Top Leadership Coach: Transforming Potential Into Purpose-Driven Influence

Summary

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Living The Red Life – Episode Summary

Episode Overview

Title: Top Leadership Coach: Transforming Potential Into Purpose-Driven Influence
Host: Rudy Mawer (with guest host Ray Gutierrez)
Guest: Taquita Trinay, Leadership Coach & Transformational Speaker
Date: January 14, 2026

This powerful and enlightening episode features Taquita Trinay, celebrated leadership coach and transformational speaker. The discussion centers on how purpose-driven leaders are cultivated, how early gifts of influence can shape a legacy, and how faith and authenticity are woven into transformational leadership. The conversation is deeply personal, blending Taquita's own journey with actionable insights for entrepreneurs seeking to maximize impact and lead with authenticity.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovering the Gift of Teaching and Leadership

• Early Discovery:
  Taquita recalls realizing her calling as early as age four, teaching her dolls and her younger sister in makeshift classrooms. Family, particularly her mother and aunt, recognized and affirmed her gift early on.

  • "That superpower with me naturally teaching and educating... I always knew I had that as a four year old." (02:50–03:31)

• Growing Into Purpose:
  Although she initially resisted the teacher label, Taquita sees now (at 44) how her childhood calling has evolved into her current leadership and coaching work.

  • "I'm not in the four walls of a classroom, but I'm literally providing development and training and teaching in what I do every day." (04:00–04:41)

2. Teaching Leadership: Impact Over Authority

• The Focus on Impactful Leadership:
  Taquita distinguishes merely "good" leaders from impactful ones who build legacy, develop others, and create environments of awareness for people to tap into their potential.

  • "Leaders make legacy. They build, they develop, they create legacy." (00:18–00:33, repeated emphasis at 04:53–05:30)

• Core Values & Curriculum:
  Her leadership philosophy blends lessons from John Maxwell and Les Brown, with an emphasis on faith, resilience, and legacy. Curriculum development is tailored through core values and a deep understanding of client needs.

  • "It's a combination of the Les Browns, the John Maxwell... you create the culture for whoever or whatever organization or client that you have." (06:49–07:27)

3. Faith and Authentic Power

• Faith as a Core Pillar:
  Taquita attributes her driving force to faith and her spiritual upbringing. Her mother and early church experiences grounded her values and shaped her leadership style.
  • "It's faith... My mom introduced that to our household. I just took it, received it, cultivated it, and now it's my pillar." (09:13–09:54)

4. Mentorship, Community, and Support Systems

• Building a Tribe:
  Taquita explains the importance of community for maintaining resilience and sustainability. She surrounds herself with mentors and a support team—behind the scenes and for her mental and physical well-being.

  • "I have a therapist that I'm meeting with every three weeks for her to equip me with the tools that I need when life starts lifing." (15:20–16:24)

• The Role of Mentors:
  She values multiple mentors for different challenges—career, personal, business—highlighting the benefit of diverse perspectives.

  • "It depends on what bucket of challenge that is... I definitely encourage anyone to at least have a mentor. Or two." (10:02–11:14)

5. Authenticity in Delivery (& Stage Presence)

• Pre-Stage Rituals:
  In a vulnerable moment, Taquita shares her physical nerves before speaking as a sign of her passion and humility.

  • "I lose two pounds before I go on any stage. Do you know what I mean when I say lose two pounds? I have to poop." (12:30–13:35)

• Reading & Engaging the Room:
  Her approach is relational rather than scripted. She connects personally—calling out names, making physical contact, sharing her humanity—to break barriers and foster authentic connection.

  • "You have to be able to not be scripted... I like to be so relational and so one-to-one with my audience." (16:46–18:07)
  • "I am not above you. I am stewarding this... I'm right here with you. I am human, too. I am flawed, too." (18:20–19:09)

6. Leadership Legacy and Personal Philosophy

• Key Words:
  Taquita identifies "audacity, delusion, and faith" as central to her philosophy, embracing the boldness to keep moving despite setbacks.

  • "Audacity, delusion, and faith. Those three words... has been audacity, delusion, and faith." (19:19–20:25)
  • "I was crazy enough... to have the delusion to believe that, oh, no, it didn't work today, it'll work tomorrow. Okay, it didn't work tomorrow. I'm gonna do it again." (20:10–20:25)

• Current Projects:
  She’s taking her leadership internationally, speaking at events in London and Canada on community, resilience, and transformational leadership.

  • "I have two tours, I say tours, but speaking opportunities to speak in London and in Canada to people that are craving. What does community look like? What does resilience look like?" (11:19–12:16)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Early Beginnings:
  “When I walk in a room, it shifts, it lights up, it brightens up... I'm a leadership coach that happens to be a transformational speaker.” – Taquita Trinay (02:02–02:42)

• On Purpose:
  “I realized this is the most memorable accomplishment recently. I received that [John Maxwell] certification, Ray, and I was like, who would have thunk it? I've been using his book this whole time, and now I am facilitating in the name of John Maxwell.” (06:15–06:40)

• On Authentic Leadership:
  “I'm not gonna lie Ray. I give a thousand percent when I'm like coaching, doing a workshop or on stage. Behind the scenes, I'm running... I have a therapist that I'm meeting with every three weeks for her to equip me with the tools that I need.” (15:20–16:25)

• On Boldness and Persistence:
  “I was crazy enough... to have the delusion to believe that, oh, no, it didn’t work today, it’ll work tomorrow. Okay, it didn’t work tomorrow. I’m gonna do it again.” (20:10–20:25)

• On Audience Connection:
  “I’m gonna walk out. I’m gonna touch a shoulder. I’m gonna give high fives to position them to feel like, I am you, you are me... So just because I’m on this stage... I’m human, too. I am flawed, too. I am still developing and growing.” (18:10–19:09)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:50 – Childhood origins of teaching and leadership
• 04:53 – What it means to teach leadership & build legacy
• 06:15 – Curriculum building, Maxwell certification, and influences
• 09:13 – Faith as a root of leadership strength
• 10:02 – Mentorship and support systems
• 12:30 – Stage fright as a sign of alignment and passion
• 15:20 – Sustainable leadership through community & self-care
• 16:46 – Authentic stage presence and engagement tactics
• 19:19 – Three pillars: audacity, delusion, and faith

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Conclusion

Taquita Trinay’s story is a testament to cultivating a leadership legacy rooted in faith, boldness, and genuine human connection. This episode is packed with wisdom for anyone seeking to transform their potential into lasting, purpose-driven influence.

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Transcript

[A]

So when you're gifted with the power of teaching, how does a teacher select the subject? What do you teach?

[B]

I teach basically how to develop leaders, leadership qualities to be. I'm not going to even say a good leader. Yes, there are good leaders everywhere. But impactful leader. We talk about legacy all the time. Leaders make legacy. They build, they develop, they create legacy. So what I do as a teacher is create the environment and the culture for a spirit of awareness for them to tap into their greatest potential to make impact in whoever they're influencing, despite adversities and challenges. I was crazy enough, Ray, to. And I say crazy enough to have the delusion to believe that, oh, no, it didn't work today, it'll work tomorrow. Okay, it didn't work tomorrow. I'm gonna do it again.

[A]

What do you say to folks that. That are in need of your services? How do you reach out to these folks?

[B]

So right now, I am.

[C]

My name's Rudy Moore, host of Living the Red Life podcast, and I'm here to change the way you see your life in your earpiece every single week. If you're ready to start living the red life, ditch the blue pill, Take the red pill. Join me in wonderland and change your life.

[A]

Welcome to another powerful episode of Women in Power Today. Joining me is Taquita Trinay, an amazing coach and consultant. How are you? You just are fresh off the episode. How does it feel?

[B]

It feels very powerful, for lack of better words. Very powerful, very enlightening. It's really exhilarating for me to hear and be in the moment of retelling my story.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We found that after so many episodes that you can see the client, as we say, the woman in power or the legacy maker, have that realization. And I go, whoa. I felt a lot.

[B]

It happened in real time. In real time.

[A]

Awesome.

[B]

Very cool.

[A]

So let's talk about who you are. Like, we're just being ran into an elevator. We're stuck there. What's your pitch? Who are you?

[B]

So Dikita Trinea, I will say, is when I walk in a room, it shifts, it lights up, it brightens up. It's like, who is her? Who is her? Not just from a fashion perspective, but who is she when it comes to her energy? I'm a leadership coach that happens to be a transformational speaker. And in the development of what I do as a coach, it just so happens that you're going to have a spirit of faith, resilience, and being able to tap into, oh, my gosh, I believe I can jump just with having a conversation with me and that's who I am. And what makes my business of being able to empower and instill, whether it's leaders or entrepreneurs.

[A]

Where did you first discover your superpower was as a child, A toddler, A teenager. When did you start?

[B]

Had to be as a child.

[A]

Oh, right on. Tell me your first story.

[B]

Like from the film. When you watch the episode, I talk about how as a four year old I was teaching my dolls and made my sister, who is four years younger than me, sit in my classroom. I cracked up because I talked about how she did it effortlessly like it was okay. I was like, I hope I wasn't bullying her. But that superpower with me naturally teaching and educating that I always knew I had that as a four year old and it was other people, family that really cultivated it and affirmed me in that to where it was just more brought to life to how I thrive today.

[A]

I was raised by my grandmother and she, she was just making sure that I was healthy. But it was my stepdad that discovered, no, this boy is an artist. Who's the person that discovered you and discovered your art?

[B]

Oh yeah, my mom. It was my mom and my aunt specifically with me just playing school and all of that. She realized how gifted or talented I was, you know, as a young child in that. But it really me, you know, if you're living it, it's normal or natural to you. It was affirmed when you see other people or hear other people say, oh, this is a gift. It's funny, I was stereotyped. Stipend. I don't want to be a teacher. Even though I was a teacher. And literally all my life my aunt said, I don't care where you go, what you do or what you say, you're always going to be a teacher. Because that's the gift that I had. And she shared that with me when I was like maybe six or seven years old. Of course it didn't register the way. And now as a 44 year old I'm like, oh my gosh, she really spoke that like I, no matter. I'm not in the four walls of a classroom, but I'm literally providing development and training and teaching and what I do every day. So.

[A]

So when you're gifted with the power of teaching, how does a teacher select the subject? What do you teach?

[B]

So I teach basically how to develop leaders, leadership qualities to be, I'm not going to even say a good leader. Yes, there are good leaders everywhere. But impactful leader. We talk about legacy all the Time leaders make legacy. They build, they develop, they create legacy. So what I do as a teacher is create the environment and the culture for a spirit of awareness for them to tap into their greatest potential to make impact in whoever they're influencing.

[A]

How do you build the curriculum for something like this? Where do you start?

[B]

I. Yeah, so I actually am a sponge. Even though I'm a teacher, I enjoy learning, so I gravitate to learning. So I'm a credentialed John Maxwell member, which is like speaking, consulting, training, all the things. So over time, over the years, I have accumulated a plethora of education when it comes to credentialing. Before I became John Maxwell certified, Ray, I had a series of his books that I would facilitate workshops and trainings because of his perspective and his philosophy and being. I'm going to use the word faith based. You don't have to be faith based, but because I'm faith based, it was an alignment to just governing principles of being a great impactful leader. And I realized just this is the most memorable accomplishment recently. I received that certification, Ray, and I was like, who would have thunk it? I've been using his book this whole time, and now I am facilitating in the name of John Maxwell. So that felt really amazing.

[A]

It's funny because the first, my stepdad that discovered me, he was coached by Les Brown, and now Les Brown is one of our clients. When we have that correlation, it's like, wow, full circle.

[B]

Yeah. And when you say, how do I get this curriculum? It's a combination of the Les Browns, the John Maxwell. It's not just a one and done, but you create the culture for whoever or whatever organization or client that you have that makes it in alignment. But according to just my vision or what I say, my core values. Core values for me is definitely spirituality. It's about being, having energy or effervescent, zealous spirit. And legacy is one of those things. And Les Brown and anger, John Maxwell, they talk about the importance of legacy and being able to make impact.

[A]

So I'm just now turning 42 on Sunday. I'm just now learning about emotional maturity and spiritual. Spiritual maturity, where it's like you've reached a point of sort of kind of Zen. And I. I can just feel it. I'm transitioning into that mode because I come from a. A very aggressive upbringing where it's just like, do it now. Don't ask questions. Why aren't.

[B]

It's funny you say that, Rach. Check this out. That happened for me when I turned 40. So when you say just now, it's right on time, it is not just now. You're not late, you're right on time. Because of the evolution of the season, of your life that you're in, you're going to have this kicking your spirit to where you all have all of a sudden have a spirit of awareness of your why, of your intent, your purpose or where you are. So it's not just now, you're right on time.

[A]

Also, I feel like you're coaching me at this.

[B]

That's what I said. I do it naturally so I can.

[A]

Okay. Appreciate affirmation. What is your like, your clientele? Is it just random rays off the street like myself?

[B]

Yes. Random rays that have a mindset of I want more. Got it. For sure. But I may not know what more looks like. Dakita Trude is going to coach, cultivate and help bring that out based off of your authentic God given skill sets and help elevate it and refine it to where it's elevation for you, whether it's your career path or as a leader. And so while my target audience may be young professionals, I talk about, don't get a twist when I use the word young. Young does not necessarily mean in age. Does that mean in tenure? I started entrepreneurship at 40. Right. So I was a young. Right. Being introduced to entrepreneurship. So it's how you define it and where you are in your life. Yeah.

[A]

Where does your power come from? Where does your download come from?

[B]

Oh, God, I can't explain it. It's faith. I can't. You know how people say you just got it or you don't? As a young child, being four years old, I was raised and in an upbringing of church. And thankfully, you know, some people catch it, some people don't. Some people steer away, you know, and you find your own. That's what's grounded me, rooted me. My mom introduced that to our household. I just took it, received it, cultivated it, and now it's my pillar. It's a core value. It is my why. It is how I operate. It's my purpose. So when you say where, where did I get this power? Yeah.

[A]

From the great divine guy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Who do you call, what mentor do you speak to when you're, when you're facing challenges or a question?

[B]

Yes, I have several. It depends on what bucket of resort, what bucket of challenge that is. Life challenge, personal challenge, relationship challenge, business challenge. So I have a plethora contingent on that. And I definitely encourage anyone to at least have a mentor. Or two. I have a. A. We call ourselves bosses, sorority sisters. That's two of us that we. I can be safe. I have my safe space. And so when I talk about mentorship or when you ask who mentors you, it could be people that may have common interest rate, but they have a different download than what you would have to offer, a different perspective. And you have to hear that because sometimes we look ourselves, Mary, and we see the same thing, but somebody else will see something different. So I have a couple of line sorority sisters. I call them my line. They're my line sisters. And then I also have a mentor sister as well that I looked up to. She was 13 years older than me. She's my sister. But from a personal experience perspective. So very. Yeah.

[A]

What's the Dakita laser focused on now today? What's your current project?

[B]

So right now I am taking my leadership opportunities and translating that into speaking. So it just has happened authentically, right where I'm afforded the opportunity. Like you said, I just do it naturally. Where I'm coaching and developing, I'm also kind of making impact and lighting the fire and inspiring. So what I'm working on now is I have two tours. I say tours, but speaking opportunities to speak in London and in Canada to people that are craving. What does community look like? What does resilience look like? And I was chosen, you know, as a Dakita Trine John Maxwell speakers, to be able to present to these people. So those are projects I'm working on. Is getting ready to travel. I can say the world to make impact in that regard. Super excited about it.

[A]

The folks that are skeptics about this, like, what happens to you transformatively when you're about to walk out on stage and share your personal ministry?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What happens to you? Is it your heartbeat? Is it energy? What are you. What's happening to you at that?

[B]

Can I be real raw, Ray? That's why I'm asking. The people that know me, know me. I lose two pounds before I go on any stage. Do you know what I mean when I say lose too much? I have to poop. I'm very well prepared. I'm prepared for the context and the content and all of the things. But a day before, 24 hours before 8, the countdown, right? I can't eat. I am poopy. But I have learned that means I'm so passionate about what I'm about to do. Like the ministry I'm about to give. I'm so passionate. And not only am I passionate, that Lets me know I'm still in alignment because I'm humble. I handle it with care. I want to steward the words that come out of my mouth because I, I'm not a fraud. But the words that come out my mouth are, are they are out of true authentic experience, personal experience. What I share. I'm very much a storyteller. So what I share. Right. I didn't make it up. I like I can't, I couldn't even make this up if I try like this happened in real life. So this is what I use to tapped into to get through or to make that other side come to fruition. So very cool. Yeah.

[A]

What do you say to folks that are in need of your services? How do you reach out to these folks? Are you shooting them ads? Are you praying for them? Or do you just let life just funnel in folks that are reaching out?

[B]

Yeah, lots of marketing. I hate that part. Right. I'm going to be honest. Lots of, lots of marketing. But I'm grateful to have a team that does the outreach that is to organizations and or people that are in alignment to my core values. So when I say in alignment and everyone may not necessarily have the same religion, it doesn't matter ethnicity, religion, what diversity looks like. It's more. So what impact or what outcomes are you trying to have for your organization, your business? If the spirit and the purpose and the intent is to have a spirit of positive results and get there with integrity, get there with making positive impact in the culture, then we will be in alignment. So my team does that reaching out. I have an assistant as well as a brand manager that supports me behind the scenes. So I'm going to say they're like the backbone to pure necessity when it comes to me being able to be forward facing because I am for phrasing type of client.

[A]

Right. I was just going to say can you talk about the importance of building a tribe that is essentially an extension of you but it was also protecting you to to preserve the energy the town before you deliver. Talk about how important that is. Why rappers have posses.

[B]

You know what I mean? Yeah. So I have definitely I say my community or my village in order for me to be sustainable. And when I say sustainable I'm not just talking about oh the growth of the business from a financial p. I'm talking about mentally and physically and spiritually sustainable. For me to go out and get 110%. I'm not gonna lie Ray. I give a thousand percent when I'm like coaching, doing a workshop or on stage. Behind the scenes, I'm running, I am doing a peloton. Behind the scenes, I am making sure that I drink water. I don't drink, I don't smoke. Behind the scenes, I have a therapist that I'm meeting with every three weeks for her to equip me with the tools that I need when life starts. Life right when the things that are unpredictable, the challenges and adversities that come that I might not predict, she gives me the tools to equip myself so that I can sustain myself and still be able to walk and elevate and purpose when I'm on the stage or coaching before my, my teams and different companies that I'm supporting.

[A]

Right on. What are, what are your go tos where you're on stage? Everyone's got their golden path. I do Yurida's. It's like you're on stage, you're about to hit your first 3 minute mark and you look at the crowd and you're like, they're warmed up, they're ready to listen. What are your core like, your pillars? When you're on stage, you're hitting the deck. What's on that screen? What, what do you hit? Your core pillars. And what's your message there?

[B]

Yeah, so I read the room and when I say I read the room, I have already read the room prior to me getting on this stage. I'm making eye contact with the energy. What's happening, what's not happening. Regardless what's on that PowerPoint, you find that PowerPoint. I realign what's happening here before I go here. Because you have to be able to not be scripted, if you will. And I'm gonna be Honest, I hate PowerPoint. I hate it. It's more of a guide for reference for me. But I like to be so relational and so one, one to one with my audience. Even if it's 5,500, you know, 5,000. A couple of things that I do when I get there is read the room and I'm looking at there and actually request the feedback, request the energy. How are y' all feeling today? Good morning. If I don't get the good morning, I always say this. Oh, I used to be a third grade teacher. So you gonna get all this energy. I need the reciprocated response back and then that's when it breaks the ice and people start laughing. Yeah, yeah, read the room from that. And then secondly, more than likely I would have network prior to that time and found a person's name and I'm good with names, and I connect while I'm talking. I said, ray, have you ever gotten a chance to have this? So now I'm paying attention, like how in the world they remember my name. That's a tactic that I use because I'm really good with names because it brings a personal connection, right? Yep, Absolutely. If I have the opportunity to. When it comes to even mentorship workshops, I actually get on their level. Do you know what I mean? I can say get on level. If there's opportunity, I'm going to walk out. I'm going to touch a shoulder. Oh, yeah, right. I'm going to. I'm going to give high fives to position them to feel like, I am you, you are me. I am not above you. I'm stewarding this. I'm handling this with care. So just because I'm on this stage or just because I'm considered an influence or a coach for you, I'm right here with you. I am human, too. I am flawed, too. I am still developing and growing. So that third thing that I do is remind them human as well. And so we're in this together. So that's what brings true authenticity with my delivery as a mentor, coach, speaker.

[A]

Amazing. How do you feel?

[B]

Oh, absolutely amazing. I appreciate you. Yeah.

[A]

What can we look forward to in this powerful episode?

[B]

So I talk a lot. It's a couple words that I probably threw out several times. Audacity, delusion, Audacity, delusion, and faith. Those three words interchangeably throughout my years of growth, personally, professionally, has been audacity, delusion, and faith. You name it. What you're going to learn from me is despite adversities and challenges, I was crazy enough, Ray, to. And I say crazy enough to have the delusion to believe that, oh, no, it didn't work today. It'll work tomorrow. Okay, it didn't work tomorrow. I'm gonna do it again. You know, you're gonna find out that the keytrainea actually grew and catapulted my true gift as a child to where I am today. I didn't steer away from it. I just cultivated it. And it evolved and shifted to maximize my growth and how I am today. So it's pretty stinking cool. When I said it out loud, I'm like, oh, my gosh, this is really raw. Real me.

[A]

Right on.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Gosh. Thank you so much for. For your time and energy. I appreciate you taking this moment and sharing your story with us. I guess that's it. That. That concludes another amazing episode on a powerful episode. Again, Taquita, thank you so much. And for Inside Success Network, I'm Ray Gutierrez.

[B]

Thank you so much. It.