After more than 20 years in education, Renée Lilley made the leap to organizational psychology. Leading a team of struggling educators during the pandemic ignited her interest in the psychology of work and fostering emotional resilience. She became deeply invested in optimizing engagement and enjoyment for her team, which led her to pursue a master’s in I/O Psychology and embark on a new professional direction.
Today, Renée is an organizational psychologist, professional development coach, former English teacher and faculty team lead, and curator of stories. She founded Storyline Coaching Studio, LLC, and now works in a new way as a “guide on the side.” As both a former educator and now a coach, her motivation remains rooted in a deep desire to nurture personal agency in others.
She coaches a diverse range of professionals: new graduates navigating the transition from college to career, junior professionals aiming to advance, and leaders seeking tailored professional development or a new path. She finds it an honor to coach new teachers through their demanding first year, as well as seasoned teachers refining their craft. Recognizing that careers begin in the classroom, she also coaches high school and college students in executive function and communication skills. Each client’s courage to forge a new story continues to inspire her.
If your business could have a mascot, what would it be and why?
An antique black 1930s-era typewriter sits on a shelf beside my desk to remind me that my work is about helping others transform the narratives of their professional lives. The actions performed on a typewriter—writing, revising, editing, rewriting, reframing, and reimagining—mirror the metaphorical work clients undertake in coaching. This old relic, in a way, serves as a mascot for the transformative opportunities I offer my clients.
What strategies do you employ to maintain a healthy work-life balance while running your own business?
I’ve learned my hobbies, interests, and relationships open up my thinking, and ultimately serve my work. Creative pursuits like refinishing furniture, gardening, or cooking a new dish—all the activities I enjoy outside of work—actually provide inspiration that feeds into my business. For instance, time spent in my garden often sparks relevant growth metaphors I can share with clients. When I allow work and life to cross-pollinate, I open myself up to ways of experiencing whole-person, transformational overlap.
When faced with unexpected detours on your business path, how do you pivot with grace and resilience, showing fellow women entrepreneurs the way forward?
When unexpected obstacles arise, I reorient myself to the big picture. I zoom out and assess my accomplishments over the past year, drawing inspiration from Bill Gates’s idea that we often overestimate how much we can accomplish in a day and underestimate how much we can accomplish in a year. I pivot by remembering the power of incremental gains and the cumulative effect of consistent, long-term effort. This perspective helps me bounce back, show resilience, and hopefully encourage others to persevere.
How do you measure the success of your business beyond financial metrics, such as customer satisfaction or community engagement?
Upon the completion of a coaching engagement, I offer my clients a chance to essentially coach me. I do this by asking them to complete a survey to provide feedback on what was effective for them, as well as any opportunities I might have overlooked. This process allows me to understand the experience from the client’s viewpoint and consider how I can improve as a coach. Additionally, it enables me to collect important statistical data regarding client goal achievement, progress, and overall satisfaction.
Can you share a memorable moment where you witnessed significant growth or transformation in your business, illustrating the impact of your services/products?
My business is young; I anticipate the moment of significant growth is yet to come! However, once I started hearing comments like, “That framework we discussed last time really helped me have a difficult conversation with my boss,” and “I don’t think I would have been promoted if I hadn’t been working with you,” or “You made me feel empowered and capable to do good things,” I knew my work was having the kind of impact I aspire to achieve.
What role do you believe mentorship plays in the success of small businesses, and how have mentors influenced your own entrepreneurial journey?
Building a small business demands courage, imagination, creativity, and perseverance, qualities that naturally ebb and flow. In these moments, mentors provide crucial reinforcement. Whenever my courage has faltered, a mentor coach has reignited it. When my imagination has waned, a seasoned coach has revitalized it. This journey would be impossible without the mentorship and inspiring examples of other women entrepreneurs. I am deeply grateful for the role models and mentors who have challenged me to reframe my perspective, dismantle self-limiting beliefs, and step outside my comfort zone.
What’s your work all about, and how does it make a difference in the world?
My work focuses on empowering individuals to live more courageous professional lives by challenging false narratives and self-limiting beliefs that hinder their potential. The stories we tell ourselves are powerful. When we weave inner narratives about our own capabilities, desires, or opportunities that are more fiction than fact, we create our own unique disempowering mythology. The stories we tell ourselves reveal more than where we’ve been, they determine how far we’ll go! Each time someone becomes a better version of themselves, they help make the world a better place.
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LinkedIn – Renée Lilley
