Inspiring Conversations with LaToya Smith of Eros Heart Coaching

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaToya Smith.

Hi LaToya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up on the East Side of Cleveland in the Buckeye neighborhood, where I lived until the end of my eighth-grade year, when my family moved to East Cleveland. Growing up in a single-parent household, my mother instilled in my older sister and me strong values grounded in Christianity, service, and community. Those values became the foundation for how I approach life, relationships, and the importance of giving back.

As a proud graduate of Shaw High School, I began my college journey the summer immediately following graduation. I had been accepted into the LINK Program at Cleveland State University, a program designed to support Black and Hispanic students pursuing degrees in fields such as business and engineering. As a marketing major, I was grateful for the opportunities the program provided, including eight internship experiences related to my field of study. However, one of the most meaningful aspects of the program was its commitment to mentorship.

During my first year, I was paired with a mentor, Glen Shumate, who was originally expected to commit to the mentoring relationship for just one year. What began as a formal mentorship grew into something much more meaningful. Glen invested in my personal and professional development, helping me navigate new experiences and recognize my potential. I am incredibly grateful that our connection has continued to this day. Looking back, I realize that this experience helped shape my understanding of the lasting impact one person can have by simply being willing to share their time, wisdom, and support. It also helped me appreciate the importance of paying that investment forward.

Today, I am celebrating 27 years of service at Fifth Third Bank, where I serve as Vice President and Talent Acquisition Manager. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to grow through several roles, beginning as a branch trainee and advancing to branch manager, Risk Manager, recruiter, and now Talent Acquisition Manager. In my current role, I lead a team of 11 consultants supporting the Consumer Bank across Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Chicago. Each position has provided valuable lessons in leadership, relationship-building, talent development, and the importance of creating opportunities for others to succeed.

Over the years, I have also had the privilege of serving my community through workshop facilitation, mentoring and coaching team members, attracting and recruiting top talent, developing people, and creating strategies to strengthen talent pipelines. Whether I am supporting an employee’s professional growth, helping someone explore a new opportunity, or building relationships that connect people to meaningful careers, I remain committed to helping others recognize and reach their potential.

As I mentioned earlier, my mother instilled service in me at an early age. Giving back is not simply something I do; it is a value I carry with me in every aspect of my life. I am actively involved with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, where I participate in community service alongside my sorority sisters. I also serve on several nonprofit boards and contribute to organizations that are making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

I serve on the board of the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland and have the honor of serving as Board Chair of Bessie’s Angels, an organization that supports young women ages 16–24 who have been impacted by foster care. I am also a founding member of the Our Hope, Our Future Giving Circle, a group of friends who come together to provide microgrants to Black-led nonprofit organizations. In addition, I am a founding member and Vice Chair of DNA Rising, a nonprofit organization that provides bridge housing for up to three years to single mothers and veterans experiencing homelessness. Each of these organizations reflects my belief that when we come together with compassion, purpose, and a willingness to serve, we can create meaningful and lasting change in our communities.

My passion for helping others rediscover their potential also led me to entrepreneurship. In 2019, I launched Eros Heart Coaching, where I offer intimacy, life, and executive coaching services. This journey has been incredibly rewarding because it allows me to support individuals and couples as they rediscover joy, reconnect with themselves, and build deeper, healthier connections with others. I also have the opportunity to help individuals explore new possibilities, gain clarity, and confidently navigate career transitions and personal growth. Being able to create a space where people feel supported as they work toward becoming the best versions of themselves is work that is deeply meaningful to me.

I recognize that much of the work I do with others is connected to my own personal healing journey. Over the years, I have invested in my growth through coaching certifications, continued learning, and the intentional work of looking inward and addressing the areas where I, too, need to grow. Personal development has become a way of life for me. I believe that the more we are willing to learn about ourselves, the better equipped we become to support others with compassion, understanding, and authenticity. I am a Reiki Master, Somatic Practitioner, and Board-Certified Coach, and I continue to embrace opportunities to deepen my knowledge and strengthen my ability to serve.

While I am grateful for the professional accomplishments, community involvement, and opportunities to make a difference, my most rewarding role is being a mother. I am incredibly grateful for the lessons my two talented children teach me every day. My daughter continues to teach me what it means to become a better woman. Through her, I am often reminded of the areas where I still have room to grow, heal, and evolve. My son, with his strength and confidence, reminds me of the importance of standing tall and remaining grounded, even in the face of adversity. They both challenge me to keep growing, and I am thankful for the opportunity to learn alongside them.

I am also deeply appreciative of my spouse’s support. I recognize that I could not do all that I do without the encouragement, partnership, and understanding of my family. Their support allows me to continue showing up for the many people and organizations that are important to me.

When I reflect on my journey, I see a common thread that connects every chapter of my life: service, growth, and the power of relationships. From the values my mother instilled in me, to the mentor who invested in my future, to the people I have had the privilege of leading, coaching, and serving, I have learned that we all have the ability to make a difference in someone’s life. Sometimes, that difference begins with a simple act of kindness, a word of encouragement, an open door, or a willingness to walk alongside someone as they discover what is possible.

I am grateful for the journey, the people who have helped shape me, and the opportunities I continue to have to pour into others. My hope is to keep leading with purpose, serving with compassion, and creating opportunities for others to grow, thrive, and realize their full potential.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been many challenges along my journey that have shaped me into the woman I am today. One of those challenges was navigating the financial burden of pursuing my college education. It took me five years to graduate because of the cost of tuition and the financial obstacles I faced along the way. Recently, when I heard that Cleveland State University was offering free tuition to students, I became emotional. I couldn’t help but think about how different my college experience might have been if that opportunity had been available when I was a student. Perhaps I would not still be carrying the burden of student loan debt today. Even after pursuing my master’s degree, I have continued to manage that financial responsibility. Because I work in banking, I was not eligible for the student loan forgiveness opportunities that benefited so many others during President Biden’s administration.

During my first two years of college, my tuition was covered, but after that, I had to figure out how to pay for the remainder of my education. When we completed the financial aid forms, the determination was based on my high school income and my mother’s income. We were told that our combined income was too high to qualify for financial aid. My mother worked as a division secretary at University Hospitals, and I remember feeling that the determination did not reflect our actual financial circumstances or the challenges of paying for college.

As a result, I had to work three jobs to afford my education. Balancing work, school, and the financial pressures that came with being a college student took a toll on me. My grades suffered, and so did my quality of life. I was doing everything I could to keep moving forward, but the weight of those responsibilities was difficult to carry.

During that same season of my life, I also experienced the tragic loss of someone close to me. I was deeply grieving, yet I suffered in silence. I never told anyone how much I was hurting or how deeply the loss affected me. Looking back, I recognize that I was trying to manage so much on my own while carrying pain that I did not know how to express. Those experiences taught me how to persevere, but they also showed me the importance of acknowledging our pain and giving ourselves permission to heal.

Through my own inner work and personal healing journey, I have learned to work through abandonment issues, reconnect with myself, and process the loss of family members, whether through death or estrangement. I have come to understand that healing requires honesty, patience, and a willingness to confront the parts of ourselves that may have been hurt along the way. These experiences have also deepened my compassion for others because I understand that people can be carrying pain that the world never sees.

Today, the work I do through coaching is rooted in many of these lessons. I help others recognize their worth, reconnect with themselves, and learn how to love themselves unconditionally. I understand that the journey toward self-love is not always easy, especially when life experiences have caused us to question our value or disconnect from who we truly are. My hope is to help others recognize that their challenges do not define them and that, even in the most difficult seasons, there is room for growth, healing, and renewed possibility.

When I reflect on the challenges I have faced, I recognize how much they have contributed to shaping the woman I am today. I have learned to look at my experiences not simply through the lens of what I endured, but also through the wisdom, strength, and compassion I gained along the way. I believe that even our most difficult seasons can teach us something meaningful about ourselves and prepare us to serve others in ways we may not have imagined.

Throughout it all, I have leaned on my faith. My upbringing taught me to trust God, remain steadfast, and keep moving forward even when the path was uncertain. There were times when I did not have all the answers, when the burden felt heavy, and when I had to take things one day at a time. Still, I persevered, completed my degree, and secured employment. I continued to show up, even when life was challenging.

Over the years, prayer, perseverance, and patience have been the principles I have relied on to carry me through difficult moments. They have reminded me that my circumstances do not determine my future and that I can continue to move forward, even when the journey does not unfold as I had planned. I am grateful for the lessons, the growth, and the strength I have gained along the way. Most importantly, I recognize that the woman I am today has been shaped not only by the opportunities I have received, but also by the challenges I have overcome, the healing I continue to embrace, and the faith that has sustained me.

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?
Reconnect. Reawaken. Realign.

At Eros Heart Coaching, we believe that a fulfilling life begins with the relationship you have with yourself.

Founded by LaToya Smith, Eros Heart Coaching creates a compassionate, inclusive space for individuals and couples to explore self-love, intimacy, confidence, personal growth, and intentional living.

Through intimacy and self-connection coaching, somatic awareness, educational workshops, vision boarding, and Reiki wellness experiences, we invite you to slow down, listen inward, reconnect with what matters to you, and move toward the life and relationships you desire.

Whether you are rediscovering yourself, deepening intimacy, navigating a life transition, or making space for rest and renewal, your journey begins with you.

Our belief: You deserve a relationship with yourself that honors your needs, your boundaries, your desires, and your potential.

Our purpose: To support you in cultivating greater self-awareness, meaningful connection, and a more intentional relationship with your life.

3 R’s Brand:
Reconnect: Understand yourself, your needs, your body, and your desires.
Reawaken: Make room for passion, pleasure, creativity, confidence, and possibility.
Realign: Make intentional choices that reflect who you are and the life you want to live.

What sets Eros Heart apart from all other coaching services?
💜Eros Heart connect the heart, body, and whole person.
💜Eros Heart create space for conversations people may be afraid to have.
💜Eros Heart recognize that growth sometimes requires rest, not just action.
💜Eros Heart work can connect self-discovery to real-life action.

Service Offerings: Individual Coaching, Couples Coaching, Group Coaching, Life Coaching and Executive Coaching, Facilitations, Speaking Engagements, Workshops, Retreats and Reiki Services

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Reconnect. Reawaken. Realign.

My brand as a compassionate, whole-person approach to helping people reconnect with themselves, cultivate embodied confidence, and create more fulfilling relationships and lives.

Reconnect — Self-awareness and intimacy
Individual coaching, couples coaching, intimacy education, sexual confidence, and relationship workshops.

Reawaken — Embodiment and wellness
Somatic awareness, sensuality, Reiki for relaxation, restorative experiences, and guided reflection.

Realign — Intentional personal growth
Visioning, accountability, boundaries, life transitions, confidence, and intentional action.

AI can generate questions, journal prompts, affirmations, and action plans. But helping someone feel safe enough to explore vulnerability, desire, identity, and relationship patterns requires a different kind of human connection. This is why Eros Heart will continue to be pivotal as humans continues to evolve.

What I will do is continue to do my work with my upgrades in my certifications as I learn human behavioral changes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.erosheartcoaching.com/
• Instagram: Erosheartcoaching
• Facebook: Eros Heart