Business Spotlight Conversation with Jacinda and LaDale Phillips of E.I.B.C.A. Consulting
- Mandisa A. Johnson, MS, MFA
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
A few weeks ago, we launched our Business Spotlight series, which highlights and features local and small businesses. Our first conversation was with LaDale and Jacinda Phillips of E.B.I.C.A., an acronym for Empowering Individuals to take Bold and Courageous Action. E.B.I.C.A. focuses primarily on personal empowerment, with an emphasis on the individual. The organization plans to expand its reach to couples, encouraging them to recognize the importance of individual growth within a relationship. Rather than approaching relationships as a whole, E.B.I.C.A. emphasizes the power of the "I," helping individuals maintain their sense of self while building healthy partnerships.
For 26 years, the Phillips’ journey together has been defined not only by time but by purpose. While their relationship has served as a source of inspiration to many, they believe inspiration alone isn't enough. It must lead to aspiration and action.
Throughout their time together, LaDale and Jacinda set a benchmark to monitor and manage the quality of their partnership. It’s this intentionality that has allowed their relationship to thrive, not just for themselves, but for those around them.
“Inspiration is valuable,” LaDale shares, “but aspiration changes lives.” Under their leadership, those who seek to grow benefit from the strength and authenticity of their union. Their relationship is one of overflow, where longevity, health, and wholeness are not only maintained but shared with others.
For those who aspire to build enduring relationships, LaDale and Jacinda offer more than just a model. They offer a living example of what’s possible through commitment, growth, and purpose.
When asked if a specific challenge in their marriage led to their work, LaDale offers a different perspective.
“It wasn’t a challenge,” he says. “But I had a desire to grow, and to be better as a man and as a husband.”
That desire opened the door to a pivotal moment. Both LaDale and Jacinda attended a relationship conference where the co-hosts shared how creating a vision had brought clarity and focus to their own marriage. Intrigued, LaDale learned that attendees would later have the opportunity to view a copy of the couple’s vision statement.
“I took advantage of that,” LaDale recalls. “On the way home, my wife and I talked about putting our own business together. Jacinda agreed, and together they decided to pursue the idea.
After a decade of marriage, LaDale and Jacinda decided to write a shared vision for their relationship. What they discovered surprised them.
“We were shocked by how much we didn’t know about each other,” Jacinda recalls. “It was eye-opening to realize we didn’t see eye-to-eye on things we thought we agreed on.”
That simple but intentional act of writing a vision would prove to be a turning point in their marriage. Years later, in 2017, after relocating to California, they revisited their original vision, and realized how it had quietly guided them through some of their most difficult seasons, including a period of homelessness with their family.
“It was our defining moment,” Jacinda says. “We saw the physical copy of our 2009 vision and realized it had been carrying us all along.”
“We were misaligned in a lot of areas,” Jacinda admits. “But once we finished writing our vision, we saw how beneficial it really was.”
Seeing the impact it had on their own marriage, LaDale and Jacinda felt a new sense of purpose: to help others craft their own relationship visions, and perhaps, make the process a little easier than it had been for them.
When it comes to helping couples navigate relationship challenges, the approach taken by LaDale and Jacinda is straightforward. They focus on solutions, not problems.
“Too often, couples get stuck going in circles around the same issues,” says Jacinda.“The truth is, many of us don’t actually lack love. We lack solutions.”
That philosophy forms the foundation of their Dynamic Relationships, a five-module course designed to help individuals and couples rediscover their personal value and build a shared vision for the future.
The journey begins with Module One: Connecting to Your Greatness, where individuals are reminded of their uniqueness. “It’s about reconnecting with who you are, before the relationship,” Jacinda explains. “Many people forget that they themselves are a gift to their partner and to the relationship.”
This initial phase often leads to powerful realizations. “People light up and say, ‘Wow, I forgot how amazing I am!’” Jacinda says.
Module Three focuses on values. Individuals first explore and if necessary, refine their personal values before aligning them with their partner's. It’s a crucial step that creates a foundation for lasting connection.
By Module Four, couples begin crafting a shared vision. Drawing on the insights gained in earlier modules, they create a personalized, PDF-based vision statement, which is a kind of relational blueprint that reflects their joint aspirations and commitments.
LaDale outlines the four key steps embedded in the course:
Personal Accountability – Each individual takes responsibility for the health of the relationship and recognizes their own value.
Receiving the Gift – Partners accept and honor the unique strengths each person brings to the relationship.
Identifying Inspiration – The couple discovers what inspires and uplifts them in each other, building emotional momentum.
Creating the Vision – Finally, the couple compiles all insights into a clear, customized relationship vision—a symbolic treasure that reflects their shared journey.
“This isn’t just about fixing problems,” LaDale emphasizes. “It’s about empowering couples to become the best version of themselves individually and together.”
When working with clients, faith, culture, and core values are not overlooked. They’re integrated intentionally into the coaching process.
“These elements are essential to the uniqueness of each couple,” says Jacinda. “We make sure they’re not only acknowledged, but honored throughout the process.”
The program includes specific questions designed to help individuals identify their spiritual or religious beliefs, and culture. By doing so, couples are guided to discover the deeper meaning and value behind their relationship, beyond day-to-day dynamics.
“Each couple is different,” Jacinda explains. “We don’t judge a couple’s faith based on what others believe. What matters most is that they understand the role faith and culture play in their relationship.”
One of the reflective prompts in the course asks: “Is it important for you and your significant other to share the same religious beliefs?” This kind of question encourages couples to clarify what they want their relationship to stand for and how their values align.
Ultimately, the goal is for each couple to incorporate their faith, cultural identity, and shared vision into a personalized relationship blueprint.
“We want couples to walk away with a clear understanding of what their relationship represents,” Jacinda says. “It’s about embracing your roots and building something beautiful together.”
What are the most common challenges couples come to you with?
When couples seek our help, “Men typically come to us in a state of desperation,” LaDale explains. “By the time they reach out, their partner has emotionally checked out. The men scramble, looking for a last resort to save the relationship.”
In contrast, women often approach counseling from a place of bitterness and emotional exhaustion. “They’ve given so much, frequently without setting boundaries, and as a result, they’ve overextended themselves. That frustration builds up over time,” LaDale adds.
According to him, at the root of both perspectives is a form of emotional immaturity, a lack of awareness about one's identity within the relationship and the unique gift each person brings to it. Many couples, he says, operate on subconscious agreements that shape their dynamics. “Take the woman, for example. She may not know how to stop overextending herself. She’s internalized a belief that she must constantly serve her partner, because that’s what she’s ‘supposed’ to do.”
Jacinda points to another common issue: emotional unfulfillment. “People are often simply unhappy in their relationships,” she says. “They don’t feel they have time to invest in their connection, so they go through the motions.”
Men frequently express dissatisfaction without understanding that happiness is not their partner’s responsibility. “We see this dynamic where individuals place the burden of their happiness on the other person. But fulfillment comes from within. That’s why our approach focuses on helping each person reconnect with what makes them feel whole and happy, so they can bring that fullness into the relationship.”
Atlanta Film and TV: How do you attract and connect with clients who need your services?
"We rely heavily on social media," Jacinda shares. “We create various reels and shorts on Instagram and TikTok that offer tips and insights on relationships, such as ‘Five Ways to Keep your Relationship Well-Rounded.’”
Lately, the couple has taken their outreach offline and into the real world.
“Recently, we’ve been getting out and meeting people,” she adds. “If I see a couple, I’ll ask, ‘How do you feel about your relationship?’ or ‘How would you rate your relationship?’”
While Jacinda takes the lead in sparking conversations, her partner LaDale brings a quieter presence.
“LaDale is more reserved,” she says, “but when he speaks, people tend to tune in.”
Atlanta Film and TV: What do you wish more couples understood about marriage before they get married?
"Marriage is a deeper type of relationship, and it requires a higher vision," LaDale explains. "Couples often don’t know what they don’t know. But years later, some of the very things you once enjoyed can become sources of tension. What you used to love might trigger frustrations. Some couples go into marriage trying to do better than their parents, but marriage is much more unique and purposeful than simply being 'better.'"
Jacinda adds, “I believe more couples need to understand that there’s no such thing as marrying the perfect person, or even the 'right' person. Both people in a relationship will change, and that’s not a bad thing.”
She emphasizes the importance of embracing change rather than fearing it.
“We like to say that couples evolve and expand. You won’t be the same person three years into marriage that you were while dating, and that’s a good thing. You get to know each other on a deeper level. For example, in the past, I wouldn’t discipline my children calmly. But when I watched LaDale do it with such patience, I was confused. I asked him, ‘How are you able to stay so calm?’ And he told me, ‘I’m not upset with my kids. They just need to understand what they did wasn’t right.’”
Jacinda concludes, “I hope more couples will embrace the growth and transformation that come with a long-term relationship. That expansion is part of the beauty of marriage.”
Atlanta Film and TV: What is one key piece of advice you have for every couple?
“If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be: don’t get lost in the roles, and don’t lose your identity,” says Jacinda. “Always show up as your true, authentic self.
LaDale adds, “You naturally switch gears when you’re aiming for a higher vision, a relationship that’s thriving, wholesome, and built to last.”
“Along the journey, things will happen. Arguments may arise unexpectedly,” he explains. “What I tell couples is, even when tension is present, keep moving forward. Find a space where you can come into positive agreement, something that helps you progress. And when the same issues resurface, return to that place of agreement so you can continue moving forward together.”
Atlanta Film and TV: How can people connect with you and your business?
The main way people can connect with EIBCA Consulting is through our direct.me/eibcaconsulting and on Instagram @eibca_consutlting. You can also reach us individually @ladalephillips and jay_nicole79
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