From Biofuels to Coaching: How Portia Smith Followed Her Soul’s Calling

In this episode of Adventures in Business, Amani and Mandi chat with Portia Smith, founder and CEO of Elev8 Coaching. Portia’s story is one of bold pivots, soulful decisions, and a lifelong passion for learning — and she brought all of that and more to the mic.

Let’s start with the highlight reel: Portia was once the Executive Vice President of a biofuel manufacturing company, where she helped run a complex 24/7 operation. Today, she’s a transformational coach helping executives and entrepreneurs overcome burnout, navigate difficult career conversations, and remove the barriers keeping them from living fuller, freer lives.

So how did she make such a dramatic shift? Like all good stories, it starts way back.

From Real Estate to Renewable Energy

Before biofuels, Portia Smith was a successful realtor and real estate investor in her early 20s, even owning a home at the beach. But when the 2008 housing crash hit, she lost everything — an experience she now sees as one of many “learning opportunities” that shaped her path.

That loss led her into the world of biofuels. Alongside partners, she co-founded a company dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by creating clean-burning alternatives to diesel fuel. The mission was noble, but the reality? Incredibly stressful.

With a fleet of trucks, volatile chemicals, and a production plant that never stopped running, the job took a serious toll on Portia’s health. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, she’d always been a seeker — exploring spirituality, personal development, and the deeper questions of life.

How Portia Found Coaching

Portia’s first experience with coaching happened when she was just 24. She worked with a coach while in real estate, and the transformation was so powerful it planted a seed. She remembers thinking, "How cool would it be to be a coach someday?" But she pushed that idea aside, thinking she wasn’t qualified or ready.

Years later, with more business experience under her belt — and after managing and leading over 100 people — she heard about a master’s program in spiritual psychology. Everything clicked.

“That’s me,” she thought. “That’s what I’m here to do.”

And just like that, she exited the business world and enrolled.

What Is Spiritual Psychology?

Instead of defining this outright, Portia shared some of the core principles she learned during her master’s program:

Nothing is happening to you —it’s happening for you. Every experience is an opportunity for learning and growth.

The issue isn’t the issue. How we relate to the issue is what really matters.

Emotional upset is a sign we’re in judgment. Through compassionate self-forgiveness, we can release judgment and return to a place of peace and clarity.

These aren’t just academic lessons for Portia. They’re life tools — ones she now shares with her coaching clients every day.

A Career of Courage

When asked how she found the courage to make such a major mid-career pivot, Portia Smith gave a humble answer. She pointed out that it wasn’t her first big shift — she’d already gone from bartender to realtor, then to executive.

But internally? That’s where the real courage came in. Listening to her intuition. Following her soul, even when the world might not understand the path. And choosing a vocation that helps others do the same.

From Goal Line to Soul Line

We’ve all heard about chasing goals. But what about the soul line?

Portia shares that while the goal line is all about external achievements, the soul line is the internal path: your self-worth, confidence, mindset, limiting beliefs, and how you relate to yourself and others. It’s the work happening behind the scenes — deep in your heart and head — that ultimately drives everything forward.

Why We Avoid the Work (and Why It’s Worth Doing Anyway)

According to Portia, a big reason people hesitate to begin the soul work is fear. There's this myth that if you “open the can of worms,” it’ll be a giant, messy explosion you can never recover from. But avoiding it just builds pressure.

Even when people do begin the work, staying consistent is another challenge. Much like physical fitness, it requires commitment. And in a world full of distractions, that can be tough. But Portia’s message is clear: when we prioritize this type of personal transformation, the ripple effects are life-changing.

Portia’s Top Grit Attributes

When asked to pick her top two “grit attributes,” Portia chooses conscientiousness and resilience. Why?

Because, as she puts it, you need awareness (conscientiousness) before you can truly choose passion, have courage, or persevere. It’s the foundation of everything.

And resilience? That’s personal. It’s the thread that weaves through her own story — how she’s overcome, learned, grown, and become a “being of light and love in this world.”

From Solopreneur to Elev8 Coaching

Portia’s business evolution is a story many entrepreneurs will relate to.

For nearly a decade, she built her coaching practice entirely through word-of-mouth. But when she hit capacity — fully booked with clients — she faced a choice: turn people away or expand her reach.

After some reflection (and even fear and resistance), she decided to start Elev8 Coaching, bringing in other trained coaches who align with her mission. The goal? To support more people in doing the inner work and creating real transformation.