Corporate Leadership Development
Your leaders have
the skills.
Do they have the belief?
Most leadership development stops at behaviour. Makini Smith's work goes deeper — building the internal foundation that makes skill development stick, visibility possible, and advancement sustainable.
Results from two completed cohorts with a Big Four professional services firm in Canada.
Who This Is For
Built for the leaders inside
your organization.
You're investing in leadership development, but seeing high attrition from your equity-deserving talent pipeline. You need something that goes beyond training — that addresses why high-potential leaders plateau or leave despite having the skills.
You have the curriculum. What's missing is the inner dimension — the belief-level work that determines whether skills become behaviors. Makini's programs are designed to integrate with your existing L&D architecture, not replace it.
Your organization has made public commitments on equity in leadership. Now you need programs that actually move the needle — that address systemic barriers alongside individual development, and produce results you can report on.
Case Study
What happens when
belief catches up
with skill.
A Canadian Big Four professional services firm engaged Makini to design and deliver a leadership development program for two cohorts of equity-deserving leaders. The mandate: address the gap between demonstrated competence and leadership advancement.
The gap wasn't skills. It was the internalized narratives — accumulated across careers in systems not designed for these leaders — that were limiting how fully they could show up, advocate for themselves, and claim the authority they had already earned.
"Makini brought a level of expertise, authenticity, and passion that resonated deeply with our Black professionals, fostering an environment of empowerment, growth, and connection. The results spoke for themselves — exceptionally high satisfaction rates, increased engagement, and a strengthened sense of belonging within our firm."— Olivia Nuamah, Executive Leader in Governance, Strategy & Institutional Transformation | Former Client
"The monthly accountability calls were particularly transformative, allowing me to identify my aspirations and develop a clear action plan. Makini's genuine commitment to our success fostered a strong sense of community among us. I believe every company should implement such programs, and Makini is the ideal leader to help cultivate future leaders."— Aïssata Diallo, CPA Auditrice, M.Sc | Senior Manager, Global Corporate Reporting Services | Program Participant
The Method
The H.E.A.L. Framework™
A proprietary four-pillar model for developing emotionally intelligent leaders from the inside out — addressing the whole leader: Head, Heart, Habits, and Healing. It turns emotional intelligence from a soft skill into a measurable leadership advantage.
Every emotionally intelligent leader begins by honouring their own humanity. This pillar develops awareness of internal triggers, stories, and behaviours that influence leadership style — so leaders can manage stress and conflict with clarity rather than reaction.
Leaders elevate when they embrace both empathy and assertiveness. This pillar builds communication, influence, and relational intelligence — the ability to connect authentically while maintaining composure under pressure. Leading with emotional depth, not emotional overload.
Alignment is where authenticity meets accountability. This pillar ensures leaders’ actions reflect their values, organizational mission, and long-term goals — creating the consistency, integrity, and credibility that build trust in teams and organizations.
Leadership is tested most when times are uncertain. This pillar builds resilience — the ability to recover, refocus, and lead with stability through change, while fostering environments that balance well-being with results. Resilience isn’t about never falling; it’s about leading from the strength of how you rise.
The Framework at a Glance
© Makini Smith Coaching · The H.E.A.L. Framework™ is a proprietary model. All rights reserved.
Programs
Three ways to bring
this work into your organization.
Option A
Executive Coaching
6 months · 12 sessions · 1:1
- Bi-weekly 60-minute 1:1 sessions
- Full H.E.A.L. assessment and roadmap
- Between-session accountability check-ins
- Leadership presence and communication strategy
- Best for: Senior Directors, Directors, VPs
Option B
Group Leadership Program
3 months · 6 cohort sessions · 8–12 leaders
- Bi-weekly 90-minute group coaching sessions
- H.E.A.L. Framework curriculum across all sessions
- Individual reflection workbooks included
- End-of-program outcomes report
- Best for: Managers, Team Leads, high-potentials
Option C
Blended Organizational Package
6 months · Combined delivery
- Individual coaching for 3–5 senior leaders
- One group cohort of 8–12 participants
- Organizational debrief and insights report
- DEI-aligned leadership development goals
- Best for: Branches, teams, DEI initiatives
About Makini
The work requires someone who has lived these rooms.
Makini Smith is a certified executive and mindset coach whose work sits at the intersection of identity, belief and sustainable high performance. She supports senior and emerging leaders in building the inner infrastructure required to lead with courage, clarity and conviction — especially in complex, high-stakes environments.
As a Black woman who has navigated spaces not designed for her, she doesn't observe the barriers facing equity-deserving leaders — she knows them. That credibility is built into every program she designs.
makinismith.com →Ready to Begin
The conversation that
changes how your leaders
see themselves.
Request a 30-minute discovery call to explore how Makini's programs can support your organization's leadership development and equity goals.
Or reach out directly at info@makinismith.com