If you’re standing at the crossroads of major change, then I’m so glad you’ve found your way here

With the right help, navigating a big life or career transition (or both) doesn’t have to feel so lonely, overwhelming, or scary.

Through my coaching experiences, I offer unwavering support and guidance as you gather your bearings, chart a new course, and take intentional, sustainable steps toward a happier, more fulfilling future.

You’re not here by accident

The online world is big and wide, and you found me, my resources, and my message for a reason:

You’re navigating a significant change in your life, and you’re tired of traveling the path alone.

Your friends and family, as much as you love them, don’t quite ‘get it’. And while you’re no stranger to getting yourself through hard things, you’ve probably started to realize that what you really need to start making progress isn’t more information and self-questioning.

Instead, it’s time to bravely admit that you need support at this critical juncture in your life.

You’re here because…

  • You’re grappling with big questions, and the weight of the decisions you need to make feels overwhelmingly heavy.

  • You’re worried that you’re running out of time to live the life you want, but you’re anchored in place by indecision.

  • You’re yearning for a sense of purpose and fulfillment that your current life or career just isn’t providing.

  • You’re not just seeking change, but a meaningful transition that aligns with your deepest desires and values.

  • You’re so ready to take the leap into a new chapter, but the path ahead looks foggy and uncertain.

I know because I’ve been there, too.

At age 34, I took a year-long sabbatical… and it completely changed my life

After several years of working in international development and humanitarian aid, I felt completely disillusioned by a career that once felt incredibly rewarding. 

A particularly tough job in post-earthquake Haiti had left me feeling burnt out, dealing with PTSD, and deeply questioning the work that I had once been so passionate about. 

I was grappling with so many questions — “Do I give it all up?” “What will everyone think?” “What would I do instead?” — and found myself at a crossroad moment that I wasn’t entirely sure how to navigate. (Maybe this sounds familiar?)

A few years prior, I had worked with a life coach who helped me reconnect with what I really wanted out of life. And I realized that, while I’d taken some pretty big and powerful actions in certain parts of my life since then, I still hadn’t touched some of my bigger (and scarier) dreams.

I had always assumed that I’d take time off in my 20s to travel and freely explore the world and my interests. But here I was, in my mid-30s, working in an office all day only to go home and work even more on the couch before bed. 

I realized it was finally time to make some of those bigger moves. 

So, I decided to take a year-long sabbatical. I gave up my apartment, got rid of many of my belongings, and set off on a trip around the world in search of new possibilities. 

It all felt very counterculture — and not in a cool, groovy way.

My background as a Japanese American includes a lot of white rice, expectations to get straight A’s, as well as the saying: “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.”

Which is to say: if you also come from a cultural and family background where stepping outside the lines to do what you feel called to do feels high stakes, I get you.

Sure, I had the freedom and flexibility I wanted. But it was far from easy. 

I had to do a lot of personal work. To learn patience, self-compassion, and resilience. Most of all, I had to learn how to listen to my inner compass, even when it contradicted much of what I had been taught or some superficial definition of success.

But it was so, so worth it.

Along my travels, I fell in love with a Catalan farmer and his home just outside of Barcelona. And, as they say, the rest is history. Within a year of leaving my career, I found myself navigating getting married, moving to a foreign country, and starting a business.

This is the part where I’m supposed to tell you I reached my happy ending

But that would be a big whopping lie. Successfully navigating those changes didn’t mean I crossed some sort of hypothetical finish line, where it was all rainbows and butterflies on the other side. 

In fact, just as I started to get my business off the ground (did I mention in a foreign country?!), I had two babies and, alongside the rest of the world, was thrown into a pandemic, unsure when I’d see my US-based family again.

Years later, I continue to make big decisions and navigate change on a regular basis, especially as an entrepreneur.

But here’s what I can say with complete certainty: I am living in integrity with my dreams and my fullest potential.

When you learn how to live a more aligned life, you quickly realize that “happy endings” don’t exist. Because there’s no “arriving”. Just like there’s no perfection. There is always flux, and we live in an imperfect and unpredictable world. 

Instead, you have to find happiness — and your own meaning — along the never-ending journey.

I love helping my clients find their own definition of a successful life

Since 2014, I’ve used my own experiences (and my coaching certification and training) to help others navigate their own crossroads. I cannot emphasize enough how much of a pleasure it is to help guide people through some of the toughest, crunchiest questions in their lives, and to find the beauty that exists on the other side.

I’ve helped my clients…

  • Explore new career possibilities

  • Secure promotions and increase their salary

  • Pursue their creative work

  • Prioritize their ‘bucket list’ items

  • Take career breaks and sabbaticals

  • Find their next, better-fit job

  • Discover and confidently go after a new direction

Most importantly, I help my clients discover and create a life they’re excited about, even when it challenges them… and I would love to help you do the same.

  • “Since coaching with Lisa, I’ve increased by salary 60%”

    Lisa coached me through the process of getting a promotion and raise that seemed overdue. At the time, I knew I was valued for my work ethic, contributions and leadership in my institution, but a series of regular cutbacks and layoffs made it hard to believe that leadership would support me in a raise and promotion.

    Lisa was the perfect fit. Her empathetic presence provided a safe space for me to find my own path toward my goal, but her incisive questions really challenged me to test my assumptions. She helped me plan how I’d approach and communicate with key decision-makers and stay on course when self-doubt crept in.

    I got the promotion and a 22% raise (more than I hoped), and also new confidence that led to further advancement again recently.

    – A.S., Research Scientist, Tacoma, WA

  • “Lisa helped me avoid a breakdown!”

    “Lisa provided the structure I needed to guide some critical decisions related to both life and work. She encouraged me to be brave and really dig deep to understand what I want for myself and helped me realize I could make those dreams happen. I really loved her open and compassionate approach and her ability to bring light to what felt like heavy decisions.”

    – Kate, charity CEO, London, UK

My promise to you

Whether this would be your first foray into coaching or you’ve been burned by lackluster self-development work in the past, I know that choosing someone to support you on your journey can feel uncomfortable. Scary, even.

And I want you to know: I get it. I have my own critiques of the self-development and coaching industry, and I’ve had my share of disappointing and artificial experiences, too.

I understand the delicate nature of change and the trust you’re placing in me. I promise to honor that trust by providing a caring space for exploration and growth, and by challenging and celebrating you as you confidently carve a new path.

Here are some of the ways that I’m different from other coaches:

  • I live what I teach

    I know how it feels to take a bird’s-eye view of the path you’ve been traveling and realize it’s not leading to the happiest version of your life. But I also know what it takes to bridge that gap. While I will never sell myself as someone who “has it all together”, I can full-heartedly say that I not only coach freedom, expression, growth, and spaciousness, but I live it every day.

  • I’m genuinely excited about your future

    I get a lot of energy out of helping people envision their future, and it helps me motivate my clients even when they can’t quite see it for themselves just yet. I know this transition may feel overwhelming and confusing right now, but I’m here to help you focus on the excitement and joy that’s sitting on the other side of aligned change.

  • I bring a distinct perspective as a mixed-race woman

    If you also belong to a marginalized group or come from an immigrant family, you already know how many layers you need to shed to show up as your full self within structures or societies that come with their own expectations and limitations. I have a lot of personal experience in recognizing and shifting external pressures and ideas, and it supports me to help my clients do the same.

  • I put the person first

    There’s a reason that I hesitate to call myself a career coach, or why I don’t focus solely on leadership and traditional markers of success. While I’m savvy about the corporate world (and many of my clients work in Fortune 500 companies), I recognize that the work we do together goes far beyond that. I make it about the person, the dreams, and their values first. The career always comes second.

  • I’m committed to an anti-racist journey.

    I recognize that coaching is traditionally a white-centered field, and I work to actively challenge that as part of my larger commitment to disrupt white supremacy in the larger world. I am consistently learning how to make my business and services more equitable, inclusive, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed so that I can better serve my clients and the greater BIPOC community.

If you want to….

  • Make more time, space, and energy for your creative work, relationships, or lifestyle…

  • Take a sabbatical from work to rest, re-energize, and explore a new direction…

  • Make a career change with more confidence (and without the fear of regret)...

  • Take your art, voice, or style in a more aligned direction…

  • Intentionally chart a path for your next chapter before you’re in the thick of it…

I would love to help you make sense of the questions taking up so much space in your head and come up with a clear, step-by-step expedition plan as you set off toward a happier, more meaningful life.

Ready to confidently chart a new course?

To discover the best-fit coaching experience for you, tell me which of the following situations resonates most with you right now.

  • “I’m navigating major change, and want to take time and care in my decision-making.”

    My four-month Catalyst Coaching experience offers a clear roadmap for transitions that extend into multiple parts of your life and/or require deep work. If you've been thinking about this crossroads for a long time, and if you suspect there are many, deeper obstacles you need to overcome to find your clear path, this container is for you.

    Read more about Catalyst Coaching

  • “I’m focused on a specific change and want to make quick progress — even if the journey is intense.”

    My one-month Starter Coaching Experience is perfect for fast, laser-focused changes. If you’re preparing for a career change, considering a job offer, planning a career break, or returning to work, and you want to set off on your new path within the next 30 days, this container is for you.

    Read more about Starter Coaching

  • “I’m staring down an important, time-sensitive decision and need a grounding conversation.”

    My Power Hours are designed to provide quick relief and clarity on a specific decision, such as starting a job search or preparing for a difficult conversation. If you’re looking for a safe space to get something off your chest, access your inner compass, and bring order to the jumble of thoughts in your head, this container is for you.

    Read more about Power Hours