Best Black-American & African-American Life Coaches

Best Black-American & African-American Life Coaches

Across USA cities — from Atlanta’s thriving entrepreneurial hubs and Washington D.C.’s leadership corridors to Los Angeles’ creative ecosystems, Houston’s executive networks, and Chicago’s innovation-driven communities — Black and African American professionals are navigating unique personal and professional challenges. Leadership expectations are evolving. Emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and relational depth are essential, not optional.

Black & African American life coaches today are more than advisors — they are partners shaping clarity, resilience, and empowerment. They help founders avoid burnout, executives strengthen relational and cultural competence, creatives build discipline, and emerging leaders develop confidence and strategic focus.

At Digital Reference, we curated this list of the Best Black-American & African American Life Coaches through  research and evaluation.

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🏴 Our Methodology: How These Black-American & African American Life Coaches Were Selected

This list was built through careful evaluation — not ranking.

Our process included:
📊 Direct review of coaching models, program structures, pricing transparency, and client transformation
🔎 Analysis of founder LinkedIn profiles to assess leadership credibility, industry engagement, and lived experience
🤝 Evaluation of accessibility — including virtual delivery, global reach, and flexible coaching formats
🗣️ Alignment with Digital Reference’s emphasis on radical authenticity, transparency, and measurable accountability
🌍 Selection of relevant providers capable of impacting leaders across industries, life stages, and cultures

We prioritized coaches who demonstrate results-driven transformation — including measurable improvements in confidence, emotional regulation, communication, decision-making, and leadership presence.

This ensures you’re not just reading about coaches — you’re exploring vetted professional partners for real-life impact.

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🌟 Meet Our Featured Black & African American Life Coaches Helping Professionals Build Clarity, Confidence & Direction

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Dr. Marcea Life Coaching for Business Builders

What they do:
Dr. Marcea Burnette Whitaker specializes in life and business coaching for high-performing professionals, focusing on wellness, productivity, and leadership scalability.

Who they work with:
Entrepreneurs, executives, and minority business founders seeking alignment between personal growth and professional success.

Operating model:
Virtual coaching, group workshops, and scalable frameworks for business builders globally.

💡 Why they stand out:

🩺 Combines medical and coaching expertise

📊 Business growth frameworks tailored for sustainability

🌍 International accessibility and virtual delivery

⚫ Dr. Marcea Burnette Whitaker — Life & Business Coach

Dr. Marcea Burnette Whitaker brings her medical and executive experience to coaching entrepreneurs and professionals. Her approach is rooted in holistic growth, integrating wellness, leadership, and productivity strategies. She helps clients navigate burnout while building scalable, intentional businesses.

Dr. D Ivan Young — The Architecture of Clarity

What they do:
Dr. D Ivan Young provides coaching and consulting using his Architecture of Clarity framework to create transformational clarity and leadership capacity.

Who they work with:
Executives, couples, and professionals navigating identity, leadership, and personal growth challenges.

Operating model:
Virtual coaching sessions, workshops, and personalized clarity frameworks.

💡 Why they stand out:

🏅 ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC)

🧠 Evidence-informed cognitive-behavioral techniques

🌎 Virtual accessibility

⚫ Dr. D Ivan Young — MCC, NBC-HWC, EMCC Master Practitioner

Dr. D Ivan Young is an ICF Master Certified Coach known for his Architecture of Clarity framework, which helps professionals achieve transformational self-awareness. His coaching combines analytical insight with emotional intelligence to support leaders navigating identity, relationships, and executive responsibility. He empowers clients to align internal clarity with external leadership effectiveness, resulting in measurable personal and professional breakthroughs.

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Black Girls Coaching, Inc. (BGC)

What they do:
BGC focuses on empowering Black women through coaching, leadership development, and professional growth programs.

Who they work with:
Aspiring Black women coaches and professionals seeking mentorship and skill-building.

Operating model:
Virtual programs, certification courses, and community-based coaching networks.

💡 Why they stand out:

🎓 Accredited coach training programs

👩🏾‍🏫 Community-building and representation focus

🌍 National alumni and mentorship network

⚫ Latisha Gaither — Founder & CEO

Latisha Gaither founded Black Girls Coaching, Inc. to empower Black women through mentorship, leadership development, and professional coaching certification. She combines corporate leadership experience with a deep commitment to representation and economic empowerment. Her programs help women build coaching careers, strengthen leadership identity, and create meaningful professional and financial independence.

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Atlanta African American Men's Counseling

What they do:
Jon A. Parker provides culturally competent counseling and life coaching for Black men.

Who they work with:
Men seeking personal growth, relational clarity, and emotional resilience.

Operating model:
One-on-one virtual sessions, workshops, and community-based coaching.

💡 Why they stand out:

🧠 Licensed Professional Counselor

💬 Trauma-informed emotional coaching

🌎 Virtual accessibility

⚫ Jon A. Parker, PhD — Licensed Professional Counselor 

Dr. Jon A. Parker provides culturally competent life coaching and counseling designed specifically to support Black men in personal and professional growth. His trauma-informed approach helps clients build emotional resilience, relational clarity, and leadership accountability. By blending clinical expertise with coaching frameworks, he enables clients to develop healthier emotional patterns and stronger leadership presence.

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K. Conner Consulting, LLC

What they do:
Dr. Krystal Conner integrates faith, psychology, and leadership coaching to guide professionals in clarity and purpose-driven action.

Who they work with:
Corporate executives, faith-based leaders, and emerging professionals seeking transformational growth.

Operating model:
Virtual coaching, corporate workshops, and keynote presentations.

💡 Why they stand out:

📚 Doctoral-level expertise

⛪ Faith-informed leadership coaching

🏢 Corporate and entrepreneurial focus

⚫ Dr. Krystal Conner — Founder & Life Coach

Dr. Krystal Conner integrates psychological insight, faith-based principles, and leadership coaching to help professionals achieve clarity and purpose. Her coaching supports executives and leaders navigating complex career decisions, identity growth, and organizational leadership challenges. She empowers clients to align their values, beliefs, and professional strategy to create meaningful and sustainable impact.

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I Speak Life Coaching

What they do:
David Shawn Smith provides executive and leadership coaching emphasizing communication mastery and empowerment.

Who they work with:
Executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders seeking clarity in decision-making and influence.

Operating model:
Virtual coaching, workshops, and leadership consulting.

💡 Why they stand out:

🎤 Communication-focused leadership

🧑🏾‍💼 Executive coaching expertise

🌍 Virtual delivery

⚫ David Shawn Smith — Executive Coach

David Shawn Smith specializes in executive coaching focused on communication mastery, leadership influence, and empowerment. He helps professionals strengthen their voice, decision-making confidence, and ability to lead teams with clarity and authenticity. His coaching equips leaders with practical communication frameworks that drive measurable organizational and personal results.

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Revealed Path

What they do:
Revealed Path specializes in personal development and transformational coaching that helps clients unearth hidden narratives and realign with their true life direction.

Who they work with:
Professionals, creatives, and individuals navigating pivotal life transitions — whether it’s career reinvention, identity shifts, or purpose discovery.

Operating model:
Virtual one-on-one coaching, interactive breakthrough sessions, and strategic clarity frameworks designed for sustainable transformation.

💡 Why they stand out:
🔍 Deep introspective coaching that gets to the root of limiting beliefs
🛤️ Narrative reframing and identity-aligned transformation
📖 Emphasis on storytelling as a tool for self-authoring
🌎 Coaching accessible virtually for global clients

⚫ Shaun Roney — Certified Life Coach

Shaun Roney helps professionals uncover limiting internal narratives and realign with their authentic purpose and direction. His narrative-focused coaching approach supports clients in developing identity clarity, confidence, and intentional life strategy. Through structured breakthrough sessions, he enables clients to create lasting transformation rooted in self-awareness and aligned action.

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Dr. Frederick C. Sanders

What they do:
Dr. Frederick C. Sanders operates at the highest level of professional coaching, offering executive, leadership, and organizational transformation focused on results that drive sustained performance and growth.

Who they work with:
C-suite executives, high-potential leaders, organizational teams, and individuals seeking elite-level development and performance elevation.

Operating model:
Virtual leadership coaching, customized performance frameworks, and enterprise-level transformation programs.

💡 Why they stand out:
🏅 International Coaching Federation (ICF) Master Certified Coach — a credential held by fewer than 4% of coaches globally
📊 Strategic leadership and organizational performance coaching
🎓 Mentor-coach to other professional coaches
🌍 Coaching frameworks implemented across global corporate and leadership contexts

⚫ Dr. Frederick C. Sanders — MCC, Master Coach

Dr. Frederick C. Sanders is an elite executive coach and ICF Master Certified Coach specializing in leadership performance and organizational transformation. He works with senior leaders to develop strategic clarity, emotional intelligence, and high-impact leadership capabilities. His coaching empowers executives to achieve measurable performance improvements while strengthening cultural intelligence and leadership presence.

Focused Goals, LLC

What they do:
Focused Goals, LLC provides personalized coaching that emphasizes clarity, goal-setting, and accountability to help clients achieve both personal and professional milestones.

Who they work with:
Entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals looking to align action with purpose, develop consistent habits, and enhance leadership effectiveness.

Operating model:
Virtual coaching sessions, structured goal-planning frameworks, and accountability check-ins for long-term results.

💡 Why they stand out:
🎯 Results-driven approach focused on measurable outcomes
🧠 Cognitive and behavioral strategies for personal growth
🌍 Flexible virtual coaching accessible globally

Rashidah Jones — Founder

Rashidah Jones leverages her expertise in goal alignment and performance coaching to help professionals clarify their vision and achieve meaningful results. Her methodology integrates accountability, strategic planning, and mindset development to foster sustainable personal and professional growth. Rashidah’s approach is grounded in transparency, measurable progress, and empowering clients to own their goals fully.

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The Bridge Method

What they do:
The Bridge Experience offers life coaching programs that integrate emotional intelligence, relational healing, and leadership development.

Who they work with:
Men and women seeking deeper self-awareness, relationship mastery, and transformational personal growth.

Operating model:
Virtual coaching, global workshops, immersive retreats, and speaker-led sessions.

💡 Why they stand out:
🌉 Focus on relational and emotional intelligence development
🧘 Trauma-informed and heart-centered coaching frameworks
🎤 Global speaking engagements and immersive workshops

Preston Smiles — CEO & Life Coach

Preston Smiles is the CEO of The Bridge Method, where he combines emotional intelligence, vulnerability-based leadership, and relational coaching into transformative programs. Known for his dynamic speaking presence and global retreats, Preston empowers clients to break through emotional barriers, improve relationships, and step into authentic leadership. His unique approach blends heart-centered coaching with structured frameworks to ensure sustainable personal and professional transformation.

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Conclusion - Finding the Life Coach For Your Needs

Across Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and global virtual communities, African American life coaches are reshaping leadership, resilience, and identity-focused growth. Each coach featured here demonstrates:

🌍 National reach
🧠 Defined methodology
🤝 Accountability structures
💬 Transparent communication
📈 Measurable personal transformation

At Digital Reference, we are redefining how professionals showcase credibility through structured video resumes and verified reference collection tools. These tools allow coaches, clients, and emerging leaders to engage with radical authenticity, transparency, and measurable outcomes.

👇 Dive deeper with Digital Reference:

• Best Life Coaches for Executives & CEOs
• Best Life Coaches & Life Coaching Services for Women
• Best Life Coaches & Life Coaching Services for Men

African American leadership in coaching isn’t just evolving — it’s clarifying, amplifying, and creating systemic impact globally.