Today we’d like to introduce you to Tammy Summers.
Hi Tammy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The first thing you’ll notice about me is the flower in my hair. 🌸
It’s not just a style choice. It’s a legacy.
Since 2008, I’ve worn a flower in memory of my grandmother, Margaret Esteen. She called me her “flower girl” because I’d send bouquets to her Los Angeles home every year on her birthday, February 23rd. When she passed away that October, I made a promise to carry her memory with me—and what started as a tribute became a signature. Wherever I go, I wear a flower and a welcoming smile.
But my story isn’t just about remembrance. It’s about resilience.
After graduating from UC San Diego in 2000 with a degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, I began my career in the biotech industry. I started in the lab—doing cutting-edge work on genetic testing for the National Institute of Justice—and then expanded into product investigation. Driven to grow, I earned my MBA in 2007 and stepped into the world of customer-focused support roles in technical support.
While was working for a company called The Binding Site, now ThermoFisher, I didn’t wait for leadership to be handed to me. I asked for it. I saw a need for a supervisor and told my manager, “I can do this.” They said, “You’ll have to be promoted twice (To a Sr. Technical Support Specialist, then to a Supervisor) within 8 months.” So I did.
That was my first official leadership role, leading a team of four. But it taught me something vital—there’s a big gap between being a strong individual contributor and being an effective leader of people. The biotech industry, as mission-driven and impactful as it is, often emphasizes data, deadlines, and deliverables… but sometimes forgets the people doing the work. I worked Astute Medical as a Technical Support Manager and Cue Health as Systems and Training Manager and Global Customer Support Director.
I decided to change that.
When Cue Health, the company I worked for, closed its doors in May 2024, I stepped out in faith and started Leadership Learners. My mission? To build better leaders—ones who listen, connect, and communicate.
At Leadership Learners, I offer workshops that help teams enhance communication through tools like the DISC behavioral assessment. I teach leaders how to hold meaningful one-on-ones where employees own the conversation. I help teams play (yes, play!) their way into collaboration and breakthrough conversations with the Leadership Game.
But that’s not all…
For over 13 years, I’ve been a proud member of Toastmasters. It changed my life—transforming me from a nervous speaker to a confident communicator who’s spoken in front of crowds of 100+. Now I help others do the same. Whether it’s a CEO who wants to inspire their team or a student who dreams of telling their story—I create safe spaces for people to find their voice.
Two clients I’m especially proud of?
LUDI (Let Us Do It), a startup I support by helping build their company culture with a focus on communication and peace of mind—both for employees and clients.
Austin Morales, a 13-year-old autistic student who deeply admires Temple Grandin. I’m mentoring him in public speaking and creating real-world opportunities for him to shine on stage.
This journey has been anything but easy—but it’s been beautiful.
And I wouldn’t be here without the love and encouragement of my parents Ronald and Rosalind, my daughter Trinity, my partner Yomi, and all the family and friends who believed in me even when I had to start over.
So when you see the flower in my hair, know this:
It represents legacy.
It represents growth.
It represents the courage to lead differently.
And I’m just getting started. 🌺
Alright, 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?
The hardest part about starting a business wasn’t the logistics or the finances—it was believing in myself. I knew deep in my heart that God had a purpose for me, but I had to stop resisting and allow HIM to guide me toward it.
For most of my life, I believed in the necessity of a stable job. That’s what society teaches us—especially as a single mom raising a daughter in San Diego. I chased security because I had to. I always worked. Entrepreneurship? That wasn’t even on my radar.
But life has a way of planting seeds during our toughest moments.
There was a time I worked for a company named Gen-Probe, Inc (now Hologic). I worked in the Operations Technical Support Department as a product investigation specialist II for 1.5 years. I was placed on my first-ever PIP—Performance Improvement Plan. Though I wasn’t terminated, I was demoted. Not long after, Gen-Probe was acquired by Hologic, and I was laid off. It took me six long months in 2013 to find another job. That experience left me humbled, but not defeated. I never saw another PIP again. I rebuilt, grew, and promoted myself into new roles over the next decade.
Then came 2020. The world went remote. While it was a global reset, for me it was the beginning of learning self-motivation. I created daily schedules, stayed consistent, and found a rhythm. I didn’t know it then, but I was laying the groundwork for something greater.
In 2023, Cue Health closed its doors. That’s when I started Leadership Learners. At first, it was simply something to keep me busy. But the truth is, it was the birth of my calling.
The transition wasn’t easy. Financially, I struggled. I was no longer making the salary I was used to. I had to hustle. I leaned into my roots and networked in my hometown of El Centro, CA. Still, I had moments of deep doubt. Would anyone even want to do business with me?
I started small. I worked with people I knew and offered DISC behavioral communication assessments. Slowly, those assessments turned into coaching sessions. I remembered how valuable DISC was when I managed large teams across the U.S. and in the Philippines. I knew what it could do for others.
Of course, I made mistakes along the way. One that still sticks with me is when I spoke at a community college about DISC. The students were so engaged, but I missed the opportunity to help them further. I didn’t present them with a call to action or offer discounted assessments. That moment taught me something important: always provide value—and always invite people to act on it.
Since then, I’ve shifted my focus. I now teach others not just what DISC is, but how understanding communication styles can change relationships, build stronger teams, and help business owners find the right employees.
I remember telling myself: Just one client in September 2024—that’s all I ask. I got three. In October, I gained three more. Since then, the work hasn’t stopped.
Now, I have clients in San Diego and the Imperial Valley. I travel between both cities, and I get to visit my family in El Centro. I never imagined that my pain, setbacks, and self-doubt would lead me to a life of purpose and passion.
This journey hasn’t been perfect. It’s been real.
But what I’ve learned is that belief—especially belief in yourself—is the foundation of everything.
God planted the seed. I just had to be brave enough to water it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a Behavioral Communication Consultant—but not the kind that hands you a report and wishes you luck. No, I bring conversations to life. I use a tool called DISC—an incredibly insightful behavioral communication method—to help individuals and organizations unlock the power of how they connect.
D- Direct (Results Oriented)
I – Influence (People Oriented)
S – Steady (People Oriented)
C – Compliant (Results Oriented)
My journey has been anything but traditional. I’ve always believed that communication is not just about speaking—it’s about connecting. That’s why I became certified through John Maxwell’s leadership programs and now lead interactive workshops that don’t feel like training—they feel like transformation.
✨ One of my proudest moments came when I started working with a start-up called LUDI (Let Us Do It). It was clear that the leadership team wanted more than just business results—they wanted to understand each other. Every C-suite executive took the DISC assessment. The results? Meetings became smoother, tensions lowered, and projects accelerated. Now, every new hire at LUDI takes the DISC assessment too, helping align them with the right team, the right communication style, and the right impact zone.
But here’s what really lights me up: when clients come back and say,
“I was clashing with a teammate, but I pulled out my DISC report and got it—we just speak different languages.”
That’s when I know I’ve done more than deliver a workshop—I’ve planted seeds of understanding.
What sets my sessions apart? Fun. Energy. Movement. Connection.
We role-play real-life challenges. We dive into case studies. We laugh, reflect, and sometimes even tear up. Because people don’t want another lecture. They want to feel seen and heard.
And as someone with a high “I” DISC style—Influence, People-Oriented—you can bet I’m all about creating that warm, open space where learning doesn’t feel like work.
This is more than training. It’s transformation.
And we’re just getting started.
Want to experience the power of DISC in your workplace? Let’s connect—because when communication works, everything works.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
In 1997, I packed up my dreams and left the sun-scorched streets of El Centro, CA, for the promise of something more. That “more” was San Diego—where I began my journey as a college student at UC San Diego. What I didn’t know then was that I wasn’t just moving to a new city… I was planting the roots of a new legacy.
This city became more than a place to study. It became home.
It’s where I learned how to navigate adulthood, where I raised my daughter, and where she too carved out her own story. She grew up walking the hallways of Clairemont and University City schools, soaking in the sunshine and curiosity of a city that’s always in motion.
And in 2023—my heart nearly burst with pride—she graduated from UC San Diego, the same university that shaped me decades earlier. A full-circle moment. A generational victory.
San Diego isn’t just a place on the map for us—it’s a timeline of growth. From mother to daughter. From student to alum. From first apartment to snow-capped mountains and barefoot beach walks on the same day (yes, we’ve done that twice and still talk about it). I’ve met numerous friends in San Diego. I was introduced to hiking and running 5K, half marathons and more. Life in this city is amazing along with seeing the growth as I near 3 decades living in San Diego.
But like every love story, there are parts that ache.
Downtown San Diego, once a haven for evening strolls and safe laughter-filled nights, now reminds me of how much our communities are in need. The growing presence of homelessness is a sign that there’s work to be done—together.
Still… I believe in this city.
In its sunshine, its spirit, and its power to evolve. Just like I did. Just like my daughter did. And we’re not done growing yet.
Pricing:
- Individual DISC Assessment $103 a person
- Student/Career DISC Assessment $103 a person
- Team Building Leadership Game $500
- DISC Training Workshop Range $2000 – $10K
- Public Speaking Coaching $100 hr.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leadershiplearners.com
- Instagram: @leadership_learners
Image Credits
Marti Angel (Image credit) since I was a podcast guest in Feb 2025.
