Kisha Woods in a dark purple floral dress, leaning on a brick and stone ledge, with a river and bridge visible in the background during sunset.

Transforming Mindsets. Elevating Leaders.

Empowering Purpose‑Driven Growth.

Kisha Woods is an award‑winning Certified Life & Business Coach, author, speaker, and podcast host. As the Founder and CEO of Upgraded MindsetZ, she leads a mission to help people break old cycles, find their voice, and step confidently into their purpose. She specializes in supporting those at a crossroads, guiding them toward clarity, confidence, and intentional action. Her work centers on mindset shifts, self‑discovery, leadership growth, and overall well‑being—empowering people to thrive in every part of their lives.

A woman with short hair and hoop earrings, wearing a pink shirt, holding a microphone, and looking to her right.

After years of suppressing her emotions and neglecting her mental well‑being, she reached a breaking point in 2020. What began as a 30‑day fast and journaling practice to process her pain became her Amazon best‑selling book, From Havoc to Healing: 30 Days of Reconditioning. That pivotal moment sparked her healing journey and laid the foundation for Upgraded MindsetZ, a platform that now empowers women, families, and communities to embrace clarity, confidence, and growth.

Her mental challenges over the years fuel her mission to help others rise above adversity and embrace intentional growth.

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.

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

  • Peoria Community Votes Platinum Winner - 2024 and 2025

  • Best Mindset Coach: West Peoria Awards 2023 and 2024

  • Community Service Award: Juneteenth 2025 Fest

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

Professional Affiliations

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

Image of Kisha Woods speaker from the Pathways to Success conference in September 2025

Topics That Transform

  • Through powerful speaking, engaging education, and transformative group experiences, Kisha delivers bold, authentic, and practical strategies that empower women to align with their purpose, activate their inner strength, and elevate their confidence in every area of life and work.

  • Kisha creates engaging, transformative learning experiences that help audiences break limiting patterns, reshape internal narratives, and build intentional habits that support long‑term personal and professional success.

  • Kisha teaches leaders how to make aligned, confident decisions that support their long‑term professional goals by delivering clear, practical guidance that strengthens self‑awareness, sharpens decision‑making, and helps them lead with purpose and integrity.

  • Kisha helps individuals prioritize their mental and emotional well‑being in a world filled with constant demands, uncertainty, and overwhelm by offering grounded, practical guidance that supports balance, resilience, and inner stability.

  • Kisha empowers individuals to lead with their true strengths, voice, and lived experiences, rooted in authenticity rather than societal expectations, by creating supportive, transformative learning spaces that build genuine confidence from within.

  • Kisha helps entrepreneurs align their business systems and strategies to create clarity and sustainable growth, rather than chaos, by teaching them to build businesses that support their lives rather than run them.

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

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.

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.