Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills

I’m Barbara Anne (MSEL, PCC, CPQC®, CELC), leader of Purpose-Filled Solutions & Evolutions®, "Solutions Navigator" and servant leader. Through coaching, training, and consulting, my team and I have helped thousands of companies, executives, leaders, and individuals feel seen, heard, validated, and valued so they can BEcome their vision of extraordinary for themselves, their teams and their company. How can I support you on your journey to achieving your vision of success in your career and life (all coaching is ultimately life coaching)? My purpose is to help you overcome challenges, identify opportunities and challenge mindsets, implement action plans, achieve goals, and ultimately thrive and scale with purpose and authenticity. How? By using my unique combination of experience and skills, leadership, change management, executive and core-purpose coaching, and team optimization strategies, along with accountability, flexibility, enthusiasm, creativity, and a sense of humor, I will meet you where you are and help you navigate where you want to go. I have three decades of experience in executive and leadership coaching, training, mentoring, business development, program and project leadership, and implementing civility, inclusion, equity, and diversity (CIED) to foster belonging in the workplace in corporate, nonprofit, and government agency environments, as well as in other aspects of life. I have been externally and internally coaching executives, leaders, business owners, and individuals going through career transitions from all walks of life, backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, ages, religious beliefs, and more, and I have directly assisted more than 2,125 companies, businesses and individuals just since 2002. In June 2021, I officially founded Purpose-Filled Solutions and Evolutions® LLC, a business consulting and leadership coaching company based in the USA. We help people "Map their Journey to BEcome Their Vision of Extraordinary in their Business, Team, Professional and Personal Life." I have worked with clients internally and externally of all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, beliefs, hidden and visible disabilities, and other diverse and non-majority populations and groups who only want to be seen and valued as the individual human BEings they are. Over 50% of my executive and leadership clients identify as ADD/ADHD or neurodiverse. I also serve as Director of Compliance & Engagement for Cooperative Business Assistance Corporation (CBAC), a small business microloan and technical assistance nonprofit organization in Camden, NJ, and I host “What The Why?!? with Barbara Anne,” a weekly streaming television talk show that just completed its third season and is pivoting to a podcast in 2025. Before my current roles, I served as Management Analyst/Community Liaison for the U.S. White House Promise Zone Initiative in Camden, NJ, stationed at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and as Supervisor of Lender Relations & Economic Development/ Women's Business Ownership Representative for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) New Jersey District Office. Additionally, I have served in varied levels of leadership, from manager to executive director, in corporate, non-profit, and municipal government arenas. I have an M.S. in Executive Leadership from Champlain College, a B.A. in Political Science/Honors with concentrations in Pre-Law and Women's Studies from Rowan University, and an A.A. in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Business Communications from Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ). I hold multiple professional certifications and adult continuing education certificates, including a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) designation with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Certified Executive Leadership Coach (CELC) from Ignite Business Partners' Coaching Excellence (ICF Level 2), Certified Professional Coach in Executive Coaching from RCSJ, and Certified Positive Intelligence Coach® (CPQC®). I also have certifications in trauma-informed approaches and inclusive leadership through implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. I serve in volunteer leadership capacities with my ICF State Chapter, Positive Intelligence, Founder Institute, the Advisory Network for Small Businesses (ANSB), and Braven, a fellowship program for college students. I am a member of ICF Global, the Association of Talent Development (ATD), CDFI Women’s Network, and other professional and civic organizations. The National Association of Women's Business Owners (NAWBO) – South Jersey Chapter honored me with their 2016 “Women's Advocate of the Year” award. I have received other awards for service and projects, including two White House-sponsored events. In 2023, I was inducted into the Forbes Coaches Council, and I have been published multiple times on Forbes.com. In my "spare time," I participate in multiple professional organizations in leadership and volunteer mentor roles. I'm in my 3rd season of an online streaming television talk show. I am a 2nd Degree Blackbelt member of the International Okinawa Goju-Ryu Kenshi-Kai Karate Kobu-Justsu Association, and I train in other forms of martial arts, as do other family members and friends. A classically trained vocalist, I recently resumed singing after overcoming illness-related partial vocal paralysis. I reside in Mount Laurel, NJ, with Joseph (husband and fellow Black Belt), Colin (son), Ariel (daughter I got to choose), Remi Bruno & Dora the Explorer - aka Dora the Destroyer (rescue furry babies), and other pets. Also, I love sci-fi and comedies, and spending time reflecting, meditating, learning, and exercising my creative side.