Marla Ballard: The Warrior Woman Igniting Unconquerable Leaders

Marla Ballard is a rare force—a warrior woman whose blend of intuition, quantum coaching, and practical leadership empowers individuals to shatter limits and awaken their highest potential. As CEO of YU2SHINE and creator of the Unconquerable mE® program, she is igniting a global movement of resilient, unstoppable leaders ready to transform the world. With over 30 years of experience in business development and transformational coaching, Marla effectively merges scientific principles with spiritual insights to unlock extraordinary growth. Her work champions women, veterans, and business communities, building authentic connections and lasting impact. Through her visionary leadership, she inspires others to rise stronger, wiser, and truly unconquerable.

Your name carries powerful meanings like “warrior woman” and “star of grace.” How have these meanings shaped your personal journey and leadership philosophy?

I believe deeply in developing both the spiritual aspect of ourselves, in continually connecting and receiving God’s Grace and guidance and also honoring that everything we’ve been through that got us here matters.  It’s both.  I find immense joy in the unconquerable spirit that I see in people, that is often forged through enduring and overcoming. It’s in me too, and it is my mission to empower people to reclaim their authentic selves by remembering who they are through the illuminating power of Grace. This journey is about leading and living from gratitude for our strength, resilience, and courage, ever present to the expanding love and light of Grace as the guiding star in our lives.

You blend intuitive insight, Quantum Personal Development™, and business leadership. How do you balance the spiritual and strategic sides of transformation in your work with clients?

My clients are remarkable people who have come to shine their unique light in the world, which necessitates action and implementation, not just “being spiritual”.  All of the programs we offer at YU2SHINE, including what I uniquely deliver for entrepreneurs, veterans and their family members, and high-performing individuals, focus on deepening awareness of their own soul’s alignment and translating that into actionable steps in the real world.  

This is really where the rubber meets the road, and meaningful change occurs.   We are empowered to follow and trust our own internal guidance.  This means we no longer conform to the world and others opinions and expectations, but are free to choose to actively create a life and business that reflects our true selves.  This is what inspires others to do the same. 

Through the Unconquerable mE® Program, you help individuals reconnect with their “untouchable core.” Can you share a moment when you witnessed a profound transformation in someone you coached?

Yes, and I have permission to share this.  This story is about a veteran recently retired from 24 years of active service.  He had already spent an enormous amount of time focusing on spiritual development and alignment, but was still feeling held back and a little stuck.  He ultimately realized that he had the power within to embrace his authenticity, to be Dad, to enjoy peace and home life, and to be all the things in life he wanted to be that he’d been previously told weren’t of value in a hard-charging, high-performance world.  

The moment he reclaimed his inner power by permitting himself to be who he is as a valuable, incredible soul, father, friend, mentor, and teacher, everything shifted. He reclaimed his freedom, joy, passion, and peace, while establishing boundaries and structures that foster a life of happiness and fulfillment. He’s now empowering other fathers to do the same, and he and his family are thriving. 

You are deeply committed to empowering veterans and women. What inspired your focus on these communities, and what impact do you hope to leave through this work?

My inspiration stems from a genuine connection and passion for creating freedom and empowerment in these communities.  These are the groups of people with whom  I feel the most joy and enthusiasm.  With veterans, I have long valued their incredibly diverse skillsets, bravery, courage, endurance, grit, discipline, and can-do mentality.  Most people think of those who serve in the military as a fighting force.  But what they are is an incredibly unifying force.  Military veterans and their families have been part of the most ready and rapidly mobilized and organized forces in the world to deliver resources, protection, organized labor, and aid among other things. This means literally organizing thousands of people into unknown or uncertain areas in a matter of days with often little to no resources or infrastructure at hand to start with, which is quite extraordinary.

And frankly, women and military spouses are phenomenal in this way, too.  We are so innovative, resourceful, and strong to balance caring for so many people and aspects of life.  Women will juggle kids, work, extended family, personal challenges, career, finance, and caring for others and succeed beyond expectation, and that’s all just by 9 am.  They frequently do so with such Grace and devotion, they aren’t even consciously aware of most of what’s been achieved because they’re already onto the next project.  What’s not to love? 

As for the impact, I’ve always asked to be sent people who are here to be of service to help hundreds or thousands of other people, so that I could contribute my unique talents and abilities to help facilitate their dreams, desires, and contributions.   I truly  love to serve people who are here to serve people.

Your career bridges ancient wisdom, modern science, and faith. How do you integrate these seemingly different worlds into a cohesive approach to leadership and personal development?

These elements  are not in opposition but complement  each other beautifully.  Our bodies and the natural world we inhabit are rich with ancient wisdom that we can access.  We know what we need, when we need it, and even know how to heal.  The key is to have faith in that deep guidance that is infinite and eternal that comes from within us.  What’s interesting to me is that the more science attempts to debunk old healing wisdom or even faith and belief in a higher power, the more I feel it proves it.  

All three are of immense value to study and learn from, as all three together are what give rise to the most incredible innovations we are experiencing at this point.  Integrating infinite wisdom, faith in higher power, and basic scientific understanding of our bodies and the world we live in into Leadership and Personal Development is about using all of the amazing resources provided and available to us through infinite intelligence.  When we learn how to best allow all three to support our journey, truly amazing things happen, and we can achieve quantum leaps. 

Founding networking groups and serving on nonprofit boards shows your talent for building community. What are the core values that guide you when creating empowering spaces for others?

My strongest value above all else is freedom.  It is essential that we foster spaces where individuals are empowered to express authentically themselves and contribute their unique talents and gifts.  That’s not only for me to be free to show up authentically, but also to create space where others are empowered to do the same.  

Bottom line —, if we don’t feel fully free to be authentic and contribute our gifts and talents in an area, whether that’s feeling under-utilised, under-valued, constricted, or suppressed within an organization or community, we disengage.  Freedom to Be is my number one .  

I seek to connect with individuals who are kind, loving, honorable, and courageous.   I believe these qualities and values enhance collaboration and foster sustainable growth, and are vital in how I show up, and inform who I will choose to spend my time with.  

When those values are present, everything is not only easier, but relationships and success become joyful and authentic, and growth happens naturally.

With over 30 years of experience, what shifts have you observed in how leaders are called to show up in today’s world compared to when you first began?

Now more than ever, there is a deep need for leaders to not conform to the pressures of the world or the people around them that are not aligned to who they truly are.  Currently, in the world, there is so much false information and pressure to conform to so-called “norms” we haven’t even personally created or agreed to.  

When we as leaders conform to that pressure, rather than standing for what we truly believe is right and deeply aligned for us individually, our light gets overshadowed, and we feel diminished. 

That’s what leads to a lack of authenticity and feeling we are free.  By embracing our true selves and what feels most aligned, we as leaders are not only empowered to shine our light, but we also inspire others around us to do the same.  We become unconquerable. 

You talk about emotional recalibration and energetic leadership. Can you explain what these mean in practice, and why they are crucial for today’s leaders?

We must first lead ourselves.  Our emotions are powerfully magnetic and they set the energetic frequency that creates our vibe, and our rhythm.  Emotions are also our first insight into what frequency we are on, and what we need to expand, let go of, or transform from within. 

In practice, this is about observing our emotions and learning how to fully align these to the highest vibrations of love, peace, joy and enlightenment so that our energy becomes magnetic to those whom we are here to serve or partner with.  

It’s crucial for us as leaders to continually check in with what emotional frequency we are on, as that is what’s setting the vibrational rhythm and frequencies with our clients and our team.  Energetic Leadership is about creating and holding space for freedom, growth, expansion and creating win-win-win experiences for ourselves, our team, and the world, starting from within.

Your ultimate mission involves supporting veterans and feeding and educating children globally. How do you envision scaling this mission into a global movement?

This vision is ambitious and will require collaboration and resources.  I believe deeply in the power of peoples’ purpose and contribution,  While the exact path to scaling this is unfolding, my immediate goal is to help entrepreneurial women, veterans, and their family members who want to work with us to reclaim their power, sovereignty, peace and freedom through providing the best tools and resources we have available, and delivering them through excellence.  

Because of my deep belief in the resourcefulness of these people in their immense capacity to organize, mobilize, unify, and lead, I trust that those who find joy and purpose in helping to feed and educate children will reveal thenselves at the right time. I don’t have all the answers, and I trust completely that the ideal people and solutions will show up as we commit to the guided actions we can implement now. 

If you could leave every leader you work with with one lasting piece of wisdom, what would it be?

You Matter, and You are Free. 

In the words of Winston Churchill, “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”