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Meet Lorinda Buckingham of Modern Empowerment in South Atlanta

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorinda Buckingham.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Lorinda. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m originally from Detroit, MI. I am first generation college graduate from Tuskegee University, with a degree in Electrical engineering. I always had a heart to serve and be a leader in school and community. I used to run bible studies and small groups on the campus of Tuskegee University. After my junior year of college, I felt a call for youth ministry and left and went to Rhema Bible Training center, and earned a diploma in youth ministry. Afterwards, I went back to Tuskegee to complete my last 2 years of school with my degree in engineering. During that time, I continued to serve in ministry and on campus.

Afterwards, I went into corporate america as an engineer. I had a great career but felt that it was not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So, I was interested in having my own business. I was responsible for design and testing projects and worked with amazing and diverse teams all over the world. I traveled to various countries and had a nice career. At times, I would invest in real estate investments and other ventures. I was really good at business and was on the fast track to possibly being able to leave to have a business of my own. I met my husband during this time, got married and we started a family.

One month after my 1st daughter was born, we discovered that my mother, Ann, was diagnosed with cancer. This was devasting news. I was a new mom and learning how to be a mom. Also, getting my hormones and body together. I had a young marriage. And, I never imagined raising my kids without my mom. So being a person of faith, I continued to push forward. I was focused on her care. At the time she was sick, Obamacare hadn’t really taken into affect and we did not know before open enrollment. So her cancer was a pre-existing condition and we had to use the insurance that she had. Most of the money I had earned in my investments, went to her medical care and supplementing her income, bills and expenses. I had a lot of stress at the time. I had stress on the job. Stress in the marriage. And, stress with my mother. Someone asked me, would I do it all over again. I said a resounding YES! It was an honor to take care of my mom. I wasn’t the only one who did, but it was an honor to be able to take care of the person who took care of me. So, when people say that health care is an issue or expenses with health care is a problem, I totally get it.

After a courageous battle with cancer, my mother Ann went home to be with the Lord in June 2011. When she passed away, I thought I would be OK because I was a faith person. I was not… the depression of her passing because to set in and I was very lonely. I did not have the closest relationship with my dad. He was always in my life but we never connected. So my mother was the only one that “got me” and loved me. I stopped doing entrepreneurship. I was no longer interested. I did not have the drive.

I began a journey of healing because I wanted to be a healthy and happy mom for my kids. I did not have any support and had to do it on my own, but I was determined. During this process, it was laid on my heart to have a coaching and training business. Initially, I was like “Nope!” (lol) I did not want anything to do with it because I was afraid. So, I continued on my journey and it came up again, and this time, it was about the fact that the leadership, life, and relationship lessons that I had learned were not just for me or about me, but for someone else! Well shut the door! All of that time, I thought it was for me. However, it made sense that it was not. I was always a person who would read and study. I did not like saying that I received something that I did not. So I would test it. So, many times I would go through a trial, like my mothers death, to learn steps on how to deal with it. Or like with corporate, steps on how to lead teams.

I was in training to be a trainer. I was in training to train others. I was being coached to be a coach. The word coach means teacher, trainer or a person who equips.

Therefore, I created Modern Empowerment. Modern Empowerment, a premier effective leadership, business, management, and customer service training and consulting company, with over 15 years of real world experience. I am certified by the John Maxwell Team, which is the #1 Leadership training company in the world and the principles learned are used as a foundation in this program. We help business owners, companies, sales and business professionals, and individuals who are frustrated with the growth and leadership in their business or company, worried about the high costs of turn over due to bad hires, concerned about their mid-management staff not being prepared to take on new roles, disappointed in their networking and community outreach results, unhappy with their customer service and team work, anxious to eliminate the “fear of failing” and “fear of rejection”, service, overwhelmed with the work of being an entrepreneur and wish to change it! Our programs are offered on-site and virtually. Our company has the capability to train almost anywhere in the world. We offer coaching, speaking, training, 1/2 day and full day intensives and more!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. But the thing about purpose, is that even though this journey has been a rough road it gives me life!

Some of the struggles were dealing with the naysayers. I was an engineer making good money, with company benefits, and company car. So some people were not all excited about me going into my own business. I had to discover that the vision that was for me was for me and no one else. It was not meant for everyone. And that if, I were going to be happy and live out my dream that I may need to put myself around other similar people.

Another obstacle was dealing with fear. I was afraid. I had to overcome that through prayer and taking a step of faith. I was my biggest critic and obstacle. I am a perfectionist at times and I would be extra hard on myself. So, I just wanted to stay in the shadows but this company wasn’t just for me. It was for the many leaders in business who need effective leadership training and life training.

Another struggle was learning how to be a boss entrepreneur and a family woman. Everyone always talk about the family man but don’t say it like that when it comes to a woman because it is almost expected that we will be with the family. So, learning how to balance it all was struggle at one point. I overcame it by using my corporate experience in implement systems and processes to make my business more robust.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Modern Empowerment – what should we know?
We also speak at events, conferences, workshops and more!

We are specialists in delivering effective leadership, management, business and customer service training and coaching. We are experts in meeting people where they are and how they learn. In and out program, they discover who they are so that they can add value to others.

What sets me apart is my expertise in understanding that we are in a digital revolution, we are in a digital age where people can shop online and buy without speaking to a person. Many of these companies need to compete in this digital age through improved customer engagement and leadership development. I uniquely use the principles of the John Maxwell Team and the Maxwell Method and use it in a modern environment to equip mid-management, millennials, Gen y, and Gen x staff to increase as leaders — which is needed. I meet the staff where they are and how they learn. I help them to discover their best potential and develop their teams.

I deliver tools and tips to modern professionals that focus on C.A.R.E.
* C – connects with the audience.
* A – activates engagement and innovation.
* R – rejuvenates energy and motivation.
* E – empowers leadership in others.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel that compassion, being authentic and confidence are the three important qualities. This was a loaded question because there are so many. I have learned to have a big heart and thick skin. That I must be compassionate and have a big heart but also have the thick skin to deal with the things of life. Confidence is needed so that you can believe in yourself and have faith for what is in front of you. Being real and being yourself as an authentic person will always win in the end.

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Image Credit:
Lorinda Buckingham and Modern Empowerment

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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