

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa Layton.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Marissa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.shelter
My background is in theatre/film. My dad pushed me to go for my acting dream but advised me to pursue another one of my passions as well – leadership. One of my ultimate goals is to start a nonprofit and open a shelter around the country for abused girls, so I begin my Master’s program with nonprofit management as the end goal. However, I fell in love with this thing called consulting. I connected with one of the top consultants in Atlanta, did research studies with some of the top organizations in Atlanta, and realized I was called to do this. Fast forward three years to 2017, I am now in a doctoral program studying global consulting and working with a consulting firm. I loved consulting but I just did not like the way it was done.
I’m big on follow through so I didn’t like the idea of providing businesses with strategies but not sticking around for the implementation. I prayed for direction on my next move and Next Level was placed on my heart. My team and I pride ourselves in doing consulting differently. Not only do we provide business solutions but we stick around to help clients implement said strategies. In addition to consulting, I have recently started business coaching. I understand my consulting prices are geared toward mid-size businesses and larger so I wanted to create a program that could help your average business owner. I utilize my experiences as a consultant and business owner to provide one-on-one coaching to current and aspiring entrepreneurs. My ultimate goal in coaching is to develop millennial millionaires through entrepreneurship.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all! I knew I would experience brokenness financially, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. However, I never realized how much I struggled with anxiety until embarking on this journey. The stresses of trying to build a business while being a full-time student and working other gigs on the side almost took me out! One of the biggest challenges was learning how to grasp control over my life. After one too many panic attacks, I created a system that allowed me to more effectively prioritize. I’m currently working on an ebook to share this system with the world that will be released via my Instagram on February 1st.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Next Level specializes in strategic planning, organizational development, leadership training, and project management. What sets us apart is our follow-through. Along with providing clients business solutions, we are there step-by-step through strategy implementation, leadership transition, program launch, or whatever it is their company is facing.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Atlanta is the land of endless opportunity! There are so many creators, influencers, and entrepreneurs that it is a great place to start a business. There are a lot of consulting firms in the area and there are a lot of people who deem themselves “consultants” without proper training or experience. My advice would be to build a strong network and get educated to set you apart. One of the things that sets a professional consultant apart from an amateur is knowledge intensity or expertise. Knowledge comes from experience as well as education, so go back to school, get certified, pay for that training development course!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nextlevelconsultingfirm.com
- Phone: 6788423638
- Email: info@nextlevelconsultingfirm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.layton_/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/nextlevelconsultingfirm/?ref=bookmarks
- Other: https://squareup.com/appointments/book/Z2XR6CGTVC0AG/next-level-consulting-firm?ig_ix=true
Image Credit:
Corey Hayes
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