The Black Woman in the Corner Office

Stop Abandoning Yourself: Breaking Free from People Pleasing and Performance

Ebony Stone Season 2 Episode 13

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What happens when your greatest strength becomes your greatest burden?

For many high-achieving Black women, success comes at a hidden cost. We become the dependable one, the achiever, the fixer, the leader—and somewhere along the way, we lose ourselves.

In this deeply honest conversation, Dr. Ebony Stone sits down with LaToya DeShaun, Liberation Strategist and founder of The Patent Leather Project, to discuss the emotional weight of people pleasing, performance-based living, and self-abandonment.

Drawing from her journey as a celebrity makeup artist, entrepreneur, and now liberation coach, LaToya shares how healing, faith, therapy, and intentional self-discovery helped her reclaim her identity and build a life rooted in purpose instead of validation.

If you've ever tied your worth to your accomplishments, struggled to set boundaries, or wondered why success still doesn't feel like enough, this conversation is for you. 

Who Should Listen to This Episode?

This episode is for you if...

  •  You're the person everyone depends on, but you rarely make time for yourself. 
  •  You've tied your self-worth to your achievements or productivity. 
  •  You struggle to say "no" because you don't want to disappoint others. 
  •  You've experienced burnout from constantly performing or proving yourself. 
  •  You're learning to set healthier boundaries without guilt. 
  •  You're ready to stop people pleasing and start living authentically. 
  •  You're on a journey of healing, self-discovery, and reclaiming your identity.

Corner Office Lessons

🖤 Lesson 1: Success Cannot Replace Self-Worth

Achievement may earn applause, but it cannot heal emotional wounds. Lasting confidence comes from knowing who you are—not from what you accomplish.

🖤 Lesson 2: People Pleasing Has a Cost

Many high-achieving women spend years putting everyone else first. Freedom begins when you stop seeking validation and start honoring your own needs.

🖤 Lesson 3: Boundaries Are an Act of Self-Respect

Choosing yourself isn't selfish. Healthy boundaries create space for peace, purpose, and authentic relationships.

🖤 Lesson 4: Healing Requires Truth

Transformation starts when we're willing to examine the stories we've believed about ourselves and replace them with truth.

🖤 Lesson 5: Freedom Is Found in Identity, Not Validation

When your identity is rooted in purpose instead of performance, you no longer need approval to know your worth. 

About Today's Guest

LaToya DeShaun is a Liberation Strategist, speaker, writer, and founder of The Patent Leather Project, where she helps high-achieving women break free from self-abandonment, people pleasing, and performance-based living.

After building a successful career as a celebrity makeup artist working with high-profile clients, LaToya realized that true transformation begins within. Today she empowers women through coaching, workshops, speaking engagements, and faith-centered conversations to reclaim their identity, establish healthy boundaries, and create lives aligned with purpose instead of approval. 

Connect with LaToya DeShaun

🌐 Website

The Patent Leather Project

💜 Break Free from Self-Abandonment

Take the first step toward living a life rooted in freedom and purpose.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdH-yljLQY_U8MtkQD94xed2MYNSN-qV61xYn01hnkKLY9dBQ/viewform

🎤 Book LaToya

Interested in coaching, workshops, speaking engagements, or leadership development?

Hire LaToya to help you build a life you actually want.

📱 Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/latoyadeshaun/

🔗 Linktree

https://linktr.ee/latoyadeshaun

Explore all of LaToya's resources, coaching opportunities, workshops, speaking engagements, and current projects.

💬 WhatsApp

+1 (773) 203-8879

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To learn more about Dr. Ebony Stone, visit www.drebonystone.com 

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Connect with Dr. Ebony Stone

Follow The Black Woman in the Corner Office for more conversations with extraordinary Black women leaders who are changing organizations, communities, and industries.

If you enjoyed what you heard, there is much more on my website (www.drebonystone.com) and you can catch more episodes here and on the Black Woman in the Corner Office YouTube channel @drebonystone.

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