Women of Color Coaching Network

Madjeen Lorthe, a certified leadership coach, brings over 20 years of expertise in nonprofit leadership and mental health counseling, uniquely positioning her to support leaders as they grow and adapt in today’s complex workplace.

As the founder of Transitions Well Done, Madjeen specializes in coaching women of color leaders through career and organizational transitions. She offers evidence-based strategies that address the unique barriers and opportunities they encounter in professional spaces. Her approach is tailored to help clients build skills, strengthen confidence, and cultivate an authentic leadership style that aligns with their values and aspirations, even amidst workplace challenges.

With a focus on professional growth and personal fulfillment, Madjeen’s coaching fosters strategic career development, effective leadership, and a strong sense of belonging so leaders feel empowered to step into each phase of their career with purpose and clarity.

Melanie Walker currently serves in the Human Resources profession at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) headquartered in Washington, DC. In this role, she serves as Human Resources advisor to civilian and military organizational leaders on all strategic Human Capital matters. Her 20+ years of federal government service includes HR expertise in strategic workforce planning, compensation, recruitment, hiring, career management, and talent development.  She oversees and manages a team of HR Business Partners across the continental United States.

Before federal civilian service, she served as an Analyst in the United States Air Force. During her military time, this included a tour of duty in the Republic of Korea (ROK), where she met her husband. She holds a Master’s in Human Resources Management and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Global Campus (UMGC). She holds certifications in Strategic Human Resources, Conflict Management, and is a Society of Human Resources Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).

Melanie specializes in leadership, performance, and career coaching. She has also worked with individuals going through personal and professional transitions. This includes individuals taking on a new job, promotion to a supervisor or management position, upcoming retirement, or other life transitions/events.

Melanie was born and raised on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. She currently resides in Severn, Maryland with her husband and two daughters.

Felicia Smith has carved a path of excellence within the Department of Defense (DoD), ascending to senior leadership roles that include Senior Manpower Advisor, Senior Risk Manager, Staff Director, and her current position as Chief of Staff for the Directorate for Global Integration. Along this journey, she has honed her expertise in navigating complex systems, fostering innovation, and championing strategic integration at the highest levels.

But Felicia’s impact extends far beyond the DoD. Recognizing the challenges women of color face in accessing leadership opportunities, she turned her own experiences into a mission to empower others. In 2019, Felicia founded S.O.A.R. Coaching L.L.C., where she serves as CEO and certified Leadership Coach. Her approach is grounded in helping women of color embrace their authentic selves, define their unique leadership style, and cultivate the skills to achieve their professional aspirations.

Her passion for empowerment reached new heights in 2023 with the creation of The Climb, a nonprofit dedicated to scaling S.O.A.R.’s principles for a broader impact. The Climb provides a safe space for women of color to connect, share, and grow while equipping them with the tools and networks needed to break through barriers and rise into leadership roles.

Felicia is a sought-after speaker at professional conferences, where her engaging workshops inspire and educate. She equips women with the resources, stories, and strategies to confidently navigate their careers—through mentorship, advocacy, and a robust community of allies.

Her academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Tuskegee University, and two master’s degrees in Government Information Leadership (National Defense University) and Strategic Intelligence (National Intelligence University). Felicia’s impressive certifications underscore her commitment to professional excellence, including:

• Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Associate in Risk Management-Enterprise Wide Risk Management (ARM-E)
• RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional for Federal Government (RIMS-CRMP-FED)
• Certified Defense Financial Manager with Acquisition Specialty (CDFM-A)

Beyond her professional pursuits, Felicia is a member of the International Coaching Federation (I.C.F.), Project Management Institute (P.M.I.), American Society of Military Comptrollers (A.S.M.C.), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

A proud resident of Northern Virginia, Felicia finds joy in her role as a devoted wife to Mark Smith and mother to Jeremiah-Mark Smith, while cherishing her bond as a bonus mom to Adia Smith.

Felicia Smith is not just a leader—she’s a visionary, paving the way for others to rise, inspire, and lead with authenticity and purpose.

Dr. Welch has been a federal government employee with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for over 30 years.  Within those 30 years, she has held various leadership positions. She now serves as a Division Chief for the Equal Opportunity and Inclusive Diversity Office. Prior to that position she served as the Chief of the Conflict Management Branch. Maintaining healthily working relationships is the key focus of what she does in her position. She has been retired since January 2024 and is now persuading her personal opportunities.

Dr. Donna Welch is a certified International Federation Coach and a co-active professional coach, trained through the Coaches Training Institute one of the top coaches training schools in the world and ACT Leadership Coaches Training. She has also been trained in Conflict Coaching, Team Coaching and Leadership and Professional Development Coaching. As a coach Donna believes that building the clients confidence is key. Her ability to assist clients in getting unstuck in many aspects in life is why her clients are successful. Her clients have come to her for business coaching, professional development, conflict, relationship and general life coaching. Her niche is to empower women and men to be confident in whatever they chose to do in life. She is a published author and a motivational speaker. Donna has spoken and taught throughout the world on conflict management, career development, leadership and effective communications.

She is the CEO of A Personal Touch Events and Design, LLC and her Confident Coaching company. She also host Let’s Create seminars where women work on creating their life through journaling, mindfulness mediation, and goal setting. She has been married almost 35 years to Doctor Ed Welch.