Lisa Harris is a professional leadership coach and thought partner dedicated to unlocking the potential of leaders by creating space for them to think, shift perspectives, and discover unseen possibilities. With a career spanning over three decades, Lisa has held leadership roles at MTV, Yahoo!, Netflix, and Adobe. She is passionate about empowering individuals to take risks, grow, and ultimately pay it forward. Beyond coaching, she enjoys baking, wakesurfing, and embracing life with a spirit of fun and adventure.
In her own words, “ Beyond coaching, I bake, dance while wakesurfing, and live by the rule of the Pig of Happiness (Edward Monkton)—because leadership, like life, should be fun.”
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
My most precious memories are rooted in family and fun. As a child, my father would energize his three children with magical mystery tours—we could end up anywhere! My parents instilled a deep curiosity in us. I loved nothing more than building televisions with my dad in a freezing garage, listening to the rain land on the metal roof, or baking shortbread that filled the house with the scent of sweet deliciousness—made with love, not fat… my baking motto to this day.
Our adventures were driven by experience, not money. You could say we were curious, intrepid explorers every day.
My dad taught me life lessons, and here are two that I carry with me always:
- Treat others as you’d like to be treated—we are all equals.
- If you believe you can do it, you probably can—so go on, try! And if something doesn’t work the first time, try again and change one thing until it does.
As an undiagnosed dyslexic, my school told me I would never amount to much… That was the best starting gun for me! “I’ll show you!” When I hear “it’s impossible,” I know what they really mean is “Go on… try!”
When I left school, I thought I wanted to be a fashion model. I worked hard to secure an agency and went to hundreds of castings—only to hear I was too tall, too short, too thin, too fat, my lips were too thin, my hair too long… you get the picture. And when I finally booked jobs, I found the whole thing too boring! But I had to try—to work it out for myself. It wasn’t for me, but the experience taught me so much, especially the importance of trying and trying again.
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business/initiative? What motivated you within to say “YES, go for it!”?
In June 2024, I went on holiday and had an epiphany. Looking back, I can see that many steps led me to that moment. I was in a town perched on a hill, quite literally stepping upwards while asking myself: “What am I doing with my life right now?” “Am I really happy in my role?” “Am I truly fulfilled?” “Am I living in alignment with my values?”
I listened to my answers, challenged myself, and asked, “What do you truly love doing?” The answer was simple: unlocking people’s talent so they can live fulfilled lives and pay it forward.
One of the key triggers was a coach who once asked me, “If not now… then when?” after I had said, “One day, I want to be a coach.” That question stuck with me. So here I am—turning “one day” into today.
The outcome? I have purpose. I am living my passion. I am less stressed. I wake up excited to work because I utterly love it. I have never been happier. And, as a bonus—friends tell me I look five years younger. I’ll take that!
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
The change I would like to see in the world—one that is within our reach—is to embed kindness, community, and love into everything we do. Imagine a world where those with a “let’s do the right thing” spirit are uplifted—in communities, politics, and business. Where success is measured not just in profit but in the positive impact we create. A world where we nurture our planet and protect its animals with the same compassion we show each other. True success isn’t just about personal achievement but about how we pay it forward, lifting others up and leaving the world better than we found it.
What are your thoughts about women’s leadership today?
Women’s leadership today is more visible and influential than ever, yet there is still work to be done. In the workplace—and in politics—there remains a need to amplify the voices, perspectives, and wisdom of women. Women shape the next generation in countless ways, and ensuring their representation at all levels is not just about fairness; it’s about creating stronger, more balanced, and more innovative organizations.
Having worked in corporate environments since the 1990s, I have witnessed progress firsthand. Positive steps have been taken, but they didn’t happen in isolation—real change has always required both men and women to challenge the status quo and bring diverse voices to the table.
Today, we are at a pivotal moment. Momentum has been built, but to sustain and accelerate it, we must continue questioning norms, fostering inclusion, and creating space for all voices to be heard at the top.
Throughout my career, I’ve had to carve my own path, take risks, and learn from failure. It wasn’t always easy. I made mistakes, took accountability, and shared my experiences so others could learn from them. But what has mattered most is the impact I’ve had on those around me. Staying connected with the incredible women I’ve worked with and supporting their growth—even after leaving an organization—has been one of the greatest rewards of my journey. Because I know they will continue to drive change. They will push forward. And if you’re reading this, so will you.
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
What’s the most important thing you have learned in your personal and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?
The most important lesson I’ve learned—both personally and professionally—is to be authentically kind, with no agenda, and to pass it on. Kindness is contagious; it creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond what we can see.
“Impossible is simply I’m possible—someone just missed the apostrophe.”
What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
Make a difference, take a risk, lift others up—and always pay it forward… always! And thank you for reading my interview!
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