Today we’d like to introduce you to Bency Beals.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey into speaking, coaching, and leadership development is deeply connected to my own personal story of growth and transformation. I’m a first-generation American, raised by Indian immigrant parents who came to this country with courage and hope for a better future. While I’m incredibly grateful for the values they instilled in me, growing up between two cultures also meant I spent many years trying to understand where I fit and finding my own voice.
Early in my career, I built a successful path in the corporate world, spending more than twenty years at Verizon in roles that included sales, leadership, and training. During that time, I discovered something that would ultimately shape my future: leadership is about influence and growth, and the most powerful leaders are those who invest in developing others.
But my personal life also brought challenges that forced me to grow in ways I never expected. Walking through a divorce and becoming a single mom was one of the most difficult seasons of my life. In many ways, I had to rebuild my confidence and sense of identity. In my cultural community, divorce can carry a stigma, and there were moments when I struggled with feelings of shame and unworthiness.
That season became a turning point. Through faith, personal development, and the support of mentors and coaches, I began to realize that transformation starts from the inside out. I learned that before we can lead others well, we must learn to lead ourselves—our mindset, our beliefs, and the story we tell ourselves about who we are and what we are capable of becoming.
That realization sparked a deep passion in me to help others experience that same kind of transformation. I eventually launched my business, Ignite Leadership Solutions, where I now speak, coach, and train leaders, teams, and organizations. My work focuses on helping people overcome limiting beliefs, develop their leadership capacity, and step into the full potential that God has placed inside of them.
Education has always been especially meaningful to me. I had the privilege of serving on a school board, which deepened my passion for investing in leaders within our schools and communities. Today, much of my work includes partnering with school districts and colleges to help develop educators, administrators, and student leaders. At its core, this work is about building the leaders of our future, because when we strengthen leadership in education, the impact ripples far beyond the classroom and into entire communities.
Looking back, the challenges that once made me question my worth are now the very experiences that allow me to connect deeply with others. My mission today is to help people discover their voice, lead themselves well, and recognize that their past does not define their future. Because here’s what I know for certain — you cannot lead others to a place you’ve never been willing to go yourself. When leaders do the inner work first, everything changes: the culture they create, the teams they build, the lives they influence. When people begin to believe in their potential and align with their purpose, the transformation that follows doesn’t just change them — it changes every person they lead.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Entrepreneurship, by nature, comes with uncertainty, and stepping out to build a business required me to learn many new skills and stretch beyond my comfort zone. Moving from a structured corporate environment into running my own leadership development company meant learning how to build programs, form partnerships, and consistently put myself out there as a speaker and trainer. That growth process takes patience and perseverance.
Another challenge has been learning to trust the timing of the journey. When you feel strongly about your mission, you want things to move quickly, but building meaningful relationships and creating sustainable impact takes time. Many of the opportunities I have today—especially working with school districts and colleges—came through years of planting seeds, serving, and building trust in the community.
At the same time, life doesn’t pause while you’re building a business. As a mom, I’m constantly learning how to balance leadership, entrepreneurship, and family. One of the most meaningful and stretching parts of my journey right now is learning how to support my son Elijah, who is on the autism spectrum. Navigating therapies, communication tools, and advocating for his needs has been both challenging and incredibly humbling. It has required patience, resilience, and a deeper level of compassion as a parent.
In many ways, that experience continues to shape me as a leader. It reminds me daily that leadership begins with how we show up for the people closest to us. Learning how to lead Elijah well—helping him grow, communicate, and thrive—has deepened my understanding of perseverance, empathy, and what it truly means to believe in someone’s potential.
Looking back, the road hasn’t always been easy, but every challenge has strengthened my purpose. Each season has taught me lessons about resilience, faith, and growth that I now carry into the work I do with leaders, educators, and organizations every day.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My company, Ignite Leadership Solutions, focuses on leadership development, coaching, and professional growth. I work with organizations, school districts, colleges, and business leaders to help develop stronger leaders, healthier cultures, and more effective teams. My work includes keynote speaking, leadership workshops, executive and leadership coaching, and longer-term development programs designed to help leaders grow both personally and professionally.
A core belief that guides my work is that leadership begins with self-leadership. Before we can effectively lead teams or organizations, we have to understand ourselves—our mindset, our values, and the beliefs that either empower us or hold us back. Much of my work focuses on helping leaders develop that awareness and move past limiting beliefs so they can lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
My faith also plays an important role in the foundation of my work. I believe that every person is created with God-given potential and purpose. While my work serves people from many different backgrounds and organizations, the heart behind my business is rooted in the belief that when people discover who they were created to be, they begin to lead and live differently. In many ways, I see Ignite Leadership Solutions as a Kingdom-minded business—one that seeks to develop people, encourage growth, and help others step into the purpose placed inside of them.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to partner closely with school districts and colleges, which has been especially meaningful to me because of my passion for education and my experience serving on a school board. I work with administrators, educators, and student leaders to help strengthen leadership capacity within schools. At its core, this work is about developing the leaders of our future, because when leaders in education grow, the impact reaches far beyond the classroom and into entire communities.
What also sets my work apart is that I don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. I believe the most effective leadership development happens when solutions are co-created with the client. Every organization has its own culture, challenges, and people dynamics, so I work closely with leaders to design programs and experiences that truly meet their needs. Whether it’s workshops, coaching, or longer-term leadership initiatives, the goal is always to create practical, meaningful growth that aligns with the organization’s vision and culture.
I’m also proud that my brand is built around community and service. Whether it’s leadership events like Live2Lead, working with schools, or supporting nonprofits, a big part of my mission is helping people recognize the influence they already have and equipping them to use that influence for good.
At the heart of Ignite Leadership Solutions is the belief that every person has leadership potential. When individuals develop themselves intentionally and begin to walk in their purpose, they don’t just change their own lives—they elevate the people and communities around them. That ripple effect is what inspires the work I do every day.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Yes, I would say I’ve taken some meaningful risks throughout my life and career. One of the biggest was leaving a stable corporate career to start my own business. After more than twenty years in the corporate world, I was used to the security of a steady paycheck, a clear structure, and a defined path. Stepping away from that to build a leadership development business required a great deal of faith and courage.
At the time, I felt a strong sense of calling toward the work I’m doing now—helping people grow as leaders and experience transformation in their own lives. I made the decision with the mindset that this was the path I was meant to pursue, and that there really wasn’t another option for me. At the same time, I was very aware that building a business takes time. Entrepreneurship doesn’t come with the predictability of a monthly paycheck, and there were certainly moments where that reality felt very real. But I approached it with a long-term perspective, trusting that if I stayed committed to the mission and continued to serve people well, the growth would come.
Risk has also shown up in other ways throughout my career. Even during my corporate years, I was willing to step into the unknown in order to grow. I relocated five different times for new roles and leadership opportunities, often moving to entirely new cities where I didn’t know anyone. Those decisions required a lot of courage, especially as a single mom. Each move meant rebuilding a support system, creating a new home environment for my family, and stepping into new professional challenges all at once.
Looking back, those experiences taught me that growth often lives on the other side of uncertainty. Taking risks doesn’t mean you have all the answers or that things feel perfectly secure. It means you’re willing to step forward anyway because you believe in the vision, the opportunity, or the purpose ahead of you.
Today, I view risk through the lens of growth and calling. If something aligns with your values, your purpose, and the impact you want to make, sometimes the greatest risk is not taking the step at all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://igniteleadershipsolutions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bencybeals/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bency.giles
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencygiles/
