About Toyinda
Toyinda L. Smith, MS, is at the helm of The Coaching Seat, LLC, a corporation dedicated to improving employee experiences and boosting organizational performance. She equips professionals with potent strategies for increasing revenue and supplies educational tools that facilitate their certification in coaching, speaking, and facilitating roles. This paves the way for their strategic entry into the industry, enabling them to help others and secure financial stability. Her coaching skills have been imparted across large educational institutions, major corporations, and statewide agencies, certifying over 75 professionals as coaches and facilitators, and training over 400 individuals to confidently articulate their ideas. With a wealth of experience spanning 25 years in education and business, Toyinda effectively harnesses leadership abilities, individual strengths, and team dynamics to drive profitable outcomes.
An internationally recognized speaker, Toyinda assists individuals and groups in reshaping their mindset, reigniting their enthusiasm, and realigning their path to success. She has authored three books: The Handbook to Unleash Your Potential, The Handbook to Dominate Your Confidence, and the Handbook to Coach Yourself. Toyinda's expertise is evident in her transformational engagements with high-profile clients, including Syngenta, Amazon, Chick-fil-A, Fifth Third Bank, and Dell Technologies North America. Her portfolio extends to academic institutions like Purdue University, Francis Marion University, and Coker University, as well as non-profit agencies such as The Byerly Foundation, United Way, and South Carolina Children’s Trust.
In 2019, her transformative contributions earned her a spot in the top 20 of the Dr. John C. Maxwell Culture Awards. In 2023, Toyinda took center stage at a TEDx event with her enlightening talk, "Bravery Determines Whether You Are Active or Inactive." Her speech captivated the audience, leaving them inspired and motivated to embrace courage in their lives. Toyinda's compelling message underscores the importance of bravery in determining our level of activity or passivity.
A native of Gary, Ind., Toyinda holds a bachelor of arts in Psychology and Sociology and an associates of science in Organizational Leadership and Supervision from Purdue University, as well as a master’s in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Indiana State University.
Toyinda had a very successful career at Purdue University where she was invited to walk onto the Purdue Women’s Track & Field Team. She was the NCAA Division-1 Women’s Indoor National Champion in the 20-pound weight throw in 1999. She was also a two-time All-American and an eight-time Big Ten Medalist with five of those being champion medals for the Boilermakers. She was inducted into both the Indiana Association of Track and Cross-Country Coaches and Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Halls of Fame.
Toyinda is the Executive Director and Founder of the 501c3 organization, Legacy of Women, Incorporated, demonstrating her commitment to community service. She is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority, Incorporated. Toyinda is a mother of two adult biological children and married to her life partner, Mr. R.L. Carter, Jr.
