Today we’d like to introduce you to Iva Ballou.
Iva Ballou is a bullying expert, certified cleft confidence coach, and author of “Bully Who? A How-to Guide to Recognize Who’s Bullying You and Who Are You Bullying,” a resource to help parents and youth combat bullying. Born and raised in Jacksonville, FL Iva’s public speaking journey began at the early age of four when she Iva was constantly bullied due to being born with a bilateral cleft palate and lip and Peter’s Anomaly, which caused her to become blind in her left eye and resulted in over 30 corrective surgeries.
With a passion for helping others, Iva launched RealSophisticatedJoy, a company that seeks to equip teens and young adults with the necessary life skills to make positive life changes. This is accomplished by providing unique confidence-building training and coaching that challenges and supports them through their journey.
Since then, Iva has transformed many students and young adults’ lives, helping them become the best versions of themselves through her life-changing coaching. Today, she continues to make strides to inspire the next generation of leaders to be confident and joyful.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was constantly bullied due to being born with a bilateral cleft palate and lip and Peter’s Anomaly, which left me blind in my left eye and resulted in over 30 corrective surgeries.
Despite this, I appeared happy, outgoing, and became known as “having it all together.” I was often described as “confident, determined, and self-assured.” My secret weapon to beating my bullies was to use my voice as a tool to advocate for myself. I may have had a disability, but my disability did not have me.
On my 14th birthday, my confidence dropped drastically after the sudden loss of my father to his second battle with cancer. My father’s death caused a major shift in my path. The little girl who was once confident in me became my own “inner bully.”
Please tell us about RealSophisticatedJoy.
As a confidence coach, I assist my clients in Identifying their unique gifts and talents. Together, we identify the next steps on their journey to becoming the full and best version of themselves. My team then develops a roadmap to help move the client to their desired endpoint. I act as an accountability partner as they strive to be their best self. During times of challenge, RSJ motivates them to work through personal barriers.
RSJ has expertise in the following:
Internal Bullying
Family bullying
Child and Adolescent Bullying
Workplace Bullying
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Hands down would have to say Christmas. Whether it was my mother decorating and turning our home into a Winter Wonderland, with FIVE Christmas trees. Yes, you read that correctly, five! Or, listening to my dad sing the Temptation “Silent Night” off-key while we roasted marshmallows. Or being with my family in NC. It is these memories that I think about when I think of my childhood. It wasn’t about the gifts. It was the feeling of love and joy that I cherished the most.
Pricing:
- “Bully Who” Ebook for $25
- Find your Joy Masterclass Recording for $169
Contact Info:
- Website: www.realsophisticatedjoy.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realsophisticatedjoy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Realsophisticatedjoy
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