About Us

Dr. Lorri Sulpizio began her professional journey as a college basketball coach and fitness professional. When her time in athletics ended, she had to pivot her career path. She was getting her PhD in leadership at the time and adjusted her research and academic direction to focus on women, gender, and leadership and group dynamics. Particularly interested in non-traditional approaches to leadership training and development, Lorri trained in group dynamics using a group-relations methodology. She firmly believes there is another, more effective approach to leadership other than the historical hierarchical model that is so dominant in our organizations. She believes there is a better way to lead.

Lorri discovered new models of leadership, such as adaptive leadership and Dare to Lead™ based on the work of Brené Brown. She has had the opportunity to work with the founders of adaptive leadership, Ron Heifetz and Terri Monroe and is a certified Dare to Lead™ facilitator. In learning about group relations methodology, Lorri learned how our behavior is based not only on our traits, but by our need to conform to social demands and expectations. This was it! These models viewed leadership not as a position one held but as something a person did. Leadership was an activity, not a role. Something we can learn to do better. These models acknowledged the intense impact that groups have on our lives. They acknowledge that leadership is a set of skills, but it’s not superficial or learned from a list of best practices. It’s nuanced, complex, messy, and hard. Yet, people can teach it, and we can learn it.

Lorri has transitioned out of athletics to working with individuals to become more effective leaders, colleagues, parents, and people. She is especially passionate about helping girls, women, and the LGBTQ community develop a strong sense of self and a leader identity. Fitness and athletics remain close to her heart. She still believes she is an athlete and a coach, and if she’s not working, she’s probably coaching her kids, finding time to read, and getting a workout in.

Her hobbies include camping, backpacking and anything active and outdoors.

The technical stuff:

Lorri has a BA from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in English and Women’s Studies, an MA in Sports Psychology from San Diego State University, and a PhD in Leadership from the University of San Diego. Lorri is a Certified Dare to Lead™ facilitator based on the research of Brené Brown and a certified leadership coach. She is a certified in the Leadership Circle 360º assessment, the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, the DiSC profile, and other leadership tools. She is trained in the mPEAK method of Mindfulness for Peak Performance and has participated in several advanced Group Relations Trainings.

Lorri is the Director of the Conscious Leadership Academy and the founder of the Center for Women’s Leadership at the University of San Diego. She is trained in the mPEAK method for Mindfulness for Peak Performance. Lorri’s interests include the impact of gender dynamics, using group relations theory to understand effective team leadership, and helping leaders recognize the importance of authenticity and a strong sense of self.

Lorri has written several articles and book chapters on a variety of leadership topics and is considered an expert in gender and leadership. Lorri has contributed her advanced leadership skills to benefit many organizations as an executive board member for New Children’s Museum of San Diego, the California Community College Women’s Basketball Association and the Fitness Advisory Council for San Diego Mesa College. She served as head women’s basketball coach at San Diego Mesa College from 2001-2007 and coached at Cuyamaca College from 2008-2010. She currently sits on the Board of Trustees for La Jolla Country Day School.

Currently, Lorri is a lead faculty member for the United Nations Women’s Leadership program, and for the advanced women’s Leadership program for the Skolkovo management school in Russia. She has been part of the Shakti Leadership Fellowship Program, a global women’s leadership and personal development program. She teaches the graduate Gender and Leadership course at USD and is a consultant and facilitator for the Adaptive Leadership Network, founded from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Lorri lives in San Diego, Ca, with her wife and kids. Lorri has lived in Southern California her whole life, yet is often told she has an East Coast flavor (although she’s not totally sure where that came from). She can promise you she brings her full self to our work with every project and every client.

Meet the Team

Dr. Cheryl Getz

Cheryl Getz is a certified leadership coach and senior facilitator. She is a faculty member in the Department of Leadership Studies at USD. Her areas of expertise are groups dynamics, issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and creating cultures of meaning and mindfulness. She has PhD in leadership.

Dr. Bo Bae

Bo Bae has a PhD in leadership and Bo comes with experience coaching professionals around conscious leadership and utilizing reflection to analyze situations to promote self-awareness and enhance group dynamics. Bo’s leadership work and interests include introspection, finding one’s inner voice, and building authentic teams.

Cristina Schaffer

Cristina Schaffer has an MA in Leadership Studies and a BA in Communications. Cristina has over 25 years of working for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She has held leadership positions in sales and training, marketing, and development. She has been involved in creating and organizing small and large-scale events and cultivates her creativity as a professional photographer.

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We’d love to hear from you and explore how we might work together.

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