get coached. become a coach.
Lead Through coaching.
The Coaching Seat® serves as a resource for managers, teams, and individuals, providing solutions to challenges, enhancing performance, and facilitating the achievement of set objectives.
Exciting News:
Toyinda L. Smith, MS Joins the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
We are proud to announce that Toyinda L. Smith, MS is now an official member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) — a global organization dedicated to advancing the coaching profession.
Through her brands, Champion Influence® Coach & Facilitator Certification and The Coaching Seat®, LLC, Toyinda has spent the past seven years transforming lives and organizations by providing individual coaching, coaching education and certifications, and equipping managers and people leaders to adopt a coaching approach to leadership.
Joining ICF represents a strategic and intentional step forward in Toyinda’s coaching journey. As she continues to shape the next generation of coaches and leaders, ICF membership strengthens her commitment to excellence by:
Deepening her own coaching practice and professional development
Gaining access to peer support and mentorship as she pursues ICF credentials
Amplifying her impact through evidence-based, data-informed coaching insights powered by global industry research
Connecting with over 50,000 coaching professionals worldwide through ICF’s global platform and the local ICF Charlotte chapter
This affiliation further empowers Toyinda to elevate the work of her established coaching community at The Coaching Seat®, LLC — expanding the reach and depth of her mission to grow confident, competent, and credentialed coaching leaders.
Stay tuned for more exciting developments as Toyinda continues to lead with vision, integrity, and impact in the coaching industry.
individual development
Receive one-on-one coaching. Become a part of our team by earning your Champion Influence® Coach Certification. Or check out our continuing education resources to keep leveling up!
Corporate development
Grow as a manager and leader, build winning teams, and reach your company’s goals with the help of our corporate coaching programs. Or book dynamic speaker Toyinda L. Smith for your next keynote or leadership training event.
members only
Champion Influence® Certified Coaches enjoy access to The Coaching Seat® membership platform, our exclusive continuing education resource. Free and paid options available. Click below to learn more.
Got Questions?
Do you have questions about the coaching industry? Have you ever considered becoming a coach yourself? Check out our answers to some of the most common questions about coaching. Also, feel free to contact Toyinda L. Smith directly!
Gifts and Resources
Pick up an empowering gift for someone special in your life, or for yourself! Visit our store to browse all our offerings.
Champion is not a title. Champion is a way of being.
In The Handbook to Be Champion Using 10 Practical Steps, NCAA Champion, leadership and coach educator Toyinda L. Smith invites you behind the scenes of what it truly takes to win, on the field, in the workplace, and in life.
From walking onto a Division I track and field team without a scholarship to walking off an NCAA Champion and Hall of Famer, Toyinda shares powerful, real-life lessons forged through discipline, setbacks, faith, and relentless follow-through. Each chapter blends authentic storytelling, leadership insight, research-backed principles, and reflective practices that challenge readers to move beyond potential and into consistent performance.
This book is not about hype or shortcuts. It is about the daily decisions champions make, when no one is watching that shape confidence, character, and results.
Inside, you will discover how to:
Say yes before you feel ready
Outwork the odds without entitlement
Turn gaps and setbacks into growth
Lead with influence from any position
Build resilience through invisible work
Finish what you start with excellence and integrity
Written for leaders, entrepreneurs, coaches, and athletes, The Handbook to Be Champion reframes success as an active commitment, not a destination. Whether you are building a team, growing a business, pursuing a calling, or chasing your next personal best, this handbook will equip you to show up, press forward, and be champion, every day.
(Shipping calculated at checkout.)