Ia’s journey into coaching began in her early teenage years.  High school years found her active and in-demand as a peer counselor and conflict mediator.  A large portion of her senior year was spent out of the classroom, working in tandem with the school’s crisis counselor.  She effectively brought her peers the proper resources they needed to assist the many critical issues they were dealing with from low self-esteem to suicide prevention, gang violence, and sexual abuse.  Following graduation, Ia toured with an educational theater company to raise awareness about drug/alcohol abuse and co-dependency.   

At the age of 16, Ia discovered a love for public speaking, motivational training and entrepreneurial business.  As she explored the world of business, a career in the modeling and acting industry opened up, as well.. 

Ia earned her first screen credit when director, Thomas Carter, hand-selected her to play a beautiful Tahitian-French speaking waitress with famed comedian, Eddie Murphy, in the movie Metro. Despite the new opening, Ia felt her heart was pulling in another direction. She applied to the Peace Corps, left Hollywood and returned home to expedite the application process. Fate intervened a few days later, when a surprise call from her former manager put her on a flight to Jakarta to teach modeling at the first John Casablancas Modeling & Career Center in Asia and launch Elite Models, Indonesia. Her exuberance quickly advanced her to the position of International Consultant. When cultural restrictions conflicted with the curriculum, Ia restructured it to embrace the cultural sensitivities. Her work continues today to empower and equip the young women of Indonesia with confidence, grace, beauty, and style.

When severe political upheaval forced her to leave the country, Ia returned to the Bay Area, where her modeling and acting career persisted. Her dazzling smile gained recognition when she was prominently featured in campaigns for Ford Motors, Levi's, Oracle, Gap, Wal-Mart and Packard Bell, and others. Ia's diverse talents also extend into make-up artistry. Her credits include Banana Republic, Mervyn's, Fortune Small Business, A. Magazine and the coffee table book and DVD, Arkiteknik.

Shortly thereafter, she became an accomplished businesswoman who was recognized as one of the top female speakers and trainers for successful, multi-million dollar companies, Lexxus International and Burnlounge.com .  Ia began to build on her desire to share with others the importance of effective communication and creating new habits in thinking for breakthrough outcomes in their lives.  That path proved more challenging than she would realize.

When confronted with the challenges of single parenting, Ia had to overcome negative thought patterns distortedly built on feelings of guilt and shame.  She was torn between the pursuit of her career, difficulty with childcare, and a desire to spend quality time to raise her child.  There was no time for a social life.  It was a tired mindset and a lifestyle that invited emotional and physical burnout.   

In 2004, hungry for spiritual connection and freedom, Ia recommitted herself to delving deeper into the teachings of the Bible.  This time, she found tremendous healing and a newfound strength and purpose in the forgiveness, wisdom, and love offered through right relationship and obedience to the teachings of Jesus Christ.  It's a journey marked with empowered self-expression, a grateful heart, freedom and a full return to joy.

It was this very revival in her spiritual life that compelled Ia to launch Your Best You.   As owner of Your Best You, Ia is committed to coaching people back to a place where they can, once again, experience unapologetic joy, build authentic love and live freely from the best parts of themselves.  Your Best You is founded on the Biblical teachings of Grace (Romans 5: 1-2) , Joy (John 17:13), Love (Deuteronomy 30:6 ) and Freedom (Romans 6:14).

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