With nearly three decades of corporate experience behind her, La Toya Haynes has turned her personal journey into a powerful mission—helping individuals confidently navigate workplaces, performance systems, and their own professional growth. Through her work, she brings clarity, courage, and coaching to those who often feel unseen or stuck. Humans of Fuzia is proud to feature La Toya for her honest voice, her commitment to empowerment, and the way her story inspires women across our 5M+ global community to step forward—even when fear is present.
What inspired you to begin your entrepreneurial journey?
It was really a moment of clarity—deciding that now was the time to begin my entrepreneurship journey and step into something I had been thinking about for a while.
Can you walk us through your journey so far?
I have 27 years of corporate experience, and I took a full year off for research and development to get clear on what services I truly wanted to offer. In January of this year, I launched The Talent Practice, an HR consulting and professional development company. The focus is on empowering individuals to navigate performance management processes and access meaningful coaching and development.
What challenges did you face while putting yourself and your idea out there?
Market saturation has been one of the biggest challenges. There are so many people calling themselves coaches or starting founder journeys. The real work is positioning yourself clearly—showing who you are, what you do, and sharing results while still respecting confidentiality.
What has been your proudest milestone so far?
Being able to share my own corporate story and use it to help others navigate corporate ecosystems. Helping people avoid the barriers, pitfalls, and roadblocks that I personally experienced has been incredibly meaningful.
Are you building this venture on your own?
Yes, I’m a solopreneur.
What are your thoughts on women in leadership today?
I have three key thoughts. First—do it scared. If you feel the nudge, move forward anyway. Second—women can do the same things men do, even in male-dominated industries. Don’t let that stop you. And third—you never know who’s watching. Your courage can inspire and empower other women, so let that be your fuel.
How do you deal with imposter syndrome?
Two things help. One is reframing your mindset—using affirmations and consciously speaking positively to yourself. Your mind listens. The second is shifting your focus from what could go wrong to what could go right. When you do things anyway, you often release fear on the other side.
What does success mean to you?
Success is personal—everyone defines it differently. For me, it’s about being a better version of myself than I was yesterday. I’m a mother, a spouse, and a solopreneur. If I’m moving the needle forward even a little in those areas, that’s progress—and that’s success.
“Success, for me, is simply becoming a better version of myself than I was yesterday.”
Connect with La Toya Haynes: La Toya T. Haynes | LinkedIn
Want to be featured?
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