Exploring Life & Business with Dr. Elyssa Lassiter of Say Life!

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Elyssa Lassiter.

Hi Dr. Elyssa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My background is in television news and broadcast journalism. I’ve worked in several markets, including national television at CNN, a pit stop in radio, and in the top-five TV market of Dallas, Texas. My journey in media gave me experience across many parts of the newsroom — from starting as a studio/production assistant, to working as a videographer, producer, multimedia journalist, and reporter. I’ve had the opportunity to work behind the scenes, in production, in the field, and in front of the camera, and those experiences gave me a great deal of respect and empathy for every role that makes great, meaningful storytelling possible.

More recently in my television news career, I found myself navigating both professional challenges and major life transitions. There were many days when I cried and questioned what was next. One day, while sitting on the edge of my bed where I’d cried many a tear, I felt that God dropped the words “life coach” into my spirit. I consider myself a spiritual person, and I remembered thinking, “Lord, what is a life coach? Maybe you meant pageant coach?” I had competed at the state and national level through the Miss America Organization and Miss Earth United States, so pageant coaching felt more familiar to me at the time.

Looking back, I realize I had always been an empathetic person—the friend people came to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, or someone who naturally encouraged others through difficult moments. Like many people who later become life coaches, I just didn’t know what to call that gift at the time or how to give it structure.

I began looking into starting pageant coaching, but the words “life coach” stayed with me.

When my husband at the time deployed, I was able to spend precious time in my hometown with my mom. During that season, I began researching coaching and eventually found an International Coaching Foundation (ICF)-accredited coach training program. My parents invested in my first training, and shortly after, I became certified. That coaching certificate now hangs on my wall next to my doctorate and master’s degrees. To me, it represents more than a credential — it represents faith, family, obedience, and the investment that helped me step into a Divine nudge that changed my life.

That was the beginning of my coaching journey.

While my dear mom is no longer physically here, I will always remember that investment (and countless others) she made in me. Since then, we’ve been able to grant thousands of dollars through the Dr. Ethel M. Lassiter Scholarship Program, to continue her very important life’s work of supporting education and pouring into others.

As I began coaching, I realized that many of my clients — whom I lovingly call our Say Life! family members — were interested in entrepreneurship. I didn’t originally set out to become an entrepreneur. I simply knew I needed to do something with the Divine nudge I had received. But as I supported clients through life transitions, purpose, confidence, and personal growth, I also found myself helping them build businesses, clarify their ideas, and take courageous steps toward entrepreneurship. It was exciting!

Over time, I noticed that many of the entrepreneurs I worked with also wanted to become coaches themselves. At first, when one of our community members asked if I had a school, I brushed it off and said, “No girl, here’s the link to The Coach Training Academy where I attended.” But the idea stayed with me. Eventually, another Divine idea was planted. If I’m The Say Life! Coach, maybe we can have other Say Life! Coaches. That became the beginning of The Say Life! Coach Institute, an International Coaching Federation accredited organization. I’m grateful to God that we are nearly 600 coaches strong today.

What began as a tough transition out of one chapter became the foundation for a coaching, training, and leadership development company that has allowed me to help others find their voice, build confidence, create businesses, and transform their lives. Sometimes it is the detours that take us exactly where we want to go.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
“Show me a medical doctor who’s never had to get a checkup themselves.”

That’s my reply when the coaches I train ask, “How can I possibly support someone when I’m going through something myself?” I often follow up with this question: Does that take anything away from how they’re able to serve the people they work with? I don’t believe so.

Sometimes people assume that because you’re a life coach, you’re somehow exempt from the very life challenges you help others navigate.

My response is simple: having your own life experiences does not disqualify you from helping others. In many ways, it deepens your empathy, perspective, and understanding.

So, to answer the question — no, it has not always been a smooth road.

Like many of our Say Life! Family members I support, I’ve navigated major life transitions, the loss of loved ones including my mom, significant relationship changes, and not to mention a pandemic that arrived right as our first coaching cohort was graduating. In many ways, we did life together. Our coaching family became family and friends to one another, and we supported each other through uncertain times. That was and still is MY community.

The difference, however, is that coaching changed the lens through which I view challenges. Before coaching, I may have looked at difficult seasons very differently. Now, I tend to ask myself: What is the lesson here? What is this experience teaching me? How can I transform this challenge into something meaningful?

That doesn’t mean that life coaches have it all “figured out.” It simply means I try to be intentional about approaching challenges with more curiosity, compassion, and perspective than I may have before. Honestly, coaching has taught me just as much about myself as it has about helping others.

One of the ICF’s core competencies discusses becoming comfortable working from a place of not knowing. When we do that in coaching, we can really get curious and ask the best questions. I think the same goes for life. When we allow ourselves to get curious—even in transformative, difficult, or unclear seasons—at times, we can begin asking the best questions.

We’ve been impressed with We originally started as Say Life! Personal Coaching LLC, however, today we are simply known as Say Life! We’re a personal, professional, and organizational development family equipping you with the tools you need to move through the world in a positive way., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Over the years, Say Life! has evolved into a multi-dimensional brand with several areas of impact, all centered around one mission. That mission is derived from 1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” That spirit of encouragement is truly at the heart of everything we do.

At Say Life!, we believe growth happens when people feel encouraged, supported, and empowered to become the best version of themselves. While we originally began through personal coaching, today we serve individuals, coaches, organizations, and communities through several different verticals.

We may start by supporting one person, but that person often pours into many others—their children, teams, clients, coworkers, friends, and community—then, the ripple effect begins. To us, it looks a lot like the branches of a large oak tree— extending far beyond what we can see in the moment.

One of the areas we are most proud of is The Say Life! Coach Institute, our International Coaching Federation (ICF) Level 1-accredited coach training program. Through our training, continuing coach education (CCE) courses, and mentorship, we’ve helped nearly 600 coaches around the world pursue coaching and work toward credentials such as the Associate Certified Coach (ACC). We also love coming together at our conference/Say Life! Family Reunion, OWN your OWN LIVE, and giving our coaches “Coach Kudos” through initiatives like our Top Coach of the Year Award program.

We also have Say Life! Solutions, our corporate training and organizational development arm. Through Say Life! Solutions, we support municipalities, organizations, Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) partners through wellness, emotional intelligence, leadership development, workplace morale, and organizational effectiveness initiatives. For example, one of our wellness programs, “Take Care of Yourself Thursdays” for the City of East Point provides desk yoga, breathwork, and workplace wellness support to employees. We also facilitate Lunch & Learns, leadership trainings, and programs such as our Emotional Intelligence Leadership Academy. Many of us spend a significant amount of time at work. Why not help make that experience healthier, more positive, and more human? We strive to blend mind, body, and morale in meaningful ways.

Another exciting part of our brand is Say Life! TV, which originally aired as a motivational and inspirational morning television show on WSKY-TV in the Hampton Roads/Newport News area, broadcasting to 1.8 million viewers. Today, the show has evolved into a transformational docuseries where we coach guests through real-life challenges and personal breakthroughs. Episodes have included journeys such as helping a 60-year-old wife and mother rediscover her spark, following a woman’s transformation from incarceration to inspiration, and walking alongside an actor navigating serious mental health challenges while in the public eye.

We’re also excited about Say Life! FIT, which combines mindset and movement through fitness and wellness experiences. As a fitness instructor for more than 15 years, I’ve always believed in the connection between mental, emotional, and physical wellness. Through Say Life! FIT, we incorporate movement, wellness, and community in fun and approachable ways, including fitness pop-ups and classes.

There are also a number of exciting things on the horizon as we continue expanding our impact through media, storytelling, wellness, and transformational experiences.

What truly sets us apart, however, is the way we “do life” with people. We pride ourselves on being warm, relational, and deeply human while still delivering excellence and results. Whether someone is part of our coaching community, a corporate training, or one of our programs, people often describe the experience as feeling like family. Even in professional settings, we believe warmth matters because, at the end of the day, we are all human.

One thing I’m especially grateful for is that I can openly share my faith and the role it has played in my personal and professional journey. While faith is important to me and woven into much of the work we do, our programs and services are welcoming and inclusive of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. At the heart of it all, we are passionate about helping people grow, heal, thrive, and become the best version of themselves. Around here, we Say Life! and then, we live it.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is simply growing up in the small-but-mighty city of Vicksburg, Mississippi—a place that still feels like home to me today. In fact, it feels especially fitting to answer this question while sitting on my family’s land, watching my dog curiously eye the neighbor’s horse and enjoying the same peaceful country air that shaped so much of my childhood.

I grew up surrounded by family. We lived on the same street as cousins and loved ones, and there was something special about growing up in a place where people knew your “mama and ’nem.” My grandparents had cows, I had ducks, and life felt beautifully simple in many ways. Some of my favorite memories include learning how to bake with my grandmother, shelling peas together, hearing stories from my grandparents about growing up in Mississippi, family gatherings, putting on Christmas productions with my cousins, waving to neighbors, enjoying breakfast and coffee conversations, picking pecans from the yard, and simply being outside—where you could see stars at night and slow down enough to appreciate life.

My grandfather even built my childhood home and pastored the church where I grew up, so there was always a strong sense of family, faith, and community woven into everyday life. I was in the classrooms of teachers who had also taught my mom, aunts, and uncles. I had Sunday school teachers who helped me learn scriptures I quote to this day, and there were people who genuinely cared about one another. Many of the folks I grew up with are still dear friends today—in fact, I have baby pictures with some of the same people I still talk to now, several of whom also live in the Atlanta metro area. Looking back, I think so much of who I am—my heart for encouragement, community, storytelling, and helping people grow—was formed in those early years.

Later in life, it was incredibly meaningful to become Miss Vicksburg, and I’m extra grateful my dear mother got to witness that. I followed in the footsteps of so many women I admired growing up, including my mentor, Melanie Sanders, who was not only Miss Vicksburg multiple times, but also Miss Atlanta 2005 and a contestant on Season 1 of American Idol. In many ways, life has come full circle. Today, Say Life! is proud to support the Miss Vicksburg Competition as a sponsor by providing coaching services, retreats, and boot camps for delegates preparing for the televised state competition.

When I think about my favorite childhood memories, it’s not one single moment…it’s the fabric woven with the feeling of home, community, faith, family, and being surrounded by people who truly pour into one another. Sometimes it’s the so-called little moments that mean so much.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thesaylifecoach.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesaylifecoach
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesaylifecoach
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elyssa-lassiter-ph-d-40bb5b25
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thesaylifecoach
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesaylifecoach