Today we’d like to introduce you to Shantelle Leatherwood.
Shantelle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey has truly been one of growth, faith, and purpose. I have worked in health care for over 33 years, with 24 of those years at Christ Community Health Services, Inc., where I advanced from Administrative Assistant to Chief Executive Officer. That experience allowed me to gain deep, hands-on knowledge in nearly every aspect of running a Federally Qualified Health Center—from front-desk operations to strategic planning, compliance, new program development, and overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets. I was blessed to lead major initiatives, including expanding services and guiding the organization through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which we provided over 80,000 tests and 17,000 vaccines across West Tennessee.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration and Planning from Tennessee State University (1995) and a Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia (1997). I completed a Post-Graduate Fellowship from the Family Health Center in Columbia, MO (1997-1998). In December 2022, I became a Certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach. I served on numerous Councils and Boards including the Tennessee Primary Care Association Board of Directors where I served as the Board Chair and the Executive Committee and the Christian Community Health Fellowship Board of Directors where I also served on the Executive Committee. I received numerous honors including the 2009 George Washington, School of Public Health’s Geiger Gibson Emerging Leader award, was selected for the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Memphis Business Journal’s Power 100 List, and was selected as one of the 2021 Memphis Business Journal’s “Women Who Lead in Health Care”, selected as a 2022 City of Memphis Martin Luther King, Jr. Luminary Awardee and selected by the Memphis Grizzlies as a 2024 HBCU Empowerment Awardee.
While I am grateful for professional success, in February 2024, amid a difficult transition, I launched Leatherwood Coaching & Consulting (LC2) using my 24 years of experience working in Federally Qualified Health Centers and leadership to provide consultation, coaching, and training to other FQHCs and their leaders. As a female executive leader, I also have a passion to coach other women in leadership, as I understand the unique challenges often experienced by women in executive leadership roles. Leatherwood Coaching & Consulting exists to equip Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and women in leadership to impact the lives of their teams, customers, and communities.
This is accomplished through the following services:
For FQHC Services: Interim CEO/COO Services, Operation Analysis & Improvement, Strategic Planning & Board Governance, Process & Workflow Development, Leadership Development & Executive Coaching, Grants Management & Coordination, Operational Site Visit Preparation & Training, Value-Based Health Care and Business Development (New Health Centers/Services/Programs).
For Women in Leadership or Entrepreneurs: Individual Mentorship & Coaching, Business Development, Strategic Planning & Consulting, Grants Management & Small Business Grant Support
Individual & Group Coaching to C-Suite Executives, New & Rising Leaders is also provided, coupled with Workshops on leadership (Lunch & Learn, Weekly Trainings, 1/2 Day or Full Day Retreats)
Since launching LC2, I have had incredible opportunities to coach and consult with FQHCs, lead leadership mastermind groups, deliver training for executive teams, and even step in as Interim COO for a health care organization. I have been blessed to blend my faith and leadership experience—posting leadership lessons from the Bible on YouTube and social media, and speaking at churches and conferences. I have launched a podcast with my best friends of 30 years entitled “The Not Easily Broken: Our Three Cord Strand,” where we aim to share our lives to strengthen others. Lastly, I am preparing to launch a group coaching program for female leaders of faith and release my first book to provide guidance on navigating the storms of life.
I believe every step of my journey—from entry-level roles to executive leadership and now to entrepreneurship—has been ordered by God. Today, I am passionate about equipping leaders, especially in health care and ministry, for impact.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
So far, it has been a smooth road. Since launching, I developed my website, started advertising, began posting Leadership Lessons from the Bible videos, and had the opportunity to speak at two churches and a conference. Individuals would call me out of the blue to share their challenges. I would then share that I started leadership coaching. A local entity similar to my previous organization offered to provide counseling to me. During difficult transitions, sometimes, you have to talk through your hurt and pain. In return, I offered to provide my first leadership Mastermind training to them for free. I thoroughly enjoyed it! At the same time, a dear friend, who also launched a consulting firm, called me up to inquire about Strategic Planning services for an organization in our same industry. I completed the Strategic Plan within five months and entered into an engagement that included serving as their Interim COO, providing coaching to their entire C-Suite, and providing leadership development training for their directors and above. I am currently working on a book to encourage others in navigating life’s storms in the same manner that I navigated my storms. And I’m currently preparing to launch a group coaching program for Christian women in leadership who are seeking guidance on launching, reinvigorating, or leading successfully in their organizations, businesses, or ministries.
We’ve been impressed with LEATHERWOOD COACHING & CONSULTING, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our Mission
Leatherwood Coaching & Consulting exists to equip Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and women in leadership to impact their teams, customers, and communities.
Tag Line
“We exist to equip you for impact”
Services
FQHC Services:
Interim CEO/COO Services
Operation Analysis & Improvement
Strategic Planning & Board Governance
Process & Workflow Development
Leadership Development & Coaching
Grants Management & Coordination (SAC, NAC, BPR, Expansion)
OSV Preparation & Training
Value-Based Health Care
Business Development (New Health Centers/Services/Programs)
Women in leadership or Entrepreneurs:
Individual Mentorship & Coaching
Business Development, Strategic Planning & Consulting
Grants Management & Small Business Grant Support
Executive & Leadership Coaching:
Individual & Group Coaching to C-Suite Executives, New & Rising Leaders
Workshops (Lunch & Learn, Weekly Trainings, 1/2 Day or Full Day Retreats)
About the Owner
Shantelle Leatherwood is the President/Owner of Leatherwood Coaching and Consulting (LC2). Shantelle has worked in health care for over thirty-three years with twenty-four of those years serving in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). During her time within the FQHC, Shantelle worked her way through the ranks from Administrative Assistant to Chief Executive Officer as she was driven by her desire to serve the least of these in the community to impact their lives. She gained extensive knowledge of all aspects of the organization from front-desk operations, customer service, billing and revenue cycle, compliance and quality, health center operational efficiency, new program development including health center expansion and service-line expansion, strategic planning, board oversight and governance, federal grants management, value-based health care implementation, among other things. Under her leadership, the organization increased patients by 20% and the budget by 63%, making the organization the second largest FQHC in the surrounding area.
Shantelle holds a Bachelor’s in Health Administration and Planning from Tennessee State University (1995) and a Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia (1997). She is also a Certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach. Shantelle has served on numerous Councils and Boards including the Tennessee Primary Care Association Board of Directors where she served as the Board Chair and the Executive Committee and the Christian Community Health Fellowship Board of Directors where she also served on the Executive Committee. She has received numerous honors including the 2009 George Washington, School of Public Health’s Geiger Gibson Emerging Leader award, was selected for the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Memphis Business Journal’s Power 100 List, selected as one of the 2021 Memphis Business Journal’s “Women Who Lead in Health Care”, selected as a 2022 City of Memphis Martin Luther King, Jr. Luminary Awardee and selected by the Memphis Grizzlies as a 2024 HBCU Empowerment Awardee.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I believe my faith, hard work ethic, drive, experience, and determination, along with my vivacious personality, have resulted in my success so far. Additionally, I believe the ability to push through adversity and glean from it is also a characteristic of success.
Pricing:
- Coaching – $250/Hour
- Consultation – $250/Hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leatherwoodc2.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557407386377
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leatherwood-coaching-consulting-llc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EquippingYouForImpact
- Yelp: https://www.youtube.com/@NotEasilyBrokenOurThreeCor-u1r
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564752509502
