Alumni success story: Alisha Henderson, entrepreneur and feminine strategist

The Protocol School of Washington has a robust alumni network of more than 5,000 graduates from over 80 countries representing the highest caliber of protocol and etiquette professionals in their respective fields.

Graduates from our Intercultural Etiquette and Protocol Trainer course have built reputable businesses of their own. Completing PSOW’s five-day program prepares you to train others on intercultural etiquette, business protocol, emotional intelligence, executive entertaining, professional image, and cultural awareness: skills that entrepreneurs find advantageous in reaching new clientele and expanding into new markets.

We’ll be featuring alumni success stories here on our blog. For the first edition, meet IE graduate and feminine strategist Alisha Henderson.

“I want to tell other entrepreneurs to trust your gut. Do what you feel is best for you. Asking others what you should do will not help you. You already have the answer inside of you.”

Please give us a brief overview of what your current career looks like. 

Currently, I am a full-time law student while I facilitate children-focused etiquette training. Additionally, I developed coursework to help teens develop into women. The program is called “Lady-In-Development” and consists of topics such as self-worth, personal branding, life planning, financial management, the womanly body,  and, of course, etiquette. 

Please describe your "pivot" to becoming an entrepreneur.

I have always been an entrepreneur. In college, I would design and sew dresses for classmates and friends to help cover school tuition. The “Lady-In-Development” programming was created based on a need I saw in our culture. I noticed a lot of teens and young women developing into adulthood without knowing the basics, and that has a huge impact on their mental health. I have found this phase of my entrepreneurial journey much more fulfilling because I am doing something I am very passionate about and committed to the success of regardless of the financial payout. This feels right! 

When did you take the IE course with PSOW? Why did you decide to sign up?

I took the Intercultural Etiquette and Protocol Trainer course online during the summer of 2021. I took the course because I wanted to make sure I had the proper knowledge and skills to teach youth etiquette. This was something I learned by reading and observation, but I never had formal training. Getting formal training was important to me. 

What did you find most helpful about the course?

Wow! Each session was packed with valuable information. I cannot pinpoint what I felt was most valuable but I will say that learning how to tell a good story while delivering the lesson was a happy yet unexpected part of the course. Considering my audience is mostly children and teenagers, telling a good story to keep them captivated is very important.

How has the IE course credential positively impacted your business?

It is a very impressive and prestigious certification. I have been able to increase my consulting fees since completing the certification. Also, it helped me become a more organized business person with improved communication skills. Lastly, I have been able to garner clientele that I was unable to acquire before. 

What do you enjoy most about running your own business?

Freedom! The freedom to work on my own terms and timeline.

What would you say to someone who's considering breaking out on their own - and thinking about using the IE course as a starting point? 

I do understand that this is a huge investment for someone just starting out or someone who does not have the luxury of having their job cover the cost for them. That was my situation. I took a leap! I was unsure when I would recoup the cost or how long it would take me. I recouped the full amount of my investment within the first two months while being a full-time law student. I want to tell them: trust your gut. Do what you feel is best for you. Asking others what you should do will not help you. You already have the answer inside of you.