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Tonya Whittle
Researcher | Writer | Speaker | Course Developer
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Rooted in research. Built for impact. Professional development for women, by women.Â
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DRIVING CHANGE FOR WOMEN
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Mission:
Help Women (and Organizations) Unlock Potential
We support women to lead and live with clarity, power, and emotional intelligence — through research-informed courses, strategic development, and real-world programs.
We also partner with organizations to create lasting change through education, allyship, and human centered strategy.
This isn’t about fixing women — it’s about building what was never built for us.
For Women
If you’re ready to stop performing and start reclaiming — your power, your voice, your leadership — you’re in the right place.
Our programs are built for women who are done with surface-level fixes and ready for real, lasting change. We’ll support you in building emotional clarity, embodied confidence, and a path that aligns with who you truly are — not who you were taught to be.
You’ll gain the tools, support, and community to rise — personally and professionally — without self-abandonment.
For Companies & Men
If you're committed to creating cultures where women can lead with clarity, confidence, and authenticity — we can help.
Our leadership development is grounded in empathy, emotional intelligence, and evidence-based strategy. We work with companies and male allies to dismantle outdated systems, support meaningful equity, and cultivate environments where women — and everyone — can thrive.
Join the movement toward real change. Because when women rise, organizations do too.
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It’s time to live and work with clarity, not conditioning.
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EDUCATION & TRAINING
Research-driven programs created by women, for women — designed to unlock your full potential in life and career.
Effective leadership, empowerment, bystander intervention, and allyship training that drives real, lasting change.
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CONSULTING/RESEARCH
Tonya partners with organizations to design courses and programs. She guides strategic planning, research, and development—uncovering barriers and delivering evidence-based solutions that create meaningful change.
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"Emotional intelligence is not what holds women back — it’s what will move us forward."
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Current Research - Marine Institute
Does empathy influence risk perception — and what does that mean for safety in commercial fishing?
As part of her Master of Maritime Studies at the Marine Institute, Tonya is conducting original research on the relationship between empathy, risk perception, and safety in the commercial fishing industry — one of the most dangerous occupations in the world.
With most empathy research rooted in healthcare and education, this project marks an important shift: exploring how empathy functions in high-risk, public safety environments.
Her study focuses on the inshore fishery and investigates how emotional intelligence — particularly empathy — shapes how fishers perceive and respond to risk, and how this impacts safety.
Supervised by Dr. Steven Mallam and funded by the President’s Office at Memorial University, this research explores an understudied area of empathy and its impact on risk.Â
While this study focuses on the inshore fishery, its impact extends to other public safety institutions such as policing, firefighting, oil and gas, aviation, and public health — where risk perception, decision-making, and emotional intelligence play a critical role in safety outcomes and organizational culture.
For more information on this research you can contact Tonya at [email protected] or Dr. Mallam at [email protected].Â
BOOKS
Called a "sage with words" Tonya's books are inspiring people everywhere to live a life they love. Filled with wisdom and tidbits from life's challenges, her words have people reflecting on what living an authentic and empowered life means.Â
BLOG
With both free and paid content, Tonya’s blog is a bold invitation to reflect, rise, and reclaim.
Rooted in lived experience, it weaves personal storytelling with deep insight — offering a raw, honest lens on the challenges we face and the inner work required to move through them.
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PODCAST
Hosted by Tonya Whittle, Rise Higher is a podcast exploring the intersection of emotions and behavior.Â
Through honest, thoughtful conversations, Tonya explores the inner and outer work of rising: leadership, emotional intelligence, identity, boundaries, and the courage it takes to live and work fully aligned.
Nancy Burton
Intact InsuranceÂ
I’ve taken part in day events, in-depth courses, and even international retreats — each one offering something distinct, yet deeply connected. Every experience added a new layer, building a strong foundation for lasting growth.
Through Tonya’s work, I haven’t just learned — I’ve transformed. I’ve stepped into personal breakthroughs, realized lifelong goals, and reclaimed parts of myself I didn’t even know were missing.
