Lead With Courage When It Counts
✓ Relatable leadership tools for students — practical habits they can execute the very next day.
✓ Proven barrier-breaking strategies for women — real-world tools to command authority and lead with courage.
✓ High-pressure decision frameworks for organizations — actionable methods to unify teams under intense scrutiny.
Signature Keynote Experience
Step behind home plate with me today as I turn intense real-game pressure into repeatable leadership habits your audience can apply the very next day.
Leadership Development Workshops
Transform inspiration into practice through interactive scenarios, reflection, and Crew Chief Mindset drills built around your real leadership challenges.
Executive Experiences
Connect your senior leaders with a customized, high-pressure leadership lab that sharpens decision-making, accountability, and courageous communication together.
Consult
Explore What's Right for YouTrailblazing NCAA Division I Umpire
I am Natola D. Hawthorne, a Stockbridge, Georgia based leadership speaker and history-making NCAA Division I baseball umpire with more than two decades of on-field and leadership experience. I teach leaders how to make confident calls under pressure.
Pioneer
First Black woman NCAA baseball umpire.
Leader
First female GHSA state crew chief.
+20 Years
Leading under pressure
Preparation Precedes Perfect Execution
Initial Discovery Call
I start with a focused, no-pressure call to understand your audience, objectives, and what "making the call" looks like in your world.
Pressure Check
Together, we examine where confidence slips, decisions stall, or communication breaks down, addressing real pressure points.
Game Plan Design
I build a clear, prioritized event plan that aligns stories, frameworks, and interaction with the outcomes you need your leaders to own.
On-Field Execution
I deliver the experience, provide follow-up tools, and remain available to debrief impact so the new habits stick beyond event day.
The Rules of My Game
Structured Gameplan
Clear, organized event design that mirrors real game pressure
Proven Credibility
Barrier breaking NCAA and GHSA milestones anchor every message
Measurable Impact
Leaders leave with repeatable tools for high stakes decisions
Strategic Mindset
Crew Chief Mindset links daily choices to long term goals
The Story Behind Full Count
My journey in sports officiating taught me what it means to make difficult calls, face scrutiny, and keep moving forward. In Full Count: A Woman’s Journey to Changing the Game, I share the experiences that shaped my approach to courage and leadership.