Hi! I am Crenée Salone, creator of Courageous & Free Collective and CEO of BCF Consulting, LLC
Growing up a little black girl on the south side of Chicago, I was sold the idea of the “American Dream.” For me, that meant I had to survive my childhood (literally), work EXTRA hard in school, go to college, get a degree (or two), secure one of those “good jobs,” become a leader, climb the corporate ladder, make lots of money, buy a house in the best school district, retire and travel when I’m old.
Whew! I’m exhausted saying it. I did it. I did it all…but I’m not old yet!
No one talks about what it takes to accomplish all the items on the long list of the “American dream” I had to be alive and healthy. What do young women think about being active and healthy at 23? What person thinks about illness, death, heart surgery, and having her lung reinflated when she’s one semester away from completing her master’s degree in Finance? Youth made me feel invincible.
At just 23 years old, I was diagnosed with a chronic auto-immune disease called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Put simply, my immune system can launch a full-on attack against my healthy cells, tissues, and organs. Lupus can affect joints, tendons, kidneys, organs and affect blood vessels.
When I fell ill, I was a graduate student. Instead of spending my summer with friends and proving myself on my graduate internship, I spent my summer in and out of several emergency rooms between Milwaukee and Chicago.
After spending over 30 days in the hospital, having 2 heart surgeries, a collapsed lung, and barely surviving, I finally received my diagnosis.
After 5 months of excruciating recovery (including taking an ungodly number of steroids), I was able to return to Florida A&M University to complete my last semester of graduate school and receive my MBA in Finance.
I was committed to achieving the “American Dream” I’d been fed despite my disability that was invisible to most. I went on to have a kick-ass career as a finance leader and risk partner for several leading global organizations.
I’ve travelled the world, confidently led teams and carved out a significant space for myself in corporate America for over 2 decades – all while managing my chronic health issues.
Back then, it certainly wasn’t common to disclose a disability to your employer, so I hid my illness. This only increased my stress and compounded the hidden anxiety I had around my disease.
My symptoms such as extreme fatigue and debilitating joint pain was only exacerbated by the stress of trying to hide it all from the world.
Nearly 10 years post-graduate school, I married a long-term acquaintance who was widowed. Sadly, my husband’s first wife passed away 2 weeks after giving birth to their 2nd son, leaving him to raise a 3-year-old and a 2-week-old infant.
Training, Certifications & Experience
– 25+ years of leadership experience in regulated industries
– MBA and corporate authority
– Experience managing complex organizational dynamics
– Expertise in workplace advocacy and power navigation
– Mentorship and leadership development background
– ICF (International Coach Federation) Certification
– Professional Coach Training Program (PCTP)
– Leadership and Organizational Development Training
– Emotional Intelligence and Communication Training
– Continuous professional development in coaching methodologies
How I Work With My Clients
I believe in coaching, not therapy. We’re not here to process the past or heal old wounds—that’s what therapy is for. We’re here to move forward with clarity, courage, and agency. Every session is focused on where you’re going, not where you’ve been.
I don’t believe in fixing you or telling you what to do. Instead, I empower you to become your own authority, claim your voice, and make conscious choices about your life and career. You already know how to survive. Now let’s learn how to thrive.
My coaching combines proven coaching frameworks, emotional intelligence, and practical business strategy. Everything I teach is grounded in research, real-world application, and 25+ years of professional experience navigating complex organizations.
