FOUNDER
Dez Stephens is founder of Radiant Health Institute, a social enterprise comprised of holistic educators, providers and practitioners dedicated to enhancing lives through special events, holistic coach training and meaningful publishing. She is a credentialed coach, published author and expert trainer who is known for her great insight and compassionate support.
Dez is a humanitarian coach, accidental activist, social entrepreneur, and planetary advocate.
Radiant Coaches Academy enhances lives through special events, holistic coach training and through the publication of books written by the academy’s coaches. The publications, available on Amazon, inspire readers to navigate life stages through reflection and growth.
The academy is currently training coaches online and in-person at various international training locations. The academy aims to facilitate human growth and prosperity by focusing on quality of life, holistic pursuits, and personal empowerment.
Dez has coached professionally since 2005, and in 2012, founded Radiant Coaches Academy and has trained and certified over 700 students in over 20 countries. In 2014, her training school earned the prestigious status of offering accredited hours through the International Coach Federation (ICF). In 2017, ICF of Tennessee honored her and her institute with the PRISM Award for the advancement of the coaching profession.
She received her life coach certification from Guiding Mindful Change in 2005 and also holds a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential through ICF.
When you’re at a restaurant, do you read the menu from right to left, or left to right? In other words, do you check out the prices before picking the food? This book is about being a Qualitarian – or becoming a Qualitarian. At a very basic level, a Qualitarian would always read the menu left to right. They would discern what they WANT to eat (on the left). Then they may move their eyes to the right to determine whether it is within their budget. It’s not a disregard of cost. But the primary decision answers this question: “What would constitute a quality meal for me, on this particular day, in this particular context?”
Now expand that attitude to everything! How do I want to live? How do I build a measure of quality into all my relationships? What do I expect from employment? How can my leisure time provide healing, relaxation, invigoration and stimulation? What if my work and relationships and home life could provide the same? These are questions raised by a Qualitarian.
In story after story, acclaimed Coach and Master Trainer, Dez Stephens, offers real-life strategies and observations leading to a life marked by quality. Whether you were born into an abundance or scarcity, regardless of calamity or good fortune, the path to a Qualitarian life is all about meaningful and mindful choices.
ACTIVISM + ADVOCACY
In addition to her roles as an educator and trainer, Dez is an impassioned advocate, volunteer and activist. Since her youth, she has volunteered for environmental, humanitarian and animal causes.
Dez’s Volunteerism
She is a proud previous volunteer as a Team Lead for EthicalCoach, a nonprofit organization providing a bridge between world-class coaches and international nonprofit organizations – developing their Resource Center and serving on their Growth & Sustainability committee.
Dez has a business degree and has worked in marketing for various start-up companies, nonprofits, healthcare corporations and in the entertainment industry. Before launching Radiant Health Institute, she worked as a professional business coach, both as a sole proprietor and for organizations.
Dez is a former board member of Penuel Ridge Retreat Center, the Yoga Society of Nashville, The Rooted Bridge and Tennessee’s chapter of the International Coach Federation (ICF). She currently serves as a board member for the Nashville LGBT Chamber and the Caribbean chapter of ICF.
For nearly a decade, she has worked pro-bono as an Inmate Partner for Better Decisions at the Tennessee Prison for Women. She also has served as a life-skills educator for Thistle Farms which serves women survivors of trafficking, prostitution and addiction. Dez is a current volunteer Mentor at Dismas, a post-prison facility for male returning citizens.
Dez’s work in Central America
Radiant Coaches Academy has donated over $5,000,000 in training and coaching in Honduras. In this developing nation, the professional coach training provides job opportunities to impoverished and under-served citizens.
Newly trained coaches in Honduras earn a sustainable living by extending their income base through online coaching. Several trainees in Honduras have formed their own professional coaching organization to provide corporate and pro-bono coaching. Dez is the recipient of ICF-Tennessee’s “Prism Award” for her humanitarian work in Honduras.
The academy’s work in Honduras has also resulted in the co-founding of an official nonprofit organization. The Melanie Gissell Foundation assists Hondurans who have lost precious family members. This nonprofit is also co-founded by two of the academy’s graduates – a married couple who lost their daughter in a tragic car accident when she was 10. Dez has also been named an Honorary Member of the Melanie Gissell Foundation.
The ICF Foundation’s “Gift of Coaching Collective” recognizes Dez Stephens for an impactful nonprofit partnership initiative in Honduras with pro bono coaching at its heart.
GLOBAL ACTIVISM
Dez is passionate and sincere in helping people live more meaningful lives. She is a dedicated global humanitarian and social entrepreneur.
Dez is co-executive producer of the Emmy-nominated documentary film, “End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock” highlighting Native women fighting to keep clean water on their Native lands in North Dakota and beyond. She is also co-executive producer of the upcoming “Sacred Foods” TV series.
As a business coach and consultant, she enjoys coaching entrepreneurs and small businesses, using her innate talent for creating innovative approaches for promotion and for birthing brilliant, achievable ideas. She also has a knack for originating memorable concepts, business names and taglines for her clients.
COACHING CREDENTIAL
Dez Stephens is credentialed through the International Coaching Federation.
professional coaching
Dez Stephens is a co-lead for ICF’s Community of Practice.
National membership
Dez Stephens’ business is certified as an LBGT Business Enterprise with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
international membership
Dez Stephens is a proud board member of the Caribbean Chapter of the International Coaching Federation.
international Accolade
The ICF Foundation’s Ignite Initiative recognizes Dez Stephens and the Melanie Gissell Foundation for igniting local communities and sparking a global impact.
international speaker
ICF Imagine chose Dez Stephens to be an international presenter for their inaugural convention.
NONPROFIT CO-FOUNDER
Dez Stephens is a co-founder of the Melanie Gissell Foundation.
regional accolade
Dez Stephens is the recipient of the prestigious Prism Award from the Tennessee Chapter of the International Coaching Federation.
nonprofit accolade
The ICF Foundation‘s “Gift of Coaching Collective” recognizes Dez Stephens and the Melanie Gissell Foundation for an impactful nonprofit partnership initiative with pro bono coaching at its heart.
professional speaking
Dez is a speaker for ICF’s “Creating Affordable Coaching Options for Underserved Communities” initiative.
Dez Stephens has been featured in…
