful life experiences, tired of proving my loyalty to other people. I proved my loyalty to me.
As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing LaTonya Baker.
LaTonya Baker is the founder and CEO of Generation of Excellence Trendsetters, Generation of Excellence Non Profit, GOE House of Purpose Transitional Living Home, I’m Still My Sister’s Keeper-the Movement and Fashion Show, and Tyresia’s Boutique Too. She started this journey in 2012 after losing her mother unexpectedly. Her mother was the glue of their family and mourning the loss of her played a huge impact on their family. It was at that time that she chose to break cycles. After researching her family’s history, she discovered that not only did her mother pass in her sleep due to hypertension and obesity, so did her grandmother and great grandmother. This not only worried her but pushed her to make some healthy changes in her life. Throughout the years she has served as a community health worker, personal stylist, production coordinator, mentor and case manager. Throughout her journey she has been transparent with hopes of encouraging and impacting the lives of others.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
What led me to being LaTonya Baker was loosing my Mother unexpectedly and enduring pain I wasn’t prepared for. Through the struggle, I chose not to let her death go in vain and destroy generational curses which held our family back and played a large role in her death.
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
The disruptive and different thing about me is that I’m deeply relatable and transparent. Although I don’t look like anything I’ve been through, I use it to shape who I am. Recently, I made the decision to put my journey into a document entitled “To Whom It May Concern” which gave me the opportunity to be a voice for others looking to find their own.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Something ironic is that I literally stumbled upon my building when I got tired walking home one day. One afternoon, I went for a walk with some friends and decided to take a shortcut, unexpectedly came across my building, which I consider to be the best stumble of my life. On the first day, I was able to envision people sitting in the reception area, staff walking through smiling, and the community utilizing the building as a safe space and hub.
We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
Sarah Roberts — the empowerment speaker — her story resonates deeply for me. She became pregnant at a young age and suffered with shame; yet, she uses her story to pour into other people. My flaws. My mistakes. My pain. I use it to steer people in the right direction, in the same way Roberts does. In addition, My Mother taught me the values of humility, patience, and to treat others with respect and kindness.
In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?
Right now, there is a stigma that black women can’t work together and get along. There are parts which are true. I believe in disrupting and changing the narrative in that situation, because I feel that as long as we can respect one another on a personal and professional level, we can still support one another. But respect is the essential ingredient.
Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
Not seeking validation from others to dictate my decisions. This was something I needed to realize internally after self-reflecting. When I make a decision, if it’s not approved, it can still bother me. When I learned to put myself and value my own opinion firstly, everything shifted. If someone loves me, they’re going to love me for me — and it was something I taught myself through painful life experiences, tired of proving my loyalty to other people. I proved my loyalty to me.
We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?
I’m going to be consistent about standing firm on who I am and what I represent; others opinions won’t discourage or harm what I am creating. In addition, I’ll be wearing and practicing self-care so that others are encouraged by seeing it in front of them.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
Women are unique in the sense that women are expected to know their place and not share their knowledge in a man’s “role” or “job”. The women today are so powerful and independent that men are intimidated by the opinions and presence of powerful women.
Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?
My book — When She Speaks/Fearless StoryTeller by LaTonya Baker. This stemmed from sexual abuse by my babysitters at a young age, where I learned to validation seek and choose the wrong influences. The book takes readers on a journey of forgiveness, self-reflection, and healing. The book hands you permission to heal.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
My movement — To Whom It May Concern. This movement allows for people to write their stories, address situations that caused tremendous harm and trauma in their lives, and move beyond the situation to gain back their personal power. To Whom It May Concern also gives space for people to thank those who’ve stood beside them and loved them through it all.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My favorite Life Lesson Quote is… I cannot help you breathe if I cannot breathe.
How can our readers follow you online?
Readers can connect with me at www.latonyabaker.com along with LaTonya Baker “The Trendsetter” Facebook Page. Copies of my book When She Speaks/Fearless StoryTeller by LaTonya Baker are also available on Amazon.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Female Disruptors: LaTonya Baker of Generation of Excellence Trendsetters On The Three Things You… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.