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What happens when a successful corporate HR executive trades in the boardroom for bookshelves, coffee, and community? In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Tenia Davis, PhD, to talk about her bold leap from the C-suite to founding a bookstore café and podcast studio in Homewood, IL.

Tenia shares why she walked away from a thriving career in human resources to build a purpose-driven space for conversation, creativity, and connection. She opens up about the risks of leaving behind a secure career, the strategies she used to prepare for entrepreneurship, and why creating community through books and stories is more important than ever.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Tenia chose to leave a secure C-suite role for entrepreneurship
• How to prepare financially and emotionally for a major career pivot
• The importance of community, connection, and storytelling in business
• Lessons from building a bookstore café, podcast studio, and event space from the ground up

Whether you’re dreaming of starting something new or looking for inspiration to finally trust your gut, this conversation will remind you that it’s never too late to follow your passion and build something that matters.

You can follow Tenia's Bookstore here:

https://www.beyondthebook.online/

https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebook_homewood/#

For her HR consulting website and books visit:

https://www.theleadershipwise.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/teniadavisphd/

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Each week, we interview founders, business leaders, and experts in their field about how to grow a business and the personal growth that comes with the journey. #LetsGrow !