Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Washington.
Hi Tracy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was a single mom who refused to let her boys become another court statistic.
When my sons were growing up, I worked in juvenile court. Each day I watched boys their age come through the system for things that often started with broken homes, missing fathers, or overwhelmed parents. I made a quiet decision: “That will not be my sons’ story.”
Our lives weren’t glamorous. I worked two jobs, went to school, and did what I had to do to keep a roof over our heads. But I was very present in their lives. Their principals and teachers knew my name. I kept them in athletic sports programs, music lessons, mentorship programs etc. and I tried to expose them to a “better life” through road trips, weekly library visit and just having Tuesday night dinner at Pizza Hut where we would discuss what was happening at school and the dreams they had. I also searched for strong, faith-filled men to be mentors in their lives—through our church, community programs, and summer camps—because I knew I couldn’t model manhood for them by myself.
We also come from a strong, Faith-filled, Bible-believing family, so they were surrounded by wisdom, prayer, and people who expected greatness from them.
At the time, it didn’t feel like I was doing anything extraordinary or special. It simply felt like survival.
Years later, my sons are now in their late 30s and early 40s. They’re successful businessmen, fathers, and men of God who give back and mentor young men themselves. People started asking me, “How did you raise them like that?” That’s when it hit me: what I thought was “normal” was actually a blueprint other moms were desperately looking for.
That’s where Moms Raising Successful Sons was born. It was from my real life as a single mom who refused to let her boys become a statistic.
My sons and I created this nonprofit to turn our story into support for other families…like, “here are the steps, the support, and the community we wish more families had”. Our nonprofit simply turns that lived experience into a structure: we provide life and leadership coaching for moms and positive male mentorship for sons, so families can write a different story—one of purpose, faith, and success across generations. We share the wisdom, the faith, and the real-life strategies that helped us, so other families don’t have to repeat the same cycles. We want single moms to know they’re not alone, and we want boys to see real examples of healthy, successful manhood they can model their lives after.
For us, this isn’t just a program—it’s part of our family legacy and our way of giving back what God so graciously gave us.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road.
There were seasons when I couldn’t pay the rent and we were living in Section 8 housing. We had utilities cut off—gas, lights—while I was still trying to hold the house together and keep the boys steady. There were times where I had to move back in with my mom in her small apartment with her and my brother because we had to move. There was another time I moved in with my Dad because I wanted to save up to buy a house – which I eventually did
Childcare was a whole challenge by itself. I worked two jobs and went to school to earn my degree to set an example for my sons. During those times, my mother was working and I couldn’t afford a regular sitter, so I leaned on friends so I could go to school at night. I spent years tired—but determined. I didn’t have the luxury of quitting. On Saturdays I would take them to class with me and give them money for the vending machines along with their GameBoy and told them to sit in the cafeteria while I attended class in Cleveland, OH because I didn’t have a babysitter. On Sundays, we attended church regularly together as a family.
Transportation was another battle. The car would break down and I’d have to find rides from co-workers or use public transportation, both boys were at different schools on opposite sides of town, and I’d be racing against the clock to pick one up, then the other. Then there would be football practice, band practice while I would do homework in my car while I waited. I spent a lot of years exhausted—trying to be present as a mom while also keeping food on the table whatever the cost.
Money was tight. There were plenty of “we just don’t have it” moments. Even in those hard seasons, I tried to keep their world bigger than our bank account. Sometimes we’d drive through nice neighborhoods with big houses and fancy cars and I’d ask, “What do you think the people who live here do for a living?” I wanted them to see possibility even when our reality didn’t match it yet.
Those struggles shaped me and that’s why this work is personal for me. Looking at where I am today, there were some things that I’ve had to heal and unlearn but I don’t think I would be the woman, mother and grandmother I am today without having those experiences. This is why I understand the moms we serve so deeply—because I’ve been the woman juggling bills, school, work, relationships, kids, and faith at the same time. I know what it feels like to build a better future when today doesn’t look like much on paper.
We’ve been impressed with Zaydon Enterprises Management Inc. , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Zaydon Enterprises Management Inc. ( a combination of my son’s names – Isaiah and Brandon) is my leadership development, executive coaching, and advisory firm. In plain language, I help leaders and organizations stop leaking trust, talent, and time—and build cultures where people and performance can both win. I work with corporations, government agencies, schools, and nonprofits to strengthen leadership, communication, and culture so they see real business outcomes: better retention, cleaner communication, faster decisions, and less drama draining the bottom line.
My work sits at the intersection of business, faith, and human behavior. I’m a John Maxwell–certified speaker, trainer, and coach with a background in marketing and business management, and I’ve trained leaders across the U.S. and parts of Africa. I’m also a Certified DISC Human Behavior Consultant and a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, which means I don’t just look at what people do—I understand why they do it. That mix, plus my degrees in business, lets me translate “people issues” into language executives care about: engagement, productivity, and long-term growth.
Day to day, that shows up in several ways. I serve as an executive coach and trusted advisor to senior leaders who are navigating transition, culture issues, or high-pressure seasons and need a safe, strategic place to think. I coach women in leadership who are ready to expand their confidence, voice, and influence without losing themselves. I also design and deliver leadership development experiences—workshops, intensives, and keynotes—around trust, communication, conflict, feedback, and first-time manager development using my Rise & Rebuild™ framework. For organizations that know something is “off” but can’t quite name it, I conduct trust and disconnection audits that reveal where leadership and culture are out of sync and what that is actually costing them.
I’m also the author of Relationship Leadership, a book rooted in my core belief: you cannot lead people you refuse to relate to. Whether I’m on a stage, in a boardroom, or working with a small leadership team, I’m committed to building bridges between leaders and the people they serve. Clients bring me in because they want growth, change, and potential turned into something real: healthier leaders, stronger teams, and a culture that finally matches the mission statement. That’s the work I’m proud of—and that’s what Zaydon exists to do.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There is absolutely no way I got here by myself. My life and work are the result of a lot of people pouring into me in different seasons—and my sons are at the top of that list.
My sons have been some of my greatest teachers. Watching them grow into husbands, fathers, businessmen, and men of faith has pushed me to keep growing so I can keep pace with the men they’ve become. They’ve challenged my thinking, held up a mirror to my leadership, and reminded me why this work with moms and sons matters so much. I’ve been very intentional about putting family first and thinking “generationally”.
My mother also deserves enormous credit. She modeled wisdom, faith, and quiet strength long before I had language for it. Her belief in God and in me set a foundation I still stand on today.
Spiritually, my longtime pastor Bishop F. Josephus “Joey” Johnson from The House of the Lord in Akron, Ohio, laid the groundwork. He taught me what it means to walk with God, not just attend church. Voices like Apostle Joshua Selman, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, and Dr. Myles Munroe have shaped how I see purpose, mindset, prayer, and the Kingdom in everyday life.
On the business and leadership side, Marshawn Evans Daniels gave me language for the intersection of faith and business. John Maxwell helped me see that leadership starts with self-leadership and reaching my own potential first. Christian J. Simpson stretched me to think and operate like a world-class coach. In sales and marketing, Paul Martinelli, Brendon Burchard, and the late Ed DeCosta sharpened how I think, package ideas, and communicate value.
I’ve also been blessed with colleagues who turned into true friends—like Dr. Taunya Lowe, who began as a collaborator and quickly became a cheerleader and sister in this work. And honestly, many of my clients have mentored me too. Executive coaching clients, moms in hard seasons, teams I’ve trained—they’ve trusted me with their stories and stretched my perspective.
There are far more names than I can list, but the common thread is this: I am the product of wise voices, a praying family, two incredible sons, and people who saw something in me and refused to let me shrink back.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.momsraisingsuccessfulsons.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsraisingsuccessfulsons/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Moms-Raising-Successful-Sons/61554890770207/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moms-raising-successful-sons-inc
- Twitter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracywashington/
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@MomsRaisingSuccessfulSons
- Other: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/913f6414-4206-4b2a-8849-4665bd4a1844
