Rolande S. Sumner is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her vast experience and client centered approach.

She is a retired army veteran and CEO and founder of LASTCo, Life After Service Transitional Coaching. She retired in 2015 and since then, she acquired several coaching certifications and credentials.

She had a hard time transitioning from life in the military and finding who she was outside of the uniform. That time allowed her to rediscover her dreams.

Now, she is helping people who want t transition after service, women coaches and new business owners to integrate faith into their business and succeed. Here is what she said.

Meet Life Coach Rolande S. Sumner:

Name: Rolande S. Sumner, PCC, ELP-MP, CTDS

Pillar: The Spirit, The Mind

Who is this coach for: People after service who want to transition into normal life, women coaches and new business owners.

How they can help: Through deep listening and coaching, integrating faith and business to create God centered programs and services.

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these Pandemic times?

My family and I are thriving and thankful for every day we have each other.

How does the coronavirus pandemic affect your clients? Did it affect you at all?

At first, the coronavirus virus brought my business to a screeching halt.

However, it gave me time for prayer, self reflection, learning, and strategizing.

What are the biggest lessons that you learned in this pandemic?

I was reminded that life is short.

Many people of all ages died a painful death.

Some of them wished they lived life more and did things differently.

I am more motivated to live fully and help others do the same.

I don’t want to go to heaven and look back at all the blessings left behind because of fear.

The Origin:

Tell us about you, your career, how you started with your coaching career?

I am a retired US Army veteran, CEO and Founder of Life After Service Transitional Coaching LLC® (LASTCo), and a Business Startup Development Expert.

Since my 2015 retirement from the military, I have gained several coaching certifications and credentials, including Professional Certified Coach (PCC) via the International Coaching Federation, COR.E Transitions Dynamics Specialist (CTDS), and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner.

In addition to my professional coaching certifications, I am an award winning co author of “Behind the Ranks Vol.”

LASTCo has received the Alignable Local Business of the Year award for two consecutive years, as well as being SC Women Owned Business Certified and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business verified.

As a Business Startup Development Coach and Consultant, I work with new women coaches to integrate faith and business to create God centered programs and services.

LASTCo’s subsidiary, Business Launch Prep School (BLPS), is a 3 month start up program that builds a solid foundation for new business owners and those looking to relaunch.

I aim to co create a firm foundation, with BLPS’ 4 Foundational Pillars, to guide students towards time and money freedom and begin building a generational legacy.

I began my business with research and lots of trial and error, gaining shareable knowledge passed on to clients allowing them to shorten the learning curve to reach their startup goals sooner.

In BLPS, students complete the program with the four pillars of a successful business foundation in place.

The 4 Foundational Pillars are the target audience, signature program, pricing, sales, and client experience.

What was your biggest obstacle that you had to overcome in your life that made you who you are today?

To date, my biggest obstacle was my transition from the military.

Once I retired, I had to learn who I was outside of the uniform.

I took that time to peel back the layers and get in touch with the dreams I had let go of.

My military transition allowed me to rediscover and reinvent myself.

The Coaching Style:

How do you innovate with coaching your clients?

To stay innovative in the coaching industry, I’ve found it very helpful to learn constantly.

On any day, I read an article, study, watch informative webinars, and maintain an active membership in the International Coaching Federation.

What’s unique about your coaching approach?

I show up as myself and listen from my heart.

I practice paying attention to the unsaid by observing voice inflection, tone, and body language.

I listen for emotion in addition to the measure.

As an ICF credentialed coach, I was trained to do this.

However, I always had an affinity towards listening in that manner.

My clients are more authentically themselves, creative, and can think more divergently.

What benefits do your clients get after working with you?

Often my clients either benefit in a few ways or a combination thereof.

Many clients make more money in their businesses or with their employers.

Other than that, almost all of my clients walk away feeling heard and have the strength to achieve more in their lives.

Do you use any specific tools to be efficient with your clients?

One tool I use is the bible.

I pray and meditate on his word to serve his will more easily.

This allows me to be fully present, open, and compassionate to others.

I also listen to client and target audience feedback.

They openly share their pain points, solutions they wish to have, and how they want them delivered.

They also keep me sharp by sincerely providing feedback on the service they receive from me.

The Impact:

If you had a super megaphone that, when you speak into, the whole world will hear your message, what would you say?

All great leaders and business professionals receive coaching and mentorship to be their greatest selves and perform at their highest level.

Get a coach, mentorship, mental health professional, or a combination thereof to grow and tap into your greatest potential so you can live a full and regretless life.

What is the greatest lesson you have learned in your life?

As corny as it sounds, I learned to listen to my intuition.

Intuition is a tool from God that signals danger and risk and warns you when something is wrong.

When I was young, I ignored it and paid for it each time.

Now I listen to my intuition. It always led me in the right direction.

Your final thoughts?

Thank you for allowing me to share with your audience.

I’m honored and privileged to be a part of your publication.

Where Can You Find Rolande S. Sumner?

If you liked this interview and if you would love be heard, go to https://lastco.vet and see how Rolande can help you do that.

If you want to enroll in the online university, go to The Business Launch Prep School where you will learn all the essentials to start a business and adopt the right mindsets.

If you would like to connect more personally with her, you can do that through LinkedIn or by sending her a message on her email [email protected]. It was an honor having this interview with her.