At Taking First, we believe in thoughtful, human-centered coaching that supports you in becoming a more grounded, effective, and self-trusting professional.
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
Professional development coaching is a collaborative partnership that supports your growth at work without reducing you to a title, performance review, or productivity metric.
This work is a great fit for:
You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from coaching.
You just need a desire to grow intentionally.
Real professional growth requires consistency, trust, and accountability. Professional development coaching at Taking First is structured with a minimum six-month commitment to support meaningful, lasting change.
We begin with a conversation about your current role, challenges, and what you want to develop professionally.
You’ll complete reflective assessments to better understand leadership style, values, strengths, and blind spots.
Sessions focus on leadership development, communication skills, confidence-building, boundary setting, and navigating real-time workplace challenges.
You leave with tools, clarity, and confidence to continue growing beyond coaching.
Together, we identify goals that are realistic, aligned, and meaningful, not driven by external pressure or comparison.
We co-create a flexible action plan that fits your real work environment and responsibilities.
We regularly assess what’s working, what’s shifting, and where adjustments are needed.
Each session creates intentional space to reflect, practice new skills, and process professional challenges with honesty and care. Growth is supported, not rushed.
Real professional growth requires consistency, trust, and accountability. Professional development coaching at Taking First is structured with a minimum six-month commitment to support meaningful, lasting change.
We begin with a conversation about your current role, challenges, and what you want to develop professionally.
Together, we identify goals that are realistic, aligned, and meaningful, not driven by external pressure or comparison.
You’ll complete reflective assessments to better understand leadership style, values, strengths, and blind spots.
We co-create a flexible action plan that fits your real work environment and responsibilities.
Sessions focus on leadership development, communication skills, confidence-building, boundary setting, and navigating real-time workplace challenges.
We regularly assess what’s working, what’s shifting, and where adjustments are needed.
You leave with tools, clarity, and confidence to continue growing beyond coaching.
Each session creates intentional space to reflect, practice new skills, and process professional challenges with honesty and care. Growth is supported, not rushed.
Professional growth does not happen in a vacuum. Identity, culture, and lived experience deeply shape how we navigate leadership, confidence, boundaries, and visibility at work.
For many BIWOC women, professional development often includes additional layers:
At Taking First, coaching is culturally aware, trauma-informed, and grounded in respect. You are not asked to shrink, assimilate, or perform. You are supported in leading as your full self.
In-person professional development coaching in Los Angeles offers focused, grounded support away from daily workplace demands.
Los Angeles is a city of ambition and reinvention. In-person coaching provides space to slow down, reflect, and lead more intentionally.
Virtual coaching offers flexibility and consistency without sacrificing depth.
Choosing the right professional development coach is about more than credentials. The relationship should feel supportive, honest, and grounded in trust. Look for someone with relevant experience in leadership, communication, and professional growth, but also someone whose coaching style aligns with your personality and values. A strong coach creates accountability without shame and provides guidance that helps you move forward with confidence.
Many people start by learning about the coach’s philosophy and background before committing to a program. You can learn more about the approach and experience behind the work by visiting the About Arecia Hester page. If you are exploring coaching options, reaching out by contacting us to help you determine whether the partnership feels like the right fit. Some clients also combine coaching with services like Image Consulting when their goals include strengthening executive presence or professional presentation.
Professional development coaching helps individuals gain clarity, strengthen leadership presence, and develop practical strategies for navigating their careers. Many clients begin the process feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure about their next professional step. Through structured coaching conversations and guided reflection, they often develop clearer goals, improved communication skills, stronger personal boundaries, and greater confidence in their decision-making.
Over time, clients frequently report reduced burnout, better alignment between their values and their work, and a deeper sense of career satisfaction. For individuals who struggle with self-doubt or feeling like they don’t belong in their professional environments, learning to navigate imposter syndrome can be a powerful part of the process. Resources like the Overcome Imposter Syndrome Guide and insights shared in the BIWOC Workplace blog explore these challenges in more depth.
Professional development coaching is designed to create meaningful, sustainable change rather than quick fixes. Most coaching engagements last between six and twelve months, with sessions typically scheduled weekly or every other week. Each session is usually about one hour, providing dedicated time for reflection, planning, and accountability.
Many clients begin noticing early shifts within the first three months as they develop greater clarity and confidence. Deeper transformation often unfolds around the six-month mark as new habits, communication patterns, and leadership behaviors take hold. For organizations or groups seeking to improve workplace dynamics, coaching may also integrate Team Building programs to strengthen collaboration and leadership across teams.
Professional development coaching packages typically range from about $150 to $2,000 depending on the level of support, session frequency, and length of the engagement. Some programs include additional elements such as leadership communication coaching, executive presence development, or guidance around personal branding and visibility.
If cost is a concern, it is still worth reaching out. A limited number of sliding-scale and scholarship-style coaching opportunities are available depending on capacity. The goal of coaching is to make meaningful support accessible to people who are genuinely committed to growth.
If you are interested in exploring options or discussing what might be possible, the best place to contact us is through our contact form. Even a brief conversation can help determine the best next step.
A limited number of Saturday sessions are available, depending on scheduling. Sunday sessions are not offered in order to maintain healthy boundaries and sustainable coaching practices.
For individuals who are committed to personal and professional growth, professional development coaching can be an incredibly valuable investment. Coaching provides structured guidance, accountability, and perspective that can help people navigate complex career decisions, strengthen leadership skills, and move forward with greater clarity.
Many clients find that coaching not only improves their professional performance but also increases their overall confidence and sense of purpose. Some individuals choose to combine Personal Development Coaching with Professional Development Coaching so they can address both internal mindset work and external career growth at the same time.
Trauma-informed coaching recognizes that people bring their lived experiences into their professional environments. Rather than pushing clients to move faster than they are ready for, this approach prioritizes emotional safety, autonomy, and respect for personal boundaries.
In trauma-informed coaching, the focus is on empowering clients to move at a pace that feels sustainable while building resilience and confidence over time. This philosophy informs the coaching work offered through Taking First and influences both individual coaching programs and collaborative services like Team Building.
Research across leadership development and workplace psychology consistently shows that coaching can significantly improve performance, communication, and career satisfaction when the coaching relationship is strong and collaborative. The process works best when clients are open to reflection, willing to take action, and committed to engaging honestly in the work.
