Susan Hyatt (she/her)

Meet Your Faculty

Leaders. Visionaries. Changemakers.

At the University for Life Coach Training, our faculty is made up of Master Certified coaches, psychologists, physicians, DEI educators, and adult learning experts. These aren’t just guest lecturers. They’re mentors who bring heart, rigour, and real world experience to every class.

Star Rose Bond (she/her)

c.René Washington (she/her)

Dr. Ana Verzone (she/her)

La Shell Wooten (she/her)

Rae McDaniel (they/them)

Dr. Elysa Roberts (she/her)

Moe Carrick (she/her)

Lin Eleoff (she/her)

Dr. Taryn Fletcher (she/her)

Jennifer Joy Jackson (she/her)

Becca Hopson (she/her)

Marianne Talkovski (she/her)

Mirna Valerio (she/her)

Theresa Reed (she/her)

Sheppard Lake (she/her)

Denise Duffield-Thomas (she/her)

Pamela Slim (she/her)

Susan Hyatt

  • Susan Hyatt is a Master Certified Life Coach, Bestselling Author, and TEDx Speaker on a mission to ignite Big Yes Energy in women everywhere.

  • She helps women boost their bank accounts, confidence, energy levels, and joy.

  • Nearly 20 years of coaching experience, she has guided thousands of women through life-changing transformations.

  • A vocal crusader against diet culture and advocate for closing the gap in wages, confidence, and orgasms.

  • Creator of BARE, a global movement helping women stop shrinking their bodies and start expanding their lives.

  • Featured in O: The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Woman’s World, and Call Her Daddy, plus national TV and top podcasts.

  • Finalist for the Athena Award for her work in women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship.

When she’s not coaching or leading retreats, you’ll find her weightlifting, training for marathons, jet-setting, or cozying up in her hygge corner.

She’s also a fierce advocate for equality at home, reminding her husband about the invisible workload so she can keep showing up big.

Mako Ward

  • Clinical Assistant Professor & Faculty Head of African & African American Studies at Arizona State University

  • Co-founder of Women Who Rock, a community collective & digital archive at the University of Washington

  • Served as curriculum lead in the development of online courses through partnership between ASU & Starbucks to address bias and difference with sympathy, empathy, and compassion.

  • Contributing blogger for The Conversation, Huffington Post, Praxis Center, and Ms..

  • Publisher of essays on body ethics and aesthetics among women of color, media and gender images in popular culture, and women’s political organizations.

  • She’ll help you understand personal bias and how we can move into a space of deeper understanding, creating a better world for you and your clients.

She’s also a fierce advocate for equality at home, reminding her husband about the invisible workload so she can keep showing up big.

Ericka Hines

  • Founder of Black Women Thriving, an initiative dedicated to defining and fostering thriving work experiences for Black women in the workplace.

  • A strategist, researcher, and educator, who collaborates across sectors to empower individuals and organizations to build inclusive cultures

  • Served as lead researcher for the Awake to Woke to Work framework: Building a Race Equity Culture, a seminal publication by Equity in the Center in 2018.

  • Tackles systemic barriers such as pay equity, mentorship, burnout, and the challenges of authentic belonging and has empowered more than 10,000 individuals with the skills needed to become inclusive, equitable, and effective leaders.

  • Known as a trusted advisor, her candid and empathetic approach inspires leaders across sectors, offering not only the analysis but also the tools to create sustainable, thriving environments where every employee feels valued and empowered. 

Based in Raleigh, NC, Ericka resides with her partner and her beloved pet, Allie.

Dr. Ana Verzone 

  • Master Certified Life Coach

  • Host of The Rebel Buddhist Podcast.

  • Experienced in women’s health, international and refugee healthcare, and understanding the effects of trauma.
  • B.A. Psychology from the University of California, as well as 3 Master’s and 1 Doctorate Degree in Nursing.

She’ll help you climb mountains, understand the effects of trauma, and make sure you know the best approaches when working with clients.

Staci Danford

  • Staci Danford is CEO & founder of THE GRATEFUL BRAIN.

  • Master’s degree in Mind, Brain & Education and certified in the Foundations of Happiness at Work. 

  • Is an author, podcast host and professional speaker and trainer, helping people all over the globe discover the power of their BRAIN.

  • Award winning educator with 25 years of teaching experience.

Nicole Iacovoni

  • Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from The University of Denver.

  • Former police officer with 20 years of experience working in mental health.

  • Founded Willow Tree Wellness & Counseling in 2012 and has dedicated her career to building a multifaceted, integrative mental health practice that provides accessible, affordable, and exceptional mental health care to clients. 

La Shell Wooten

  • Life Coach, Consultant, and Lecturer at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Social Work.

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from City University of New York City College.

  • Master’s in Social Work from New York University.

  • Experienced curriculum designer, instructor, and speaker with a focus on creating supportive learning environments to ensure team member’s success.

She’ll help you set expectations and prioritize your goals through creativity and calculated risk-taking!

Rae McDaniel 

  • Non-binary Speaker, Author, Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, Coach, and Transgender Diversity and Inclusion Educator

  • Their book Gender Magic is a first-of-its-kind practical guide to achieving gender freedom with joy, curiosity, and pleasure for transgender and non-binary individuals, gender explorers, and those who love them.

  • They have been featured in high-profile media such as The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Time, and Women’s Health.

  • Rae has spoken at Rutgers University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago, Soho House, The Wing, and Rachel’s Rodgers’ ROI: The Millionaires Summit.

  • Founder of Audacity Ventures, a parent company, and Practical Audacity, a Gender & Sex Therapy practice in Chicago.

Dr. Elysa Roberts

  • Dual-Certified Coach, PhD in Occupational Therapy, and seasoned University educator.

  • Known for her authenticity, passion from the podium, and capacity to see people’s potential before they do. At the core of her work is a deep and personal understanding of how easy it is for our confidence to get buried under limiting beliefs, archaic rules, societal conditioning, and doubt in our abilities.

  • She delights in equipping her future coaching colleagues with the philosophy, mindset and practices to claim their voice, embody their confidence, and make the impact that matters to them.

  • American born, now living in Australia, Elysa draws on her passion for diversifying the coaching profession, evidence-informed approaches and 25-year journey to freedom from an eating disorder in all she offers.

Moe Carrick

  • Founder of Moementum, Inc.
  • Author of two non-fiction business books focused on helping everyone thrive at work and probably will write another one or two.
  • Spoke on stages at Tedx and SXSW, even pioneered the first coverage with Fast Company magazine on extreme off-site team building.
  • As a white, US-born, heterosexual woman, Moe strives to use her privilege with grace to surface assumptions that interfere with teams and to explore systemic patterns.
  • From making apple butter, to studying literature; from serving as a wilderness guide with NOLS and Outward Bound to donning a suit and working inside corporate America, Moe loves adventures of the body and the heart. After grad school studying organizational development, Moe traded out her fleece for shoulder pads and jumped into business when the cellular industry was ramping up. She still remembers clearly the joy of holding a phone the size of a bread loaf to talk to her Dad in Boston from a street in Seattle.
  • Her best role ever has been mother of three, each of whom, miraculously, have made it to adulthood despite her poor cooking and issues with time management.

c.René Washington 

  • C. René Washington is an author, certified life & neuro coach, and event moderator.

  • After a successful corporate career managing and developing executives and professionals, she created new life chapters grounded in passion and purpose.

  • René is highly sought after for her straight-no-chaser style in coaching women to break through blocks and create their own desired life chapters.


  • Read her book, Take The Trip! 4 Journeys Every Midlife Woman Needs to Live In Purpose and Freedom, available exclusively through Amazon.

Star Rose Bond

  • Licenced Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) & Coach | Consultant | Activist . Specializing in Trauma & Trauma-informed Care, PTSD & Addiction Recovery, Harm Reduction, Relationships/Intimacy and Alternatives to Incarceration
  • B.A. in Social Work w/ a Concentration in Gender & Feminist Studies from NYU & a Master’s Degree (MSSW) in Social Work and Program Development from Columbia University
  • Co-Founder of Life Camp International 
  • Extensive experience working for multiple non-profits and grassroots organizations in under-served communities; implementing trauma-informed care as well participating in local outreach initiatives. 
  • Former Collaborator at Planned Parenthood NYC, International Rescue Committee NYC, NYHRE NYC Harm Reduction & Volunteers of America.
  • Star combines her unique personal history of healing and expertise with her love for neuro-science and teaches people from ALL walks of life how to overcome trauma, authenticate their story and own the f*ck out their legacy. 

Lin Eleoff

  • Founder of Gutsy Glorious Living 

  • Master Certified Life and Business Coach

  • Author of Amazon Bestseller Gutsy Glorious Life Coach: How to Turn Your Life Coaching Practice into a Soulful Money-Making Business

  • Lawyer and founder of Cover Your Assets Online, dedicated to helping women protect themselves while building their businesses online

  • Writer for American Bar Association on topics related to life coaching and well-being

  • Lin believes that “entrepreneurship has the power to heal us, and when we heal ourselves, woman by woman, we heal the world.”  

She’ll help you build a gutsyass life coaching business that not only makes you money but also makes you happy!

Dr. Taryn Fletcher

  • An author, educator, and transformational guide on a mission to empower 1 million leaders to boldly cultivate joyful and intentionally inclusive cultures across their workspaces.

  • Has reached millions of readers and viewers through national publications and media—like The 74, Smart Brief, and The Hechinger Report.

  • As a former New Jersey superintendent, founding charter school principal, and regional workforce development executive director, Dr. Taryn has been coaching leaders designing and developing programs that value historically excluded communities and their lived experiences for the last two decades. 

  • While earning her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Innovation, Taryn’s dissertation research and strategy influenced the complete revamp of an entire course offering within the university.

Jennifer Joy Jackson

  • As a kind, direct, intuitive, funny, and intelligent Black woman, I proudly hold dual Master’s degrees in Interpersonal Communication and Counseling Psychology.

  • I am certified through the Gottman Institute to work with couples, and my passion for Brainspotting truly lights me up.

  • In addition to being a mom, therapist, coach, author, and CEO, I live a full and fabulous life. It took time to recognize that moving at the “speed of woman” without systems for rest, fun, and pleasure was leading to burnout.

  • I feel most alive when connecting with people who are curious about creating peace, improving communication, and expanding their abundance.

  • For me, it’s vital to recognize what no longer serves us, understand why it came into our lives, and then set boundaries to support living fully. This is where abundance begins.

Becca Hopson

  • Began her career in the arts and performance arena.

  • Earned a master's degree in business management, specializing in change management and inclusive leadership.

  • Certified coach and business consultant with a unique blend of strategic business acumen and creative passion.

  • Specializes in helping thought leaders bring bold ideas to life, create courageous change, and embrace their genius leadership styles with a focus on promoting diversity, equity, inclusivity, accessibility, justice, and belonging (DEIAJB) practices. 

  • Excels at working with multi-passionate individuals, creatives, and executives to drive courageous change and promote diversity, equity, inclusivity, accessibility, justice, and belonging as foundational values for growth and success.

Marianne Talkovski

  • Certified Life Coach, holistic beauty expert, and speaker devoted to helping women rise in love with themselves, age radiantly, and live unapologetically.

  • Background in Traditional Chinese Medicine, NLP, and wellness travel.

  • Seamlessly blends Eastern philosophies, soul, and strategy to guide clients through powerful mindset shifts, visibility breakthroughs, and self-care rituals that activate their most aligned, magnetic selves.


Mirna Valerio

  • Career educator for 18 years with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion education in independent schools.

  • Developed and taught diversity curricula for high school and middle school students.

  • Provided life changing social justice-oriented professional development for staff and faculty. 

  • Focuses on DEI work with major sports and outdoor brands such as Merrell, Nike, and Burton Snowboards, schools and organizations, and other entities. 

  • Also a runner, cyclist, skier, National Geographic Adventurer of the year, speaker, and author, and an ambassador to several athletic brands.

Theresa Reed

  • AKA The Tarot Lady, who discovered tarot at 15 years old and never looked back.
  • Featured on: Gaian Soul, Milagro Roots’ Many Branches , EmmeStyle, Pace Smith’s Spiritual Entrepreneur Podcast, Real Talk Radio, Profit Power Pursuit, Ellen Fondiler’s UNLOCKED series, Creative Juices Arts, The Numinous, Anne Samoilov, Refinery29, and The Huffington Post.
  • Hosts podcasts: Talking Shop, Tarot Bytes, and Astrology Bytes.
  • A speaker at industry events such as Reader’s Studio (mainstage presenter in 2015) and SF BATS as well as at other events for female entrepreneurs, and an instructor at two Academies at World Domination Summit Academy and has taught side-by-side with Tarot legends Rachel Pollack and Mary K. Greer at the Omega Institute.
  • Author of The Tarot Coloring Book, Tarot For Troubled Times, Astrology For Real Life, Twist Your Fate, and Tarot: No Questions Asked – Mastering the Art of Intuitive Tarot Reading, with her newest due out May 2026: The Book of Astrological Returns: Your Complete Guide to Every Life Cycle from the Sun to Pluto
  • Is also a certified yoga instructor.

Sheppard Lake

  • Leadership and organizational development consultant and coach with over 20 years of experience.

  • Excellent facilitator and transformational coach.

  • Works with everyone from solopreneurs to executives in multi-national companies.
  • Loves learning and developing herself as much as others. 

  • Credentials include: MSc in Organizational and Social Psychology from The London School of Economics, Master Certified Coach and Master Facilitator of Equus Coaching™, to name a few.

Denise Duffield-Thomas

  • Is the money mentor for the new wave of online entrepreneurs who want to make money and change the world.⁣

  • Helps entrepreneurs like you charge premium prices, release the fear of money and create First Class lives. ⁣

  • ⁣Her books Lucky Bitch, Get Rich, Lucky Bitch, and her newest Chill and Prosper give a fresh and funny. roadmap to living a life of abundance without burnout.⁣

  • ⁣Her Money Bootcamp has helped over 10,000 students from all around the world.⁣

  • She’s a lazy introvert, a Hay House author and an unbusy mother of 3, who lives on the East coast of sunny Australia with her family and two fur babies.

Pamela Slim

  • Started the Pamela Slim Agency.

  • Nearly 30 years’ experience helping thousands of entrepreneurs grow their businesses as a business coach.

  • Helps thought leaders and organizations design, package and sell great methods, programs and IP.

  • Brings your best ideas to life in a form your ideal clients can’t resist, in a way that leaves you financially supported and energized.