Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Kesse.
Hi Erica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story began with a foundation shaped by both adversity and resilience. I grew up with two mothers, a reality that taught me to be profoundly open-minded, community-centered, and family-oriented, largely because I witnessed the harsh violence and rejection my parents faced from their own families and society for being in a lesbian relationship. At the same time, my biological mother held the belief that children were meant to serve as their mother’s slaves. To survive and navigate that environment, I learned early on to harness my natural gifts—crafting solutions, developing others, and leading—to serve her. Over time, I transmuted that survival mechanism into a higher calling: stepping into my power as a counselor, coach, and leader grounded in MOM Energy (Multifaceted Overflowing Maven).
Professionally, my journey formalized when I decided to draw a clear line between favors and paid expertise. After years of giving away my talents—from resume writing, event coordination, and graphic design to research and administrative tasks—I established Your Goal Concierge, Inc. to declare that my skills were a craft, not a freebie. Fascinated by human behavior, I earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, learning that while we cannot control others’ actions, we have full agency over our own responses. When licensing hurdles blocked traditional therapy, I adapted by integrating counseling principles directly into coaching, strategy, operations, and creative design. Resisting the pressure to “niche down” or shrink into a box, I embraced my multidimensional nature as a Multipotentialite, Multifaceted Mommy (MMM good).
My deepest personal turning point came when I lost a child to an ectopic pregnancy, followed by losing my will to live. In that devastating space, realizing I lacked an attuned social support system, I had to create a safety plan for myself. That profound grief catalyzed the creation of The Thrive Plan, a roadmap designed to turn deep pain into purposeful living and self-regulation. Today, as the Sun of the ThriveVerse powered by love, wisdom, and celebration, I listen like a therapist, teach like a coach, and serve as the “Leaders’ Healer” to bring clarity for activation and execution.
Because of my upbringing, much of my life’s work centers on ensuring mothers—our very first leaders—do no harm to their children and those around them. I am proudly raising and homeschooling my 15-year-old daughter, who shares her voice through her personal brand, From Acire to Chrys, empowering others to share their stories. In my daily work, I emphasize knowing who you are, practicing gratitude, maintaining foundational habits (nutrition, sleep, hydration, movement, and sunlight), and taking at least 15 minutes each day to simply be with yourself. Weekdays at noon, I host “Happy Day Commander” to check in on leaders who pour into everyone else but lack someone checking in on them, reminding them that their own well-being must be the priority.
To build sustainable ecosystems of support, I founded the Try On Thriving Ministry for MOM Energy and community leaders to rest, rejuvenate, and build their legacies in peace. Through our global, asset-based community of overflow, Thrive Strategists serve as high-functioning support partners who provide connection during moments of dysregulation and reinforce self-care practices—beginning with completing The Thrive Plan to become a “Commander of Your Thriving.” We are actively conducting “State of Thriving” Panel Discussions that will culminate in a State of Thriving Report and video showcased at our Viewing Fundraising Party, with opportunities to connect and learn more via bit.ly/chatandthrive.
My work extends across multiple collaborative and leadership initiatives:
Mom Pride & Events: On June 12, 2026, we wrapped up our MOM (Multifaceted Overachieving Mavens) Conference featuring 15-minute talks, 45-minute work sessions, a Maven in Fashion Show, and group therapy addressing imposter syndrome and burnout, with plans underway for a summit in 2027 through MOM Pride.
Published Works: Author of Honey, You Need Counseling Skills: Heal Yourself, Ignite the Leader, Grow Your Business, Be on T.O.P. – Try On Philosophy, two anthologies (The MOM Way and Scattered Pages), and the chapter “Overcoming Toxic Situations in the Workforce” in the IGI Global book Best Practices to Prepare Writers for Their Professional Paths.
Community Leadership & Healing Groups: President of the Board for Mirkat Impact, providing community and mental health resources to youth in Chicago, where I lead a Holding Space Grief Group. I also facilitate targeted healing groups, workshops, and keynotes including “My Mother is in Control: Learning to Parent Myself,” “My Career was Lost: Finding my Identity,” and “My Grief is Lonely.”
Operational Support: Co-founder of Upholding You, which bridges CEOs, solopreneurs, and highly skilled Nigerian professionals for project-based administrative support. Operating as a Therapeutic COO, I implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure projects are executed efficiently, effectively, and within budget.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
1. Mother who groomed me to be her slave and it is my #1 Achilles Heel that I have watch for even today. I can fall prey to overextending myself and serving others not from my overflow.
2. Home fire and losing my dog that led me to manifestation work and a closer connection with my spirituality
3. Losing a child to an ectopic pregnancy which sparked the creation of my rainbow baby, Thrive Plan
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?
Try On Thriving Ministry is an organization built specifically for MOM Energy leaders (Multifaceted Overflowing Mavens) and community leaders who pour tirelessly into others. It is designed as a sanctuary where high-impact leaders can rest, rejuvenate, and build sustainable legacies in peace. We operate from the core belief that leaders must influence from a place of holistic healthiness and “do no harm,” shifting from survival or burnout into true overflow.
We specialize in proactive well-being architecture, nervous system regulation, and structured social support. Rather than standard, transactional wellness advice, we offer high-functioning Thrive Strategists—dedicated social support system partners who step in during moments of dysregulation, provide genuine human connection, and actively check in on foundational well-being and self-care practices (such as nutrition, hydration, sleep, movement, sunlight, and taking at least 15 minutes a day to simply be with oneself).
What sets us apart is our deeply grounded origin and clinical-meets-compassionate approach. Try On Thriving and its foundational cornerstone, The Thrive Plan, were forged in the fire of deep personal grief—born out of the loss of a child to an ectopic pregnancy and the realization that leaders often lack an attuned, reliable support system when their own world crumbles. We blend counseling tools, emotional intelligence, and operational structure to meet leaders where they are.
Brand-wise, we are most proud of building a global, asset-based community of overflow where radical self-care and self-awareness are not treated as luxuries, but as non-negotiable leadership prerequisites. We hold space for leaders through daily connection points like “Happy Day Commander” and mobilize transformative community dialogues, such as our “State of Thriving” Panel Discussions, which culminate in a comprehensive State of Thriving Report and Video presentation.
For your readers, the entry point to our ecosystem begins by becoming a Commander of Your Thriving through completing The Thrive Plan. Whether through volunteering, partnering, or financial contributions, there are multiple avenues to support our mission. Readers can connect, get involved, and explore our work through the Try On Thriving Ministry www.yourgoalconcierge.com/thrive-plan and schedule a connection at bit.ly/chatandthrive.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Whether you are a multifaceted leader looking to protect your well-being, a business owner needing operational structure, an organization seeking transformative speaking and workshops, or someone passionate about community mental health, there are multiple ways to connect, work together, and offer support across both Your Goal Concierge, Inc. and Try On Thriving Ministry:
1. Work With Your Goal Concierge, Inc.
Your Goal Concierge provides strategic, operational, and counseling-informed leadership solutions to help you scale sustainably without burning out:
Thrive Strategy & Positive Intelligence Coaching: Work one-on-one or with your team to dismantle imposter syndrome, master self-regulation, and turn personal and professional friction into clear, actionable purpose.
Fractional & Therapeutic COO Services: Streamline your operations, implement rock-solid standard operating procedures (SOPs), and build scalable frameworks so your organization runs efficiently.
Operational Support via Upholding You: Partner with Upholding You to access high-skilled Nigerian administrative professionals backed by standard operating procedures tailored to your budget and project needs.
Join the MOM Pride Sisterhood: Connect with a community of Multifaceted Overachieving Mavens who reject traditional boxes and embrace their full spectrum of passions. Learn more at yourgoalconcierge.com/mom.
Keynotes, Facilitation & Healing Groups: Book Erica for keynote speaking, corporate workshops, or targeted group facilitation, including:
“I Am HER (Harmonious, Excellent, Relationship-Focused)”
“My Mother is in Control: Learning to Parent Myself”
“My Career was Lost: Finding my Identity”
“My Grief is Lonely”
Holding Space Grief Groups
Published Books & Guided Tools: Pick up Honey, You Need Counseling Skills: Heal Yourself, Ignite the Leader, Grow Your Business, Be on T.O.P. – Try On Philosophy, and the anthologies The MOM Way and Scattered Pages.
2. Engage with Try On Thriving Ministry
Try On Thriving is the sanctuary for MOM Energy and community leaders to rest, rejuvenate, and lead from overflow rather than depletion:
Complete The Thrive Plan: Take the foundational first step to become a certified “Commander of Your Thriving” by creating your personalized wellness and safety roadmap.
Work with a Thrive Strategist: Connect with high-functioning social support partners for regular well-being check-ins, accountability on daily foundational habits, and grounding during moments of dysregulation.
Tune In to “Happy Day Commander”: Join the weekday noon check-in designed specifically to pour back into leaders who spend their days serving others.
Participate in “State of Thriving” Panels: Join our ongoing community panel discussions addressing modern leadership and wellness, leading up to our State of Thriving Report, video premiere, and Viewing Fundraising Party.
3. Support & Collaborate
We are actively building a global, asset-based community of overflow and welcome your partnership:
Donate & Partner: Support the ministry’s mission financially, become a corporate sponsor, or volunteer your expertise through the Try On Thriving Ministry Portal.
Support Youth Mental Health: Back our work with Mirkat Impact, providing vital mental health resources and community support to youth in Chicago.
Schedule a Connection: Reach out directly to discuss collaboration, speaking, or custom partnerships at bit.ly/chatandthrive or via email at info@yourgoalconcierge.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yourgoalconcierge.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourgoalconcierge/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erica.kesse.79/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericakesse/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ygcthriving
