Career Strategist |
Former HR Executive | 
Truth-Teller for Ambitious Professionals

Hi, I’m Lisa Schilling—former HR executive, career strategist, and someone who's spent decades watching smart, capable professionals get passed over while others moved ahead.  

Let me be blunt: 
Working hard doesn't get you promoted.  Being the "go-to" doesn't guarantee anything.  And waiting to be noticed is a losing game. 

I didn't rise in my career just because I was competent.  I rose because I learned how to communicate with clarity, build trust with the right people, and make my value impossible to ignore.  

I created Your Intentional Identity to give you the career truth most people learn too late:  
You don't need to hustle harder—you need a strategy that actually works.  One that includes communication, influence, and alignment with who you are—not who you think you're supposed to be.  

This site is packed with the tools and insights I wish someone had handed me earlier in my career.  Now I'm handing them to you. 

Because no one should have to figure this out the hard way.




I Worked Hard. 
I Delivered Results. 
And I Still Would've Been Overlooked—If I Hadn't Figured This Out. 

WHO I'M HERE FOR—
YEAH, I'M TALKING TO YOU ...

You've worked hard to get here—really hard.  But now you're asking, " What's it going to take to actually move forward from here?"

There's no magic bullet. 
But there is a smarter path forward —and it doesn't require adding more hours to your already overloaded schedule. 

It starts with something most people overlook:  your ability to build real, human relationships at work.  

Here's why that matters more than you think: 
When you know how to navigate relationships—with your boss, your peers, your team—you open doors that hard work alone can't. 

You gain influence. 
You build trust. 
You become the person others want to work with - and advocate for. 

These are the skills that get you promoted and help you feel more confident, connected, and in control of your career. 

 



What I Believe ...

Your career should reflect your values, not just your title.

Visibility, influence, and strong communications matter more than hustle.  

Self-advocacy isn't arrogance—it's necessary.

Burnout isn't a rite of passage.  It's a warning sign. 

You don't have to choose between success and well-being.  You just need a smarter strategy. 

What You'll Find Here 

Navigate burnout and
boundary-setting

Build workplace relationships that actually fuel your growth

Advocate for yourself without burning out 

Communicate with purpose and clarity






No fluff.

This site is your hub for practical tools, checklists, and truth-filled guidance to: 

I've navigated burnout.  I've watched brilliant people get passed over.  And I know how it feels to work hard and still feel unseen.

This work is personal to me. 

When I'm not writing or building new resources, you'll find me drinking too much coffee, spending time with my family, or reading something that makes me a better coach, writer, or human.  


And Just So You Know...    

Let's Find the Career Strategy that Works For You —Not Against You

You've done the hard work.  Now it's time to make it visible.  This page is where you'll learn how to advocate for yourself, communicate with purpose, and build strategic relationships that actually move your career forward - without adding more hours to your already full plate. 

Burnout isn't a personal failure - it's a signal that something needs to change.  This page is your starting point for creating a career that supports your energy, boundaries, and sense of self.  Because success that costs your well-being isn't really success.  

This is where I pull back the curtain.  No fluff, no hustle hype - just real-world insights on leadership, emotional labor, self-advocacy, and what actually gets you promoted.  Browse the latests posts to rethink how you show up, speak up, and move forward.


If you're ready to shift from exhausted to intentional, visit the Career Growth page, the Well-Being at Work page and my Blog to find tools that meet you where you are.  

Let's build a career that
works for you.

Career Growth

Well-Being at Work

The Inner Circle Blog

A FEW THINGS THAT MAKE ME... ME

BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:

THINGS I TAKE TOO SERIOUSLY:

THINGS I DON'T TAKE SERIOUSLY ENOUGH:

PET PEEVE:  

Surviving 30 years in HR without flipping a table

Grammar, Target list, and picking the perfect GIF

Long lines + rude people (especially in combo!)

My water intake and recommended bedtime routines

B.S. Human Development, Kansas State University 

M.A. Human Resources Development,
The George Washington University

Leadership Studies completed at University of Pennsylvania and Cornell 

Certified Identity-Based Life Coach,
The Modern Life Coach School 

Certified Weight Loss Specialist, Institute for Transformational Nutrition

I spent nearly 30 years working in Human Resources—from the front lines all the way to the executive level—for two Fortune 50 companies where leadership development, succession planning, and performance decisions happened behind closed doors.  

I coached hundreds of professionals, helped shape careers, and sat in rooms where the real conversations about promotions and potential were happening.  I saw what works, what doesn't, and what keeps good people stuck—even when they're doing everything "right."  

I've lived and worked in cities across the U.S., giving me a broad and deeply human perspective on how ambition, burnout, identity, and career growth show up in real life.  

After leaving corporate, I didn't walk away from this work—I just changed how I do it.  Now, I use everything I've learned to help others navigate their careers with more clarity, confidence, and intention.  

MY BACKGROUND + CREDENTIALS