ETHNIC GEMS
Natasha Saunders
By John Salvi, Contributing Writer
An inspirational certified career coach and speaker, Natascha Faye Saunders is a life changer focused on our youth. Natascha is a life-long resident of Boston. She coaches individuals & provides workshops in: college prep, internships, career selection, interviewing, resumes, goal-setting, vision/mission, networking, personal finance, and image. Natascha is an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Career Services at Boston University School of Management, Adjunct Leadership Faculty for the University of Rhode Island Women's Studies Department and CEO/Founder of The Youth Career Coach Incorporated. Natascha has also spent time in West Africa. While earning a life-long friend and pen-pal, she also helped establish a library in that nation.
In the year, 1999 while attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst she discovered her passion for coaching. As a result, she is the creator of a Bachelor Degree Interdisciplinary Major for UMASS Amherst entitled, "Independent Image Consulting" and proudly class of 2001. She has numerous mentors that have been there for her. They are Jim Vincent, Manager of the Constituent Advocacy at RI Housing, Peter Wells who is the Publisher/Editor-In-Chief for the Providence American Newspaper. Another key person is the VP of HR at Mentor Network and Managing at Foster and Francisco, Emerson Foster. Sometimes a mentor can come to you in an unlikely form. For Natascha it was a librarian who suggested to her, a life in Career Development.
Prior to focusing on coaching, Natascha's professional background consists of retail experience with Neiman Marcus, Ann Taylor and Macy's. Her time at Macy’s as an HR Manager she noticed a lack of professionalism in younger people. She wanted to change this attitude by coaching students. She also coaches adults in her spare time. Natascha has experience in financial services with State Street Research & Management and A.G Edwards & Sons Inc./Wachovia Securities.
Academic establishments such as: Brown University, Providence College, Simmons College, Natick High School, The Met School, Paul Cuffee and Boston based Community Academy have all hosted Natascha as a guest speaker for their student body. She has also spoken and served on panels for some of the nations' most prominent organizations including: The Links Inc., Girl Scouts of America and TJX Corporation. Natascha has engaged in many interviews with the media such as The Boston - Bay State Banner, The Providence American, The Fall-Rivers Herald News, The Pepper Bird Magazine, Point Magazine, The Jim Vincent Show and ABC Channel 5 City Line. Natascha has also been featured in Working Mother Magazine Online sharing career tips to parents for their children.
Natascha received a senate citation for the completion of Leadership for a Future Training Program under the Institute for Labor Studies and Research and the National Conference for Community & Justice. She has also served as Miss Black Rhode Island 2006 and 2007 under the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant.
Natascha's education includes: an MBA in Global Business Leadership from Johnson & Wales University, and an Executive MS in Leadership from Northeastern University. Natascha is a member of the National Career Development Association, Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and serves on the board of directors for the YWCA-Greater Rhode Island.
Going forward, Natascha aspires to step foot into every single school & church in New England as a workshop facilitator or guest speaker. She also hopes to have name The Youth Career Coach Inc. in the house holds of children everywhere. Her other desires are to publish a series of books & guides. She has written a few already and would like to accomplish the art of being a published author. Natascha’s dream is to get funded to create a video project where she can interview professionals all over and upload the content to a website for young people to view from everywhere. So not just reading about what it’s like to be a chemist but to hear it first hand.
Natascha has coached and mentored 1000's of students and career professionals. Natascha is single and lives in the New England area, where she enjoys tennis, reading and cooking. Her favorite books are Girl’s Guide to Power and Success, How to Become A CEO and Networking Your Way Into Rich Relationships. Natascha's motto is: "BE WHAT IT IS YOU WANT TO ATTRACT!"
