We had the good fortune of connecting with April L. Diaz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi April, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
I was always told to keep my work life, personal life, and family life all separate from one another. It was like I was being told to live multiple lives but with my one life. It felt fragmented and crazy-making. It seemed disingenuous and exhausting to try and be different people in different environments.

I believe that compartmentalization is a major reason why we’ve seen so many leaders blow out their life in one dimension or another. They may have had a profound and “successful” work life, but their family life was a wreck and it eventually destroyed their life. None of us are designed to live like this. It doesn’t work.

We were created to live with wholeness, which means integrating and aligning yourself in every dimension so you’re the same human no matter where you go. Yes, this takes work, but it requires less work than compartmentalizing your life! Yes, you’ll need different skills and practices to thrive in each dimension, but you weren’t designed to split yourself into different lives.

The leaders – and humans! – I admire the most are the same person at home with their kids as they are with their friends as they are in their work. There’s an integrated through-line in whatever space they set their feet. It’s effortless. It’s beautiful.

Our world would be a better place if leaders didn’t compartmentalize but instead brought their whole selves no matter where they were.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Ezer + Co. is a coaching company all about activating women to live and lead with wholeness. We do that through coaching groups because we believe transformation happens best in relationships. I didn’t start Ezer + Co. like all the white, male business leaders wrote about. We didn’t have a business plan, financial model. vision statement or values, Board of Directors, investors, or anything else. We had our name and a website domain when we launched in March 2019.

My 3rd-grade daughter was the catalyst to begin this company of Warrior Women during Women’s History Month. She gave a speech at school on International Women’s Day and she proudly told her class that IWD was important because “women are strong and powerful and have made a difference in this world.” Her prophetic voice caused me to realize that I didn’t want to build this company the way white men had been saying for decades how it needs to be done. I wanted to build Ezer + Co. in the company of warrior women. I committed to the vulnerable process of building Ezer + Co. with our audience watching my highs and lows, failures and wins.

Our first birthday was March 15, 2020, the day California went into quarantine. We lost 75-80% of our revenue that first week. I’m really proud of keeping a baby business alive during a pandemic. It gave us the opportunity to build the foundation and scaffolding for the kind of company of my dreams.

We truly have built Ezer + Co. in the company of warrior women who want to live and lead with more wholeness. And we’re just getting started!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We live in such a beautiful community and culturally diverse area. Inevitably, we would spend a good bit of time at Laguna Beach soaking up the sun and waves. We’d hike Top of the World, eat poke at Bear Flag, have margaritas at Javier’s in Crystal Cove at Sunset. We’d spend several afternoons at Pelican Hill sipping coffee on the cafe terrace or eating lunch at the poolside restaurant. We’d have wine at McClain Cellars and climbing the rocks at Laguna Beach. Basically, our itinerary would revolve around the beach, food, drinks, and enough activity so we wouldn’t gain 5 pounds by the end of the week! Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Patron Saint Brené Brown. She lead me into the deep waters of vulnerability nearly a decade ago and has given me a vision for the kind of leadership our world needs more of.

Website: https://www.ezerandco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezerandco/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ezer-and-co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ezerandco

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.