Spotlight: Bloom Bloonston and Leaders Uplifted

Photographing Blair Bloomston and her powerhouse team at Leaders Uplifted was magical. From the moment we connected, there was an energy that was pure joy and inspiration. Blair leads with intention and light, and that absolutely shines through in her presence and her brand.

It’s been over a year since our session, and I still feel uplifted by the experience. Following Blair’s journey as she continues to impact the world with her leadership magic is so inspiring. Her ability to elevate others while staying deeply grounded in purpose is a rare gift—and one I’ll always admire.

Blair’s brilliance, warmth, and authenticity light up every room she walks into, and honestly? She just makes me happy.

Photographing her wasn’t just a session—it was a reminder of why I do what I do: to celebrate changemakers who are here to lead with heart.

Tell us about yourself? What's the story behind you and your business?

I've got the kind of career that would take most people by surprise: an elite communication coach for top executives and organizations. The thing is, I’ve spent the past 20 years as a trusted consultant to high-performing leaders, elite athletes, and even elected officials. Over time, I noticed something the best leaders all had in common: an energy. A brightness. Even in the most high-stakes roles imaginable, they weren’t just performing—they were shining, and more importantly, they were uplifting others in the process.

That spark was the start of Leaders Uplifted—a business built around helping powerful professionals tap into their full leadership presence using game-based learning, AI-enhanced tools, and a serious dose of joy. It’s not just feel-good fluff; the results are real, and the impact is deep.

Founding this company wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision—it was a bet on myself that had been brewing for years, but that also happened in an instant. Once I stopped waiting to be “right” and started trusting my own voice, everything changed. My old collaborators came running. The doors flew open. And the name Leaders Uplifted said it all—who it’s for, and how work should feel.

Fun fact? My first-ever job was as a toy demonstrator at FAO Schwarz in New York City. Yes, the one from the movies. I was a freshman at NYU, wide-eyed and thrilled, and helping sell Barbies, Legos, and Laser Tag with total enthusiasm. Now, decades later, I appreciate the full circle moment that I’m still in the industry of play—just with a few hundred more leadership games and keynote stages added in.

If you were to define your business in one sentence, how would you do it?

Our focus at Leaders Uplifted is interactive training to help teams and leaders thrive: We help professionals speak with confidence, lead with presence, and stay ahead of AI.

What makes your offer unique?

We’re changing the game for professional development—literally. At Leaders Uplifted, we use game-based learning to accelerate communication skills so leaders don’t just grow, they accelerate their rise. This isn’t passive professional development—it’s high-energy, high-impact communication skills training, and built for real-world leadership.

And here’s the twist: we’re one of the only training programs with AI fully embedded. That means you don’t just learn—you practice with smart tools, refine your voice, and use AI to amplify your presence. We’re not just keeping up with the future of AI. We’re focused on helping leaders amplify their voice and communication skills to stay irreplaceable.

What future projects does your business have?

Our next big opportunity is Speak Uplifted—our flagship masterclass for professionals who understand that speaking skills will help them stay ahead of the AI curve.

Launching in summer 2025, Speak Uplifted is a live group coaching experience where ambitious professionals train together in high-impact communication skills, plus how to use AI to raise their influence. We blend game-based learning, peer feedback, and virtual practice in twice a month Sunday afternoon training sessions to help participants sharpen their voice, elevate their presence, and walk into any professional setting with influence.

What makes it revolutionary is the AI-powered guidance system that comes with it—custom prompts and conversation simulations that let you practice networking, interviews, and strategic communication outside of class. It’s like having a coach and a comms strategist in your back pocket. Even more importantly, we'll be training AI mindset, skillset, and strategic systems so that you can create content to be seen as a top voice in your industry.

The program runs in an exclusive community format with the benefit of an accelerated six-month timeline—creating rapid skill-building because the time to become irreplaceable at work is right now (there's no time for another four-year degree). After proving the impact from this online coaching approach with federal execs and Fortune 500 leaders, I can confidently say: Speak Uplifted is more than executive training. It’s a transformation.

Do you have any advice for women who want to start a business?

Absolutely. Go for it—as soon as you can. Ideally, start as a side hustle so you can maintain the security of your current role, and use play in both worlds for a limited time as your training ground. The goal? Build a simple, steady, repeatable system. That’s the #1 key to success. Once you understand the system, you can connect it to an electric offer and solve real problems—without burning out. And then it's time to take the next step.

The habit that helped me most is knowing that discomfort is part of the process. When you’re playing a higher-level game, comfort isn’t guaranteed—but the legacy you’re building is worth it.

And here’s my heartfelt advice to women: stop chasing more credentials. You already know enough. You may not know everything, but you’ve probably already considered everything. Trust that you've got the knowledge and go put it into action. You're already ready enough.

What's your favorite business/self-improvement book? 

Right now, I’m rereading It Takes What It Takes by the late Trevor Moawad, a friend and an incredible force in the world of performance and mindset. Trevor walked the talk when it came to helping others achieve through the power of a neutral mindset—and revisiting his words has been a powerful reminder of the clarity and calm that comes from staying grounded, especially in high-stakes leadership and this work as an entrepreneur.

What's your favorite quote?

My dad used to say: “Expect the unexpected.”

It’s the quote I carry with me everywhere—with a smile and a laugh. You can’t change what’s coming, and you can’t fight against it, but you can expect it—with a smile, every single day.

What's the importance of brand photography for your business?

Being able to visually tell the story of who I am behind the business is a key foundation for how we connect with our audience. Professional development is still a relationship-driven industry—most of it is word of mouth. But once that connection is made, it’s essential to present a crisp, confident, and professional image. Nothing sets you apart like strong, intentional brand photography.

And this is the TRUTH: Visual branding will never be replaced by AI. Trust me- I teach leaders about this. You can never replace how the human spirit shows up. There’s something so truthful in photographs, and those moments can only be captured when the person behind the camera is an expert—like the support from Odette and her team at Odette Photo+Art.

I’m so proud and excited every time someone asks for a headshot to go along with a keynote or a feature publication, and truthfully, I wouldn’t feel as confident stepping out as the face of my brand without these images. They reflect the executive I want to show up as.

What are you personally hoping to gain from this experience?

As a business owner, I have a lot of priorities pulling my attention—but what I needed most for this shoot was a trusted creative partner, not just a photographer. Odette and her team delivered an experience that was effortless and memorable. They rolled with a last-minute location change that turned out to be a beautiful, happy accident—and the perfect backdrop for a truly meaningful day.