Meet THE Team

Meet Yannik

Yannik lost both his parents to AIDS before he turned 16. He learned from firsthand experience how to turn obstacles into stepping stones, becoming a successful entrepreneur and founder of the Living in Purpose at risk youth foundation. Yannik’s amazing life story has been featured on numerous media outlets including ESPN’s The Undefeated, The Huffington Post, The New York Daily News, Good Day Atlanta & TBN’s 700 Club, just to name a few. For his efforts in the community & business, Yannik was awarded the Change Maker of the year award from the New Leaders Council and inducted into his alma mater, Georgia Southern University’s, top 40 under 40 alumni class. Yannik’s diverse life experiences make him a highly sought after speaker & coach for entrepreneurs, businesses, universities and nonprofit organizations.

Meet Anna

As an experienced practitioner of social and emotional intelligence, Anna has spent her time empowering youth, working with business professionals, and facilitating groups. Her diverse work experience, spanning teaching English in China, managing a leadership and wellness curriculum for low-income and housing-insecure youth in Chicago, working as a counselor in a residential therapeutic boarding school, and managing sales for a non-profit coaching school, has given her a diverse set of skills that helped her learn to adapt to diverse cultures, think on her feet, and rise to any challenge. Through her master’s degree in Transformational Leadership and Coaching, she is a subject matter expert in social intelligence, emotional intelligence, neuroscience, and transformational coaching. She knows how to ask the right questions to find the pain point to effectively coach that person or organization to reach their potential. 

Meet Michael

Michael specializes in Connecting Vision, Strategy, Execution, and Leadership through Strategic Communications. He has been trained in Multimedia Marketing by SCI and Consultative Sales by the Center of Sales Strategy. Michael is being mentored in Transformational Leadership Development by Dr. Rodney L. Cooper, Manhood Mentoring by Phil Downer, and Business Coaching by Gary Henson. His skills include mentoring, mission consulting, and multicultural/multigenerational communicating. Michael is a member of the John Maxwell Team of Coaches, Trainers, and Speakers. He is developing leadership endeavors with Christian Businessmen’s Connection (CBMC), Agora Strategic Advisors, Businesscoach.com, The Nehemiah Project, and Living in Purpose.

Meet Shalanda

Shalanda is a graduate of Spelman College and Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is a former educator, who began her career with the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program, providing English language instruction and cultural experiences to middle and high school students. During four years in Japan, she worked as an English language instructor for the Department of Defense and Isuzu, training Japanese tradesmen and engineers. She serves on the advisory council of the Marion Barnes Skilled Trades Center at TW Josey High School, the boards of Sacred Heart Cultural Center, and the Laney Walker Development Corporation. She is part of the Workforce Education Advisory Council at the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce.