Lisa Ryan is a keynote speaker, best-selling author, and the Founder and Chief Appreciation Strategist of Grategy®. She helps organizations create energized workplace cultures where employees feel valued, engaged, and motivated to stay. With a background in manufacturing and sales, Lisa brings real-world experience to her work, sharing insights on employee retention, engagement, and appreciation. Through humor, storytelling, and actionable takeaways, she inspires leaders to build workplaces where people thrive. Since 2010, Lisa has been on a mission to spread gratitude as a strategy for business success—and she loves every minute of it.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your entrepreneurial journey.
I grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. My mom was a stay-at-home mom, and my dad was a banker. I did what I needed to do to get through school, but I wasn’t exactly a huge fan of it—at least not until my early 20s when I took my first Dale Carnegie class. That course was a game-changer. It opened my eyes to the power of personal development and set me on a path of continuous growth.
Around the same time, I launched my sales career, learning the ins and outs of cold calling, closing deals, and building relationships. Then, in 1989, I took on a challenge that pushed me beyond my comfort zone—I did my first firewalk with a few friends. That experience solidified my love for professional and personal development. But an even bigger transformation came in 2009 when I did a second firewalk. Afterward, my friends and I started a Facebook thread to share what we were learning, the experiences we were having, and the people we were meeting. Then one of them suggested, “Why don’t we also share three things we’re grateful for every day?” So we did—and we held each other accountable.
That daily gratitude practice changed everything for me. It was the spark that led me to discover the power of gratitude—not just in my life but in business and leadership. And from that moment on, I knew this was the message I was meant to share with the world.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, I had a winding career path. I started as an executive recruiter, then moved into industrial sales, selling electrical cord and cable into the maintenance environment. From there, I transitioned into welding and, eventually, medical sales. Then came a defining moment—my position was eliminated via a group conference call. That’s when I decided that no company would ever have that kind of control over my career again.
Looking back, every experience—from cold calling to closing deals—prepared me for my true calling: helping leaders create workplace cultures that keep employees engaged, appreciated, and loyal. My journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t planned, but it turned out to be the best decision I ever made!
What was the idea or motivation that made you start your business? What motivated you within to say, “YES, go for it!”?
For me, the decision to start my business wasn’t something I had planned—it was a moment of realization that I could either let circumstances dictate my future or take control of it myself.
I spent years building a successful career in sales, moving from executive recruiting to industrial sales, welding, and eventually medical sales. Then one day, everything changed. My position was eliminated via a group conference call. In that moment, I decided that no company would ever have that kind of control over my career again. That was my turning point.
The motivation to say “YES, go for it!” came from a deeper realization that had been building for years. Back in 2009, after my second firewalk, I started a daily gratitude practice with a few friends. That practice changed my perspective on everything—work, leadership, and life. I saw firsthand how gratitude transformed my outlook and resilience, and I knew this was something the business world desperately needed.
I didn’t just want to start a business; I wanted to share a message that could make a difference. I wanted to help leaders create workplace cultures where employees felt valued, engaged, and inspired to stay. That’s what led to Grategy®—a gratitude strategy that isn’t just a feel-good concept but a business driver.
So when the opportunity came to reinvent myself, I didn’t see it as a setback. I saw it as a chance to build something meaningful. And I haven’t looked back since.
Tell us something about your initiative or current role. What is it about, and what impact are you trying to make?
I’m the Founder and Chief Appreciation Strategist of Grategy®, a company built on the power of gratitude as a business strategy. My work focuses on helping organizations create an energized workplace culture where employees feel valued, engaged, and motivated to stay.
Through keynote speaking, workshops, and leadership programs, I share actionable strategies that improve employee retention, engagement, and appreciation. Too many companies struggle with turnover, burnout, and disengaged teams—not because they don’t care, but because they don’t always know how to create a culture where people truly feel seen and appreciated. That’s where Grategy® comes in.
My goal is to shift workplace culture from a mindset of “people should feel lucky to have a job” to “people should feel grateful to work here.” When leaders foster appreciation, employees become more loyal, productive, and invested in the company’s success.
At the end of the day, I’m here to help organizations stop the revolving door of employee turnover and start building workplaces that people don’t want to leave. That’s the impact I’m making—one grateful leader, one engaged employee, and one thriving company at a time.
Website and Social Media Links:
Website: Lisa Ryan Speaks
LinkedIn: Lisa Ryan
Facebook: Lisa Ryan
YouTube: Lisa Ryan – My Grategy
Facebook Page: Lisa Ryan Speaker
Elite Experts Network: Lisa Ryan
