Today we’d like to introduce you to Belinda Gaston.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m Belinda – a speaker, coach, corporate executive, ordained Elder, author, and host of the Graced to Lead Podcast. I’m also a wife, mother, friend and daughter of the most-high God. But real talk, I’m a woman who is trying to follow God, who doesn’t have all the answers, who tries to be kind to herself, who makes mistakes, and l tries not to judge (because seriously, there but for the grace of God go I). I loss my mother at the age of 15 and was raised in the rest of my teenage years by my grandmother, who was clear in her expectations of me. Go to college, get a job, start a family, love the Lord. So, that’s what I did. I lived up to her expectations.
Here’s the thing, I was so focused on her expectations (and other imposed expectations from important people in my life) that I never thought about what God wanted of me. Honestly, I never thought I’d be here. Here, meaning in this work or in these leadership spaces. It was my relationship that God that revealed my purpose along the way. I am confident that I am called to women who lead, especially those who believe in God.
Did I always feel confident about my voice or my calling? Absolutely not! But God ordained situations, some tragic and some amazing, to shape me. He created unusual doors in my career that put me in spaces that seemed to be waiting for me. I struggled with being who I was expected to be or having it all together, but God has shown me that every part of my story is important. I’ve made so many mistakes, but each time, I’ve bounced back stronger and wiser. My passion is helping every woman who leads know that God’s plans for them is greater than they could ever imagine and He really does order our steps. Their influence and leadership is necessary and that if I can do it, they can too. We weren’t meant to lead alone and I’m here to help.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wish! It hasn’t been smooth at all. The road has been full of detours, heartaches, uncertainties and honestly, moments , I didn’t feel prepared for. I’ve had to lead while grieving, lead while pretending to be something I wasn’t, lead while managing other people’s expectations. I’ve had seasons where I questioned my calling, felt unseen, and wrestled with imposter syndrome, especially as a woman of faith navigating corporate spaces.
There’s also a very real pressure for women leaders to hold everything together. Pressure to perform, to achieve, to show up strong for everyone else while carrying silent burdens. I’ve lived that tension. But what I’ve learned is that healing and leadership go hand in hand. God doesn’t waste any part of our story. Every loss, every tear, every uncertain moment has actually deepened my capacity to serve women who are quietly carrying the same kinds of invisible weight.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that leadership isn’t just about what you produce. It’s about how you show up while carrying life’s invisible weight. God has used those hard seasons to refine me and to give me a deep compassion for other women who are carrying their own silent struggles while trying to lead well. That’s why I’m so passionate about creating spaces through Graced to Lead where women don’t have to pretend, but can lead whole and healed, not from perfection, but from a place of grace.
We’ve been impressed with The Graced to Lead Collective, 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?
Graced to Lead was birthed out of my own journey of learning how to lead while still healing. I work with women leaders, especially those in corporate, ministry, or business spaces, who feel called to lead but often wrestle with self-doubt, overwhelm, or the pressure to have it all together.
Through my coaching programs, speaking, and Graced to Lead Podcast, I help women reconnect their faith to their leadership, release the emotional weight they’ve been silently carrying, and walk in confidence right where God has positioned them. What sets Graced to Lead apart is that we don’t just talk about leadership skills , we deal with what’s happening beneath the surface. The invisible stuff. The spiritual, emotional, and mental work that allows women to lead from a place of wholeness, not perfection.
I’m most proud that Graced to Lead gives women permission to show up fully as themselves: faith-filled, called, and HUMAN. My book, Equipped By God. Graced to Lead., is an extension of that mission, offering practical tools, encouragement, and biblically-based insights for women who are navigating leadership while still healing from the hard parts of life.
At the end of the day, my message is simple: You don’t have to choose between your faith and your leadership. You are graced to lead, right now, right where you are and your influence is necessary, whether you are at home, in the boardroom, or in ministry.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
First I’d say faith. I really try to walk the talk. I’m not shy about my faith. At my core, it’s what guides me and keeps me grounded. It also helps me keep a level of transparency and authenticity that helps me relate to others.
Next I’d say grace paired with wisdom earned through experience. I’ve had to lead through grief, uncertainty, and plenty of seasons where I felt stretched thin. But learning to trust God’s timing, give myself grace, and grow through those hard seasons has shaped me into a stronger leader and a better coach.
The last thing I think I’d mention is that, years of managing large projects, overseeing multi-million-dollar contracts, and leading diverse teams have strengthened my ability to serve women leaders practically. I don’t coach from theory, I coach from lived experience. That combination of faith, strategy, and heart is what allows me to help women step into leadership with confidence, clarity, and wholeness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.belindagaston.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambelindagaston/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iambelindagaston
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@belindagaston
Image Credits
Christina Custodio
Danette Toole, Cinnamon Sugar Photography
Daveda Platt
