From confusion to clarity, now I help women do the same.

 

 

Marquella “Quella” Dillard is the Founder and CEO of Bawse Lifestyle™, a personal development company created to help women strengthen how they navigate life, leadership, personal growth, and the goals they are working toward.

With more than 17 years of experience in women’s empowerment, Quella has built her work around practical education, strategic support, and experiences that help women build confidence, create structure, make stronger decisions, and follow through. Through Bawse Lifestyle, she leads coaching, workshops, educational programming, community experiences, and resources designed to make personal development practical and applicable to everyday life.

Quella’s work is rooted in helping women become more deliberate about how they live, lead, and grow, while giving them the tools to move forward with greater direction and consistency.

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A respected leader in her community, Quella served as Board Chair of PSB Inc. for ten years, where she focused on leadership development and advancing community empowerment initiatives. She is also an author and award-winning DIVA whose work and impact have been featured in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (2012), Richmond Free Press (2013), Urban Girlz Magazine (2017), Queen Size Magazine (2019), and Canvas Rebel Magazine (2026). Her dedication to uplifting women earned recognition from Influential Women, a global organization that celebrates women who lead, innovate, and inspire.

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Throughout her career, Quella's commitment to service and leadership has been recognized through several honors, including the NAUW Unsung Hero Award (2018), the Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce Business Award (2022), and recognition as a HERos Nominee (2025). In 2025, she was also selected as a Cohort Mentor for the Dress for Success Central Virginia Business Program, supporting emerging entrepreneurs as they build and grow their businesses.

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Quella's passion for empowerment extends into education and youth development. She partnered with Virginia State University to help establish a campus chapter designed to support students facing self-esteem and confidence challenges. Through this partnership, she facilitated workshops focused on personal development, confidence building, and academic growth. She has also supported student initiatives as a raffle donor for Virginia Union University.

Through her coaching, leadership, and community involvement, Quella remains dedicated to creating meaningful impact, strengthening communities, and helping women grow into confident leaders who move toward their goals.