Kisha Woods is an award‑winning Certified Life & Business Coach, Author, Speaker, and 2x Podcast host. As the Founder and CEO of Upgraded MindsetZ, she is dedicated to helping people break old patterns, speak up for themselves, and step into their purpose with confidence.

Kisha works with those facing major life or leadership shifts, guiding them toward clarity, self‑trust, and intentional action. Her approach blends mindset growth, self‑discovery, leadership development, and overall well‑being, empowering people to thrive in every part of their lives.

In March 2020, everything Kisha had been carrying for years — trauma, suppressed emotions, people‑pleasing, putting herself last, depression, and more — finally became too heavy to push aside. She reached a breaking point that forced her to stop pretending she was okay. In that moment, she did something difficult but deeply honest: she admitted she needed help, and she recognized that the way she had been living was no longer sustainable.

She picked up a journal and started writing.

Those raw, honest pages became her Amazon best‑selling book, From Havoc to Healing: 30 Days of Reconditioning — a powerful reminder she now shares with others that true healing begins the moment we stop hiding and start telling ourselves the truth.

In June 2020, Kisha created Upgraded MindsetZ, which has grown into a supportive space for women, families, and communities to break cycles, reclaim their voice, and rebuild their lives with clarity and confidence. Today, she uses her lived experience and mindset‑anchored guidance to help others choose themselves the way she finally chose herself.

Kisha Woods with braided hair styled in a top bun, wearing a purple jacket and hoop earrings, looking at her Amazon Best Seller Book titled 'From Havoc Healing' against a brick wall background.
Image of Kisha Woods speaker from the Pathways to Success conference in September 2025

Kisha can bring powerful guidance on:

Bring Kisha’s dynamic presence and transformative insight to your next stage or platform

Keynotes • Workshops & Trainings • Podcasts & Media Interviews • Panels & Moderation • Virtual Summits & Conferences • Community Conversations

A woman in a purple dress speaking at a podium during a conference, with seated attendees at round tables listening, in a spacious banquet hall with gray walls and wooden accents.

Kisha Delivers:

  • High‑energy, relatable, and transparent delivery

  • Actionable strategies audiences can apply immediately

  • A supportive, empowering space for real and meaningful conversations

  • A powerful blend of mindset, strategy, and lived experience

  • Customizable sessions for keynotes, panels, workshops, coaching, and podcasts

Certifications

  • Life/Business Coach

  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy

  • NLP

  • Mental Health Awareness

  • Mindfulness

  • Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid

  • NAMI Trained Facilitator

Community Outreach

  • President - NAMI Tri-County Illinois

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central IL

  • Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)

  • 2024 Peoria Civic Leadership Academy Graduate

  • Job Partnerships Peoria: Fresh Start Workshop Facilitator

Awards

  • 2024 180Lyfe Entrepreneur of the Year

  • 2024 & 2025 Peoria Community Votes Platinum Winner

  • 2023 & 2024 Best Mindset Coach, West Peoria Awards

  • 2025 Yoni Collective Juneteenth Community Service Award

  • 2024 Linda Dziubala “Above and Beyond Award,” NAMI Illinois

Professional Affiliations

Four women sitting in a row, smiling at the camera at an indoor conference or event.

Kisha is a powerful presenter! You won’t want to miss any of her events!

Kellie - Conference Attendee

Two women standing next to a poster for 'Operation Ambition Magn Marss.' One woman wears a gray t-shirt with the words 'UPGRADED MINDSETZ' and pink pants, and the other woman wears a black shirt with gold writing and black pants. They are inside a wooden-floored room with a framed quote hanging on the wall behind them.

The Operation Ambition Masterclass was just what I needed, so glad I took the leap and invested in myself to gain more clarity on my next moves. This time around, I will be more intentional.

Shawny - Workshop Participant

A woman is wearing a conference badge that reads 'KISHA Woods, Women, Wealth, and Wellness' attached to a black lanyard.

Kisha, your speech at the WTVP Studios really resonated with me, and I left with so many golden nuggets from your talk!

Kaitlyn

media

The Empowering Real Talk Podcast

The Woman’s Hustle: Thrills and Spills of Entrepreneurship

UPM Business Suites - west Peoria, Illinois

Four women standing against a beige wall, each holding different items such as books and bottles, posing for the camera.

Kisha is also the owner of UPM Business Suites in West Peoria, Illinois, which is home to a collaborative hub of women business owners designed to support and elevate the community in both life and business. The space reflects her commitment to empowerment and creating environments where individuals can grow personally and professionally.

Inquiries

A woman in a pink shirt is speaking into a microphone, raising her left hand, seated at a table with a glass of water, notebook, and pen, with bright windows in the background.