Meet Dr. Carla Michelle of CM Coaching & Consulting Services, Inc.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Carla Michelle.

Hi Dr. Carla , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When people ask how I started, I always say my real beginning wasn’t in business, it was in rebuilding. I was a recently divorced mother of four who had never lived on her own before. I was working part-time, no insurance, trying to figure out life and purpose while keeping my family steady.

During that season, I kept dreaming about sitting in a classroom. Those dreams pushed me to go back to school, first my associate’s, then my bachelor’s in Bus Administration, master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, and eventually a Ph.D. in Business Psychology all while working full-time and raising my children.

That journey redefined what strong means for me. It’s not about being superwoman — it’s about having a strategy, knowing your talent, staying resilient, choosing optimism, and remembering you are necessary. When you live that way, you go global — whatever your version of “global” looks like. (This is my acronyms for S.T.R.O.N.G.)

That’s how my company, CM Coaching & Consulting Services, was born. It came from the belief that strength isn’t something you prove; it’s something you build and expand.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I think about challenges, I’ve had plenty but they’ve all been teachers.
I started conducting coaching sessions while still working full-time. I had an office and would see clients during lunch breaks, after work, or virtually long before “virtual coaching” was popular.

Eventually, I made the decision to step out on my own. I left my full-time job with a dream, an office, and about 90 days’ worth of savings not the six months every business book said I should have. And then, COVID hit.

People assume that season must have exploded my business, but honestly, it didn’t boom it maintained. I was grateful for that. Because I had already been coaching clients online, I didn’t have to pivot much, but I did have to persevere. People still needed connection, guidance, and strategy to save their business, start one, or simply stay grounded in uncertainty.

Through that time, I learned how to welcome the gaps the quiet seasons, the open calendar spaces and see them as opportunities to refine my skills and lean in to who I truly wanted to serve. I learned to release clients who weren’t a fit, to stop saying yes just for the money, and to build coaching relationships that aligned with impact.

That period demanded resilience and optimism. I reminded myself that I didn’t have a Plan B, but I had vision and a purpose and that was enough.

I leaned into every skill I had coaching, speaking, writing, podcasting and learned to monetize my talents with intention. Those challenges made me sharper, more creative, and more convicted about the work I do today.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about CM Coaching & Consulting Services, Inc.?
CM Coaching & Consulting Services, founded by Dr. Carla Michelle, is a leadership development and executive coaching firm designed to elevate leaders, teams, and organizations.

What sets the brand apart is its foundation – Dr. Carla’s rare blend of business psychology, psychotherapy insight, and executive coaching expertise. This combination allows her to help clients not only think strategically but also evolve internally. Whether she’s working with CEOs navigating growth and team dynamics, women leaders breaking glass ceilings, or entrepreneurs clarifying their next chapter her approach integrates emotional intelligence, behavioral strategy and real-world leadership development.

She’s known for helping high-achieving individuals and organizations develop Executive Relationship Intelligence (ERI) — the ability to interpret tension, lead with empathy and accountability, and build trust that sustains both people and performance.

Under her direction, CMCC offers 1:1 executive coaching, leadership and team development programs, workshops, retreats, and keynotes which are all customized to meet clients where they are while guiding them toward growth and clarity.

Beyond her private coaching work, Dr. Carla founded The Coach’s Couch Alliance (CCA). This is a professional development community for new and seasoned coaches dedicated to building confident, skillful, and profitable practices. Through CCA, members gain access to monthly coaching sessions, business-building resources, leadership tools and a network designed for collaboration and accountability. It’s a reflection of Dr. Carla’s belief that empowered coaches create empowered clients.

Brand-wise, Dr. Carla is most proud of creating The S.T.R.O.N.G. Methodology — a framework born from her own story of resilience. It stands for Strategic, Talented, Resilient, Optimistic, Necessary, and Global — six pillars that define not only her coaching philosophy but also the lived experience of her clients who rise through it.

The CMCC brand is recognized for blending psychological depth and strategic execution a rare combination in today’s coaching world.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
In addition to coaching, Dr. Carla is an author, speaker, and host of The STRONG Network Podcast, where she leads real, unfiltered conversations about confidence, leadership, resilience, and personal transformation. Through her books and her podcast, she continues to expand her reach.

To learn more about Dr. Carla’s coaching, programs, and resources, visit drcarlainc.com

Pricing:

• Clarity Coaching 30 mins – free

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drcarlainc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carlamichelle/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carla.michelle.7568596/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcarlamichelle/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@drcarlamichelle
• Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strong-network-with-dr-carla-michelle/id1482210551