Sheila helps lawyers, creatives and other service-based professionals figure out what they want, why they want it and how to get it! Sheila uses humor, transparency and empathy to create genuine connections, and you’ll likely hear her laugh before you see her trademark curls.
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Voiceover Talent Spot (Outro)
Sheila M. Wilkinson // Bio
Sheila M. Wilkinson is a Louisiana Licensed Attorney, a Louisiana Licensed Master Social Worker, an Educator, an Empowerment Coach and Consultant, and the host of two five-star podcasts: “What Would Sheila Say?” and “Build Your Joyful and Thriving Lawyer Life” Podcasts. Sheila combines her love for the law, social work, and education to help lawyers, creatives, and other service-based professionals and business owners transform pain, frustration, and unreasonable expectations at work into happiness, success, and healthy boundaries, so that they can achieve their personal and professional goals.
Sheila splits her time between New Orleans and Brussels, serves several nonprofits in the Greater New Orleans area, and provides services across the globe. Whenever Sheila’s clients need to make a decision and they’re stuck, all they have to do is ask themselves: “What would Sheila say?” … and like magic, they have their answer! ✨
See below for a more Traditional Bio
Most Requested Topics
Reconnecting Your Intellectual Self to Your Emotional Self
5 Simple Steps to a Better Life Balance
The Secret to Managing Expectations
You Are Not Your Job Title. Really.
Overcoming the Fear of Losing the Client
Protect your Brand: How to Deal with Client Disputes
The Practical Toolkit to Personal Wellness
How to Start Building a Healthy Life at Work and at Home
Stepping Up or Stepping Back? How to turn Uncertainty into Certainty
12 Ways your Client Contract Hurts You (and how to fix it!)
A Straight Answer to an Age-old Question: Can My Client Sue Me?
Downloads + Highlights
Logos
SMW // SMWPLC Law Firm
Headshots
Corporate // Relaxed // Aspirational // Joyful // Pride
Social
- Sheila
- Website: https://www.sheilawilkinson.com
- Instagram: @sheilamwilkinson
- Facebook: @lawyercoachsheila
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smwilkinson
- Podcast: https://creativesed.com/p/podcast
- Hashtags: #whatwouldsheilasay #whatwouldsheilasaypodcast #creativesed #creativesedpodcast #buildingblocks
Suggested Interview / Introductory Questions
- You wear a lot of hats – Licensed Attorney, Licensed Master Social Worker, Educator, Coach. I’d love to know more about your personal story. How did you get to where you are right now?
- Sheila will share her personal story and journey – growing up in an HIV-household, losing her parents as a teenager, raising her sister while working fulltime and going to school fulltime, building several multi-million dollar companies with and for others, how being diagnosed later in life with an auditory processing disorder helped her seal the transition into her transatlantic life of living on two continents, and how running a fully virtual business is the best decision she ever made for herself.
- What advice would you have for someone who’s not sure of their path in life?
- Leaning on her signature method, Sheila will outline the most important steps to take to start to evaluate what a person truly wants in their life and why.
- What does your routine look like each day? What advice do you have about routines?
- Sheila will discuss what her routine looked like through each phase of her career and highlight the elements that she leans on day after day to keep a stress-free life.
- Let’s talk a bit about making goals. You say you’re a “SMART Goal lover” (is that like a part-time lover? 🥰). Tell us about what a SMART Goal is and why you love it so much. And how is this different than any other goal? Or an intention?
- Sheila will outline the elements of a SMART Goal, and how they differ from regular goals, intentions, aspirations, and wants. She’ll discuss the archaic ways we make decisions or set goals, and why these are holding us back from reaching our goals (and embracing our dreams).
Traditional Bio
DESCRIPTIVE
SHEILA M. WILKINSON combines her love for the law, social work, and education to help lawyers, social workers, creatives, and other service-based entrepreneurs build joyful and thriving lives. She is a Louisiana Licensed Attorney, Louisiana Licensed Master Social Worker, an Educator, Empowerment Coach and Consultant, and the host of two five-star podcasts: “What Would Sheila Say?” and “Build Your Joyful and Thriving Lawyer Life” Podcasts. Sheila earned her Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of New Orleans, her Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University, her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University, and her Advanced LL.M. in International and European Business Law from the Institute of European Studies in Brussels, Belgium. Since 2007, Sheila has lived between Europe and the United States, and she was a Belgian Resident from 2013 to 2016. Currently splitting her time between New Orleans and Brussels, Sheila teaches at Loyola University New Orleans and at United Business Institutes – Brussels, and is heavily involved in community development. As a Founder of SMWPLC, an Indigenous Woman-Owned, Minority Women-Run hybrid firm, Sheila provides continuing education opportunities to lawyers and social workers, serves on several nonprofit boards, and provides legal, consulting, and coaching services across the globe.
100 WORDS
SHEILA M. WILKINSON helps licensed and certified professionals build joyful and thriving lives. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker, an Attorney and Educator, and Coach, Consultant, and host of two five-star podcasts: “What Would Sheila Say?” and “Build Your Joyful and Thriving Lawyer Life” Podcast. Sheila earned her BA from UNO, her MSW from Tulane, her JD from Loyola, and her LL.M. from VUB/IES in Belgium. Since 2007, Sheila has lived between Europe and the USA, splitting her time between New Orleans and Brussels. Sheila teaches at several universities, is heavily involved in community development, and is the Founder of SMWPLC, an Indigenous Woman-Owned, Minority Women-Run hybrid firm, providing services across the globe.
Kind Words + Testimonials
“This process was eye opening. I didn’t realize I had so much to unfold about how I show up in the world, personally and professionally. It has given me clarity on what I want long-term and the steps to take now to get me there sooner.” — A Very Private Coaching Client (Artist, Graphic Designer, World Traveler)
“Going through Building Blocks gave me the tools not only to make a plan, but more importantly, to find my why and to express my why in my own voice. The program helped me to build, literally, one block at a time, from my earliest idea of what I want to do into an actionable plan in my own words.” — Kim (Attorney and Mindfulness Meditation Guide)
“Before joining I was apprehensive because I did not know what to expect or if it would be worth my time. As a mom, wife, and therapist I encourage people around me to achieve their dreams but I knew this was my time so I took a risk. The best risk because I have invested in myself. I have gained clarity and courage through this process. Who knew everything I needed was inside of me and I just needed Building blocks to pull it out of me! Forever grateful!” — Jamie (NICU, Perinatal, and Family Therapist)
“Definitely trust Sheila and make this decision to invest in yourself. I know the income commitment can be scary and might seem intimidating. But you will walk away with new insights about others, new insights about yourself, more clarity and confidence in your purpose, and the framework to get you serving your purpose!” — Jessica (Attorney)
“Her guidance, encouragement & exercises have literally given me a blueprint to get to my future. No gimmicks, tricks or vague platitudes, but an actual, attainable path to living my best life.” — D.P. (Storyteller, Freelance Editor)
“I now recognize that we are raised in a society where it comes naturally to compromise our boundaries – and that it is safe to have them.” — Laura (Real Estate Appraiser)
“Sheila’s guidance and intuitive style has really created a space for me to work out what I needed to do to move forward confidently in my desire to create my dreams.” — Dina (Inspirational Artist, Certified Therapeutic Art Life Coach)
“When you get sick and tired of being sick and tired, Sheila can be your catalyst for change. I remain impressed by her knowledge and experience yet more so by her ability to translate them into simple, practical steps I can take. So thankful to have her join me as a sounding board & advisor/coach as I navigate to and through the next chapters of my life!!” — H.C. (Attorney, Energy Guide, and Spiritual Warfare Educator)
“This experience literally has a been a life-changing experience for me. Whenever I take the time to think back to where I was mentally and emotionally when I first started with Sheila in April to where I am now, it’s mind-blowing. Sheila truly has been a godsend for me because she came right at a time when I was ready to take action on personal and professional dreams that I’ve had for my life for so long. But I was and have been so weighed down by the daily stresses of life and, now, a pandemic, that I just couldn’t see the steps to get there. That’s where Sheila just came and put the pieces together. Her guidance, encouragement and exercises have literally given me a blueprint to get to my future. Not gimmicks, tricks or vague platitudes, but an actual, attainable path to to living my best life. I’ve enjoyed every step.” – Donecia (Copywriter, Social Media Manager)
“I am getting so much out of my coaching with Sheila. I really appreciate that everything is organized, easy to keep up with, and clearly laid out. All of the interfaces are easy to use and Sheila makes even Zoom calls feel personalized. Sheila is a very gifted coach and mentor who is skilled at listening and guiding, as well as at spotting those times when digging deeper would be beneficial. She has helped me identify what I want/ need to work on and has helped me formulate a week by week plan that feels just right, never overwhelming and never too little. I’m so grateful for Sheila and her program that is allowing me finally to dream my own dream.” – KLM (Attorney)
“I had no expectations at the beginning and wasn’t really sure which direction I would end up in. Sheila’s guidance and intuitive style has really created a space for me to work out what I needed to do to move forward confidently in my desire to create my dreams. I feel more organized and in control of my dreams after talking with Sheila, more hopeful!” – D. S. (CYT Yoga Instructor and Reiki Master)
“Sheila is an amazing attorney, business coach, and human being, who is helping me make a significant transition in my career. I am particularly impressed by her follow up to our meetings where she has recapped points of our discussion and suggested follow up steps. This has enabled me to turn our conversations into concrete plans of action that I can execute.” – S.K. (Attorney)
“Sheila goes above and beyond. I can’t thank her enough for providing me with the clarity and confidence that allowed me to take my career to the next level. Her breadth of knowledge, compassion, and intuitive compass led me to a range of options and ideas that I hadn’t realized were possible, from a personal and professional standpoint. She is a coach, a strategist, and a mentor–your advocate through and through at all times.” Kindra M. (In-House Counsel)
“Felt empowered and that I have some one in my corner also I felt excited!” – Nabila B. (Social Worker, Executive Director)
“Sheila seems 100% invested in her role as coach and 100% interested in my success. This makes me want to work harder. A fount of wisdom, she says all the right things and is helping me build my business (and life) in ways that bring me joy.” – Erin (Business Owner, Esthetician)
“Sheila is 100% committed to helping me achieve my goals. She consistently shows up to our meetings with fresh insight and helpful tools that I’d never think of on my own. Her follow-up emails keep me on track and provide clear direction on the path to building my business. Words fail to adequately describe how grateful I am for Sheila and the supportive force she is in my life.” — E.S. (Yoga Teacher)
“I feel more organized and in control of my dreams after talking with Sheila, more hopeful. I had no expectations at the beginning and wasn’t really sure which direction I would end up in. Sheila’s guidance and intuitive style has really created a space for me to work out what I needed to do to move forward confidently in my desire to create my dreams.” D. (Business Owner)
“I started working with Sheila around the exact time I was leaving my 9-5 to pursue my dream of being my own boss. I always held the opinion of myself that I could do it myself and that I knew everything about what it would take to get me to a place of loving myself, my business, and my life. Boy I was wrong. I have learned so much more about myself and how some of my habits were holding me back. I was getting in my own way. Having someone who is on your team supporting you and guiding you on your journey has been the biggest miracle I could have ever received during such a transitional point in my life, and my business. I am beyond grateful for the guidance I have received from Sheila. She is strong, she is supportive and she is an expert.” — Erin (CEO, Founder, Accountant, Money Systems Creator)