ABOUT ME

Hi, I’m Suzanne Burns - entrepreneur, small business mentor, teacher, trainer, and facilitator. I’ve spent the last 15 years in business operations, leadership development, program management and facilitation with a specialty in driving growth and fostering strong, collaborative teams.

With experience in working for startups and owning and operating my own service-based brick and mortar, I have successfully led organizations through expansion and contraction, increasing revenue and operational capacity, and building inclusive and empowering environments.

As a yoga teacher and studio owner, I have spent over 13 years writing and facilitating curriculum for internal and public-facing programs.

I know what it means to build a business and a life that not only supports you, but that you are proud of.

Outside of work I am a mom of 3, wife, and passionate advocate for individuals with disabilities. My approach to life - work and family alike - includes compassion, resilience, joy, and humility.

TESTIMONIALS

  • "Working with Suzanne has been a game-changer for me as a small business owner. She is an invaluable mentor and coach who provided both the tools and the confidence I needed to write a mission statement that truly reflected my business vision. Creating my mission statement enabled me to streamline my marketing to speak to my target audience in a way that felt both personal and compassionate. Suzanne is an incredible listener. She always holds space for me to vent about the challenges of being a small business owner. Not only does she listen without judgment, oftentimes she will confess that she’s had the same struggle! Her ability to keep it real never ceases to put me at ease. Coaching and mentoring appointments with Suzanne are always uplifting and energizing. She follows up each meeting with a clear summary of key takeaways and actionable steps, which helps to keep me focused and moving forward. If you are a small business owner in RVA, you need Suzanne in your life to take you to the next level. I’m forever grateful for her guidance and truly credit much of my business’s success to her support behind the scenes." - LH

  • "Every time I take Suzanne’s classes, the two things I always feel are “safe” and “seen.” Suzanne, aside from being the kindest human, has a gift for holding classes in a way that makes you feel free to be yourself. It’s made a big impact with me, on and off the mat - knowing that every time I show up, I’ll be accepted and celebrated as exactly who I am." -KJ

  • “Suzanne’s coaching was exactly what I needed to bring clarity to my business values and offerings. Through her guidance, I was able to articulate a mission statement that has since become an essential tool in my practice. It helps me educate potential clients about acupuncture, aligning their expectations with what I truly offer. This clarity has made conversations with clients more effective and has strengthened the foundation of my business. Suzanne’s support provided the structure and insight I needed to move forward with confidence.” - EF

  • “Suzanne is a natural leader, and one that leads with compassion, intention, kindness, and warmth. I took her workshop, the Fulfilled Plate, when I felt I needed some reinvigoration with my small business. She listened to my individual goals, and helped me (in multiple ways) zoom out and think even bigger picture- aligning myself more authentically to my brand and reshaping my mission statement to truly communicate the work that we do in community and what our goals are. Which, ultimately was a simplifying of sorts. Suzanne took the anxiety out of structuring my business in a different way and validated the changes I needed to make, all while upholding the level of professionality I seek to work within. Plus, she's so relatable and fun, our sessions together brought deep thoughts, growth, laughter and connection. Suzanne is my forever go to when I need a fresh perspective or guidance. FIVE STARS!!” - MR

  • “In my treatment for cancer my body went through a very difficult year. I had a bone marrow stem cell transplant, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, colonoscopies and three biopsies. After all that treatment I am happy to say that I am in remission. What I needed after that was not more western medicine but healing that I could get from Yoga. From my first class on I have been healing and Suzanne has been the conduit for this ancient healing process called Yin Yoga. After each class I feel stronger, healthier and very serene.  Suzanne is a part of my care team as much as my doctors and nurses at VCU Health.” - JB

let’s work together

CONTACT