Taking First, LLC was founded on the belief that our individual differences are vital to our potential for success in various aspects of life. Each woman possesses distinct talents, strengths, and perspectives that shape her journey. Being a Black woman or a Woman of Color often adds additional, very real hurdles along the way. By embracing your uniqueness and receiving the right support, transformative success becomes possible.
As a Certified Professional Life Coach with over 30 years of leadership experience, it’s my mission to help you break through limiting beliefs, set meaningful goals, and build sustainable processes that support long‑term growth. Her coaching is tailored, culturally relevant, and rooted in compassion—so your journey is inclusive of your whole self, not just the parts that feel “acceptable” to show.
Taking First, LLC provides transformative personal and professional life coaching for Black Indigenous Women of Color (BIWOC) and their allies, grounded in empowerment, inclusivity, and holistic growth. Our mission is to support women in taking ownership of their lives, decisions, and goals through culturally competent, trauma-informed coaching.
Arecia’s vision is a world where BIWOC are empowered to reach their fullest potential while honoring their identities and lived experiences. Guided by values of empowerment, inclusivity, and whole-person growth, every coaching relationship is designed to help clients feel seen, supported, and equipped to grow mentally, emotionally, and professionally within a strong sense of self-trust and community.
Arecia’s coaching has strengthened, challenged, and refined my leadership and management skills, preparing me for the next stage of my career. Her professional insight and ability to equip leaders for today’s evolving workforce are unmatched. I’m truly grateful that our paths crossed.
Senior Program Manager
Working with my life coach, Ace has been a truly transformative experience. Before beginning coaching, I felt stuck, with goals but no clear path to achieving them. However, through our sessions, I gained clarity, practical tools, and a renewed sense of confidence. What I value most is the supportive and non-judgmental space she creates. This environment allowed me to dive deeper, challenge old habits, and finally make the changes I had been avoiding for years. As a result, I am now more focused, motivated, and aligned with the life I want to build. In conclusion, getting a life coach was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Fashion Designer and Owner of Lockame Design Co.
Arecia’s leadership and coaching have played a vital role in advancing my career. She brings a high level of professionalism that blends clarity and genuine care, creating a space where growth feels both challenging and supported. Her guidance has helped me become a more confident, intentional and effective leader.
Program Coordinator
Arecia has a rare gift for challenging leaders to achieve authentic growth. Working with her, I learned how to truly communicate, listen effectively, command a room, and navigate difficult spaces with confidence. She doesn't just teach leadership; she models it, and every moment of her wisdom is worth grasping.
Aquatics Director and Comedian
Arecia’s leadership has been truly transformative for me. Her mentorship taught me how to lead my team with confidence, authenticity, and encouragement. Because of her guidance, I now believe in my ability to succeed in any job and in any leadership role.
Professional Fitness Manager
My Mom who many know as Arecia, is the kind of woman whose presence alone brings stability, clarity, and reassurance. Her consistency is unmatched—her word is her bond, and there has never been a single moment where she hasn’t shown up for me. She has supported me through every season of my life, and she has done it with grace, strength, and a deep sense of purpose. Everything I know about confidence, hard work, poise, and integrity, I learned by watching her. She doesn't just teach those values—she lives them. I’ve seen firsthand how she walks into a room and commands it effortlessly, how she holds herself with quiet power, and how people naturally gravitate toward her because she moves with intention and authenticity. She says what she means, she means what she says, and she follows through every single time. She is the type of woman who makes you believe that transformation is possible because she has modeled transformation, resilience, and self-belief throughout her own life.
To any woman blessed enough to work with her, she is a guide, a mentor, and a source of real, practical wisdom. I am so fortunate to have grown up learning from her, and I know that any woman who chooses her as their coach will experience the same empowerment, clarity, and confidence that she has poured into me.
Manager, Artistic Creative, Dancer
Plenty of people refer to themselves as “bosses” meanwhile, Arecia is the real deal. She is a genuine leader in the truest sense of the word. She meets every individual right where they are, and offers a combination of development, accountability and dependability that is so refreshing and effective in workplace productivity.
I loved learning from Arecia and am without question, better from it.
Fitness Professional
