Sowing the Seeds of Sisterhood

Sowing the Seeds of Sisterhood is the beautiful collaboration between the talented Artist and Graphic Designer, Gina Benson and the gifted Healer and Transformation Life Coach, Misty Blakesley. 

As Gina and Misty traveled the path of Solopreneurship, they realized just how lonely and difficult starting a business can be. And as they worked together towards their individual goals, something amazing emerged as they realized that they were better together than alone.  

And that is how Sowing the Seeds of Sisterhood was born. Together Gina and Misty have launched a Podcast with the mission to encourage and support women as they strive to serve with greatness as entrepreneurs or employees, daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, friends, mentors and more. Gina and Misty also wanted to create an opportunity for everyone to access coaching regardless of where you may be in your journey, budget, or time zone. So Misty and Gina have also launched multiple ways for their audience to participate via the podcast and memberships which include digital library of courses, live groups, and 1:1 sessions.

Co-Founder

Lemonade with Love

I started coaching because I know we are all powerful enough to create the life we want. I am living my dream and now I help people like you find and live your dream as well. Sometimes we just need someone else to help break down the barriers.

Founder

relode

In my most recent position, I was tasked with developing and building processes and systems to support Relode’s first Customer Success Organization, hiring and developing a client success and delivery team. In more detail, I sourced and ramped up a team of 10 (4 Client Success Managers, 4 Job Managers, and 2 Candidate Success Associates) during a high growth year of 84% YOY revenue growth and 4X customer logo increase.  I also implemented and documented scalable processes for all roles including Customer Success Managers and Job Managers, rejuvenating client kick off and on-boarding. In addition, I performed monthly ROI calls, and QBR’s with client senior leaders and decision makers, tracking performance and coaching for improvement and career growth. I authored and executed upselling and cross-selling processes, increasing sales. Moreover, I created accountability for Customer Success Managers tied to net & gross logo and revenue retention. I also designed a job intake PowerPoint and process, optimizing the Job Manager process, slashing candidate wait time in funnel. In a few measurables, I skyrocketed the crowd client NPS score from -11 to +64 and improved crowd client engagement $2M to $3.1M, with a predicted $1.2M in Q3 of 2022.  I also created processes and procedures, leveraging Salesforce and Power BI, exceeding all objectives in less than 8 months. Finally, I created an inspirational culture with zero team turnover as well as phenomenal client experience leading to client retention.

VP of Client Success

Apex HCM

For these three years, I was charges with New Sales, Account Management, Implementation and Onboarding, and the Marketing departments. I managed and motivated a team with a $1.2M team quota. In more detail, I :
•	Achieved a $1M pipeline during the Pandemic while recovering from an extreme 2019 ransomware attack. 
•	Focused on retaining the $10.5M client base and converted 1300 EINS and 87,000 EEs to the Apex Platform.
•	Achieved $850K in new sales and retained a $11.5M client base while growing ancillary and partnership revenue $600K.
•	Rejuvenated processes, implemented a sales funnel, and redefined sales opportunities escalating closing ratios from 18% to 35%.
•	Developed the Client Success Program, expanding recognized revenue from 72% to 89%.
I also completed an in-depth analysis of the conversion back log and recurring revenue, partnering with the CFO. In addition, I analyzed TAM and determined the market, understanding the competitive landscape and refining the value proposition.  I also identified new product requirements and prioritization for quarterly planning for the development team (Agile). I carefully created a new Sales Playbook, reducing the sales process time by half. Finally, I improved cross functional communication and escalated the new client on-boarding experience.

VP of Sales

Heartland Payment Systems

Here, I lead the charge of increasing sales in payroll and HR services and referrals to merchant services, e-commerce, and lending. I recruited, hired, trained, and developed sales professionals and sales leaders, conducted weekly team calls, 1:1s, and team building events. I supported the team with on-going mentoring and coaching, leading to promotions. Behind the scenes, I inspected the pipeline, managed forecasting and division budgets and produced production and forecasting reports for the Regional VP. Finally, I created 55% of the Diamond level performers in the top 25% of revenue producers in the enterprise.

Payroll Division Manager

As the Global Ancillary Sales Manager, I managed a team charged with increasing sales in consumer health spending account services, absence management services, dependent verification audits, total reward statements and custom communications in a dual hunter and partnership role. I profiled, prospected, and executed marketing and sales campaigns gaining top prospects and accounts in GA, FL, SC and NC, creating 25 opportunities in 9 months. I also repaired cross functional upper manager relationships in 9 months’ time, leading to better collaboration and a positive impact on results.

Ancillary Sales Manager

Becker Professional Education

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER, 2014 – 2015

For this fast-paced year, I mentored and coached 55, with clients including Price Waterhouse, KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), and Grant Thornton, underpinning company growth of 12-14% YOY.

ACCOUNT MANAGER, ATLANTA METRO, 2010 – 2014

I managed 70+ accounts producing $3.5M+ in revenue.  I was honored as a member of the Growth Initiative Counsel propelling new growth by developing targeted tools for online classes.

Sr. Account Manager

Helping people transform their life through healing | Intuitive | CPO | CHO (Chief Happiness Officer) | Boy Mom | My Husband's Biggest Fan

I work with individuals by leveraging my passion to help people transform their lives by guiding them to self-healing of their trauma and wounds allowing happiness, abundance, and love to flow. I am passionate about the potential living within each of us and activating that potential so every person can the life they dream of!  

I also partner with Founders and CEOs to support his or her vision by optimizing individuals and teams through coaching, providing valuable insights and best practices to create a culture of highly engaged and energized employees . I lead through example and inspire through my passion. 

Lemonade with Love: As I received my calling to transform people and businesses through healing, I founded Lemonade with Love. I merged my spiritual gifts with the science of meta cognitive programming to help people transform their lives through consulting, group/community sessions, and one-on-one sessions. I would love to help you unleash your potential and find happiness today. Message me to get started. 

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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

LEADERSHIP WITH LOVE
"Misty was a spark of courage that I needed personally. Having a leader that pours into you and points out your strengths while acknowledging the weakness is what I needed. Most leadership I have experienced were not so uplifting, they only pointed out the bad and basically stated "Do better". You made me feel like I could definitely do well and go far in this position and any position I set my mind to. You have provided me vision. I greatly appreciate that."  - Joseph Smith

FINDING YOUR WAY THROUGH TRAUMA 
"Misty is without a doubt one of the most gifted souls that I have had the luck to encounter and know in my life. Her counseling and guidance have been vital to my personal healing from childhood trauma and relationship trauma. She is patient, nonjudgmental and genuine. She has a unique ability to give the right messages at the right time, and coupled with that she suggests practices for everyday life that further you along your path. I can honestly say, that I would not be the same person, mother, parter, friend and employee without the divine guidance I have received through Misty." -Dara Vaughan Peck

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Find out more at www.lemonadewithlove.com. 

For daily personal development tips and motivational guidance, FOLLOW ME on LinkedIn.

Misty Blakesley

Most leaders already read to stay informed.

The problem is not access to ideas.
It is recall, application, and decision making when it matters.

In meetings and strategy sessions, the right insight often does not surface. Notes live across books, highlights, and apps. Strategic questions resurface. Good ideas stay theoretical.

I work with senior executives who want to close that gap.

Before working with me, they are often overwhelmed by what they have read.
After, they have decision ready thinking they can actually use.

My work focuses on one thing: enabling leaders to turn ideas into action by turning knowledge into executable decisions.

I do this by helping executives build structured thinking and decision systems from what they already know. This includes strategic reading approaches and AI powered tools designed to support clarity, retrieval, and application.

I also host The One Problem podcast, where leaders and experts explore how better thinking leads to better decisions.

I have trained and worked with executives through focused workshops and leadership engagements, helping them reduce time spent consuming information while increasing the quality and speed of their decisions.

A belief that guides my work:

Reading more is not the answer.
Intelligence is not the issue. Structure is.
Knowledge without a decision system is just noise.
Most leaders do not have a thinking problem. They have a retrieval problem.

People usually work with me through executive workshops, leadership training, and applied learning experiences. This includes my Applied Knowledge is Power workshop and related advisory work.

If you or your leadership team are learning constantly but still struggling to apply what you know, that is a conversation worth having.

📩 info@theinvisiblementor.com

Avil Beckford

Last week Derek Mildred presented me with this Certificate for the Rising Star Award. And I'm grateful for it. Despite a lot of turmoil, I've been posting consistently on social media.

Multi-Hyphenate Knowledge Curator | Building AI-Driven Business Tools for Leaders | Writer | Trainer | Podcast Host

Certificate of Appreciation

Reading ideas for leaders.

Not “must-reads.”
Not trends.
Just books that help you think more clearly about decisions, tradeoffs, and responsibility.

Because leadership isn’t built by volume.
It’s built by relevance.

#LeadershipThinking #AppliedKnowledge #StrategicLearning
#DecisionMaking


Hi! I’m Avil Beckford, the Book Queen 👑
And I’m also the Founder of The Invisible Mentor, Art of Learning Leadership Academy and The One Problem Podcast!
My mission is to Make Knowledge Useful. Make People Unstoppable!


Like my content?
Just click my name and Follow!
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Evaluating new ideas?

Most ideas don’t fail because they’re bad.
They fail because they’re adopted too quickly or without enough thought.

Strong leaders slow the moment down just enough to ask better questions—before energy, time, and attention are committed.

The quality of your questions determines the quality of your decisions.

#LeadershipThinking #AppliedKnowledge #DecisionMaking
#StrategicLearning


Hi! I’m Avil Beckford, the Book Queen 👑
And I’m also the Founder of The Invisible Mentor, Art of Learning Leadership Academy and The One Problem Podcast!
My mission is to Make Knowledge Useful. Make People Unstoppable!


Like my content?
Just click my name and Follow!
Ring my bell 🔔 for updates!


Find Value?
Save for yourself
Repost for others 🔁

Take time to find the right book for the problem I’m facing

Have preferences and criteria for what I read

Trust my judgment about what’s relevant or not

Ask questions and seek clarification instead of accepting ideas at face value

Disagree, adapt, or set ideas aside when they don’t fit my context


When reading to lead, it’s okay to slow down.

You’re not required to finish every book.
You’re not obligated to agree with the author.
And you don’t have to apply every idea you encounter.

Reading for leadership is about judgment, not compliance.

#LeadershipThinking #AppliedKnowledge #StrategicLearning
#DecisionMaking


Hi! I’m Avil Beckford, the Book Queen 👑
And I’m also the Founder of The Invisible Mentor, Art of Learning Leadership Academy and The One Problem Podcast!
My mission is to Make Knowledge Useful. Make People Unstoppable!


Like my content?
Just click my name and Follow!
Ring my bell 🔔 for updates!


Find Value?
Save for yourself
Repost for others 🔁

AI video generation has officially entered its cinematic era.

Runway ML is now powering film-grade video from simple text prompts, with its Gen-4.5 model topping independent benchmarks. What stood out to me most isn’t just the visuals, but the control over motion, camera movement, and realism.

If you’re exploring AI for content creation, filmmaking, or brand storytelling, this is one tool worth understanding before everyone else catches up.

👉 Read the full breakdown on AI Mondays.

https://lnkd.in/ggY5XQhJ

#AIMondays #RunwayML #AIVideo #CreativeAI #ContentCreation #FutureOfMedia #AIForCreators #GenerativeAI

Hi! I’m Avil Beckford, the Book Queen 👑
And I’m also the Founder of The Invisible Mentor, Art of Learning Leadership Academy and The One Problem Podcast!
My mission is to Make Knowledge Useful. Make People Unstoppable!


Like my content?
Just click my name and Follow!
Ring my bell 🔔 for updates!


Find Value?
Save for yourself
Repost for others 🔁

Learning isn’t difficult.
Judging what to learn next is.

When you’re leading, reading isn’t about consumption.
It’s about navigating ideas carefully, questioning assumptions, and knowing what applies to your context.

Not every book deserves the same level of attention.

#LeadershipThinking #AppliedKnowledge #StrategicLearning
#DecisionMaking


Hi! I’m Avil Beckford, the Book Queen 👑
And I’m also the Founder of The Invisible Mentor, Art of Learning Leadership Academy and The One Problem Podcast!
My mission is to Make Knowledge Useful. Make People Unstoppable!


Like my content?
Just click my name and Follow!
Ring my bell 🔔 for updates!


Find Value?
Save for yourself
Repost for others 🔁

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Misty Blakesley

Avil Beckford

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