Typhanie Winfield-Alexander
Typhanie Winfield-Alexander is a Holistic Life Coach, Trainer & Facilitator. She is the Founder & CEO of Momentum Life Mastery Coaching, LLC. As a Certified Life Coach and Personal Development Specialist, she employs a customized, holistic approach to help her clients achieve their goals with clarity and confidence.
She tells us that, “My signature programs are designed to support individuals & groups by combining follow-through and accountability balanced with a nurturing partnership to achieve life-changing results in relationships, health, finances, and goal attainment for positive, generational impact.
I’m a working wife and mother of four children residing in Connecticut, USA.”
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your professional journey/venture/initiative and what inspired you to choose this career.
I’m a true “Generation-Xer”; an only child of a single mom, growing up in Queens, NY. I spent summers with extended family and was often the “new kid” at school, having attended several programs throughout K-12.
I’ve been a heart-centered helper/nurturing type for as long as I can remember. Teaching and caregiving have always felt natural to me & the desire to support others organically evolved over time.
My career includes over twenty-five years as an Early Childhood Educator and Administrator where I’ve supported children, families and the community offering professional high-quality service balanced with nurture and care.
Since I was already predisposed to help people, it seemed that formalizing the coaching practice was the next natural step.
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
There are several points that could be considered pivotal for my life path; becoming a wife and mom at 20yo, relocating several times, divorce…
If I were to choose one of the most impactful recent moments, it would be the decision to explore, address and finally take charge of my “money story” and apply my own coaching framework to my goal to buy my first home. The work exposed some deep-seated fears, assumptions, and patterns that I had to face & overcome.
Through that work, I was finally able to recognize my role as one of the generational cycle-breakers in my family. My goal for my children is that they have more opportunities with fewer barriers (a with significantly less emotional “baggage”.
Tell us about your goals, interests, and role models.
Whew! That’s a tough one! Big picture? I hope to live my life in alignment with my unique gifts & talents and to connect with others doing the same. I hope to see my family thrive & soar and live their lives to the fullest. I hope that other women see themselves in my life experiences and can use my lessons to learn on their own without as many “skinned knees”.
Interests?!! I’m just about as eclectic as they come, I think; I love all sorts of music, dance, & theater. I’m a bit of a movie buff as well and am a sci-fi/fantasy/action/adventure nerd. On the right day, you’ll catch me and the family in costume at Renaissance Faires!
My role models? I suppose there are different categories. I respect and honor the real women in my life who I’ve been blessed to learn from directly; my mom, my aunties, my family by choice, and the handful of friends that have endured for 10+ years.
There are too many to list, but I am also inspired by many thought leaders who are on the leading edge of inner-work; adults rediscovering “self” such as Brene Brown, Nikki Giavonni, Mel Robbins, Simon Senick, Don Miguel Ruiz & so many more.
Everyone has their own set of challenges when starting an entrepreneurial journey. Still, the most essential part for others to learn is how you deal with those. Would you like to share with us your challenges and your coping mechanisms?
First and foremost… “KNOW THYSELF” ~ Socrates
You MUST absolutely take time to get to know you & what makes you tick; your desires, fears, motivations, all contribute to how you show up. When we’re honest with who we are, what we want and why, we can show up fully and in our “wholeness”.
I struggled for many years with creating space to assess and address my needs. Learning to say, “no” as a complete sentence was a long time coming and was utterly needed. As a recovered “people-pleaser” nothing was more intimidating than the idea of disappointing someone or creating a potential conflict. I think the toughest part was bypassing “toxic-positivity”, seeing things as they are and admitting that sometimes things just “suck”.
What we do NEXT is what matters most.
Coping strategies may be as small as 30 seconds to just breathe or taking a full day to take care of myself (even if that means taking hours to sleep or stare at the wall- whatever allows me the chance to be still and feel rested/inspired).
What impact do you feel you have been able to create with your work so far and how would you want to grow in the next few years?
I believe that meeting people where they are and offering space for them to show up, explore their needs, and most importantly to feel seen, heard, and accepted has opened up hearts and minds. I believe in the “each one, teach one” community-building approach and that positive changes happen exponentially beginning with one single authentic connection.
Over the next year I hope to connect with many women on their journey of discovery. I hope to leave a legacy of fulfilled & prosperous women.
While the global pandemic of COVID-19 is associated primarily with adversities, it has also brought about a true boom in startups, with successful entrepreneurship in many countries. The pandemic has impacted all of us in one way or another. Would you like to share your experience on a personal and professional level?
On a personal level, our family navigated the pandemic relatively well, but we are still dealing with ramifications from those years. We tried our best to create a low-stress, flexible environment yet there were certainly challenges with education and socialization for the children in their adolescent years at school. We’re just so grateful for the professional services available to support mental & physical health through that time.
Ironically, my business thrived during that time. Since connection was so greatly needed and people had time to reflect in word and rediscover areas of their lives that might not otherwise have gotten attention, my 1:1 Coaching Clients increased. Virtual meetings presented some challenges initially, but then became the preferred method for several clients due to the convenience and I had the benefit of reduced overhead expenses.
As we pivot “post-pandemic” I carried some of the strategies that worked well forward (increased contact using social media & messages). Client feedback helps to inform how I can best meet the needs of the moment.
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
I’m a contributing author in the book, Water Yourself (by Shannon Mellon-Daniels), a proud honoree of the “I Am Woman Movement”, reSET Impact Accelerator Founder/Alum, and a recipient of the 100 Women of Color Awards.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
I feel so strongly that change in the world begins with changes within each individual. The world is full of people trying to figure out how to interact, survive & thrive. So many people are navigating life with missing information; what are the root causes of how we feel, what we think, and why. Imagine how it would feel if you felt whole and happy if you had full knowledge of self. Now imagine a world full of happy-healthy people…
What’s the most important thing you have learned in your personal life and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?
Two things come to mind. First, be authentic and operate in integrity. Know your area/s of expertise and be sure to recognize when you are approaching your professional limit. For example, as a coach, I 100% know that I am NOT a therapist, and will absolutely redirect clients in that direction as needed. Your clients will thank you.
Second, SELF-CARE is NOT optional. Regardless of what you do or how you show up in your business, you cannot function if you cannot even function! Pay close attention to your mental, physical, spiritual/emotional needs. Your business needs you at your best & you are SO worth it!
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women’s leadership today?
Women have been leaders throughout history. THAT is nothing new. There is something to be said for the culture of workspaces when women have direct influence in the company policies, practices, and culture. Women tend to take a balanced & holistic approach to business that has far-reaching benefits. We think differently. Our perspective has value.
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
I would encourage each and every entrepreneur to not only identify the core reason WHY they created their businesses, but to prioritize that “WHY” above ALL else. The “WHY” we do this work is bigger than us. We have to be able to connect to the mission & vision beyond the expectations, status, and/or money. The “WHY” keeps you going when things get hard, outcomes are not what we expect, and when impostor syndrome sets in. The “WHY” keeps you going when you get so frustrated that you want to quit. Ask yourself WHY your business MUST exist in this work- That is your destiny and your gift to the world.