Community Highlights: Meet Denisha Tate-McAlister of Denisha Tate & Associates

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Denisha Tate-McAlister.

Hi Denisha, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The most amazing gift a person can receive is knowing why they exist! My name is Denisha, and I have always been bossy, a little nosy, opinionated, and always helping somebody with something! You know, I’m the person in the store helping you find that one thing you can’t seem to find, but you know it’s here! People are often shocked and say, “Wait, do you work here?” I smile and reply, “No, I don’t; I just love to be helpful!” I never meet a stranger, and I bring sunshine with me in abundance.

That’s where my story really begins. I was told in fifth grade that I was A LEADER! I learned that all those qualities were actually assets if put to good use. As a business owner, I realize I have been doing THIS all my life. I help others. My professional path helped me focus on who to help. I work with leaders. Leaders who are up to something big, tied to an impactful purpose, making the world a better place for us all. That is the origin story of Denisha Tate & Associates LLC.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Launching my business was not a well laid out plan. I found myself at a crossroads in my career with an opportunity to support a leader in improving the operations of her nonprofit organization and accepting the fact that I was not happy on my professional path. I loved my job and hated it at the same time. I was dying inside and if I were honest, the toxic stress had me dying outside too!

My biggest struggle was to learn that everything did not have to be planned, documented, tested, and proven for me to move forward. This terrified me. I needed to know what to expect and establish my three to four alternate plans for the JUST IN CASE. That’s not how business works. If you want to be successful, embrace your creativity, seize opportunities, and just go with it sometimes. And if it doesn’t work out, use your problem-solving skills and move on.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Denisha Tate & Associates is a consulting firm that works with non-profit organizations, social services, and religious organizations. We specialize in providing support to achieve operational excellence. This includes strategic planning, staff development, board development, healthy workplace culture creation, and executive leadership coaching.

Our firm upholds two key belief pillars- Leaders Lead and LIVELOVE. We believe leadership is a skill set and wiring. A position title does not guarantee competence in this area. And a masterful leader may not be positioned with the authority or responsibility to use the skills. We help identify and properly align those leadership strengths in a company. Coaching also supports the increased capacity of leaders that are already in place. Secondly, LIVE LOVE is about every person being able to work in a healthy work environment that respects individuality, and individuals bring their best selves to work and provide their assets for the betterment of the whole.

When these two principles are in place, a team becomes unstoppable, and the company thrives. I am most proud of our impact which is affirmed every time I get a call saying, “hello, I was told I need a Denisha!” I smile and reply, “how can we help you!” We are referred by people that have experienced our work and know the difference we were able to make.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For anyone who is starting out, fortify your relationships. It is important to have people who will mentor and guide you along the way. You don’t have to make all the mistakes. It is acceptable to learn from the mistakes of others. To have a lifeline to brilliant people who have accomplished what you someday hope to achieve is paramount.

They serve as your ambassadors taking your name and reputation into rooms you may not enter. It is your responsibility to give them something to talk about. Provide update, share good news, and ask for help when you need it. My key to success in the beginning was leaning on my village that already knew me, believed in me, and wanted to see me win!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Denishaleads.com
• Instagram: @Denishaleads
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisha.tate1
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/denisha-tate-mcalister-mba-47131121