Who is Shelli Lackey?
Shelli Lackey is a transformational executive coach, keynote speaker, and certified change management professional who empowers leaders to break through mental blocks and lead with purpose. With over two decades of experience spanning public and private sectors, she helps individuals and teams realign with their goals through mindset work, strategic coaching, and high-impact workshops. Shelli is known for creating safe, insightful spaces where growth becomes possible, sustainable, and deeply personal.
The Moment Everything Changed
“You work hard. You read the books. You summon your courage to Do The Thing… and then, you stop.”
For Shelli Lackey, this wasn’t just a message—it was a mirror. One she holds up to leaders, professionals, and purpose-driven individuals across industries. In those few words, Shelli doesn’t just identify the cycle of burnout and self-doubt; she interrupts it. And in that pause—between the swirl of doubt and the spark of possibility—she invites people to shift, to breathe, and to reclaim their power.
A transformational coach, keynote speaker, and certified change management professional, Shelli Lackey has made it her mission to help people move from internal pause to external purpose. Through her coaching practice, speaking engagements, and organizational leadership roles, she has become a force for sustainable transformation—one mindset shift at a time.
Grounded in Grit, Built for Growth
Shelli’s journey began not in front of large audiences or inside C-suite boardrooms, but in the quiet pursuit of better systems, stronger teams, and more human ways of leading. After earning her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Pacific Lutheran University, she pursued her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University, long before “leadership” was the buzzword it is today.
Early roles at Boeing and Los Alamos National Laboratory taught Shelli the mechanics of large systems and complex operations. But it was her growing awareness of how people adapt (or resist) change that lit the spark. The numbers told one story, but the people told another. She knew then that understanding the emotional undercurrent of organizational life would be her true calling.
A Career Defined by Meaningful Change
Shelli’s ascent is a masterclass in leadership evolution, from behind-the-scenes strategist to front-of-the-room facilitator. Over more than two decades, she built a track record of results in both public and private sectors, steadily climbing through roles that fused performance, operations, and transformation.
At the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts, she led statewide organizational change management efforts for a legacy system overhaul impacting 37 counties. Her tenure there showcased not just her technical project skills, but her uncanny ability to build trust, mobilize stakeholders, and guide people through uncertainty.
At the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Shelli served as Enterprise Organizational Change Manager for six years, leading strategic communication, training, and change adoption for high-stakes initiatives.
In 2023, she stepped fully into her own brand of leadership, founding Discovery Leadership Advisors LLC. Today, she operates as an independent consultant and coach, bringing decades of change experience to executive coaching, team development, and keynote speaking. Her work now centers on what she’s always believed: change is only sustainable when people feel seen, safe, and supported.
Shifting Mindsets, Unlocking Momentum
Shelli’s impact is best measured not in metrics but in mindsets. Her coaching clients frequently use words like “clarity,” “alignment,” and “courage” when describing their work with her.
One recent client shared:
“Working with Shelli was a game-changer for our leadership team. From facilitating high-impact workshops to delivering thoughtful, effective 1:1 coaching, she helped us unlock new levels of momentum and alignment. Shelli has a rare ability to guide individuals and teams through meaningful mindset shifts through building confidence, breaking through blocks, and driving real progress. We saw transformation across the board… She’s the real deal.”
Whether coaching one-on-one or guiding teams through organizational evolution, Shelli combines executive presence with emotional intelligence. She’s certified in ADKAR Methodology, The Five Behaviors®, and holds the Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP™) designation. She’s also a GROWTH ZONE Licensed Partner, leveraging evidence-based frameworks that support performance without burnout.
Her bilingual proficiency (English and German) and experience across sectors allow her to bridge perspectives, cultures, and leadership styles, especially in complex, regulated, or mission-driven environments.
Vision for the Future: From Confidence to Community
Shelli isn’t just a coach. She’s a movement builder.
Her LinkedIn voice is raw, real, and deeply personal. In one recent post, she writes:
“You work hard at your job. You read the books. You summon up your courage… and then, all the old tapes start playing again. You’re not smart enough, talented enough, whatever-it-is enough. You’re stuck. Again.”
And then she offers the invitation:
“Let’s stop that swirl.”
This is what defines Shelli’s next chapter — creating spaces where high-achievers stop spinning, get grounded, and rise with intention.
Her signature coaching cohorts, offered seasonally, are curated communities where leaders not only grow but grow together. These programs go beyond traditional coaching; they blend self-reflection, group learning, and action planning, all grounded in Shelli’s compassionate yet clear-eyed facilitation.
She is also a sought-after keynote speaker, delivering talks that blend practical frameworks with soul-stirring insight. Whether addressing associations, corporate offsites, or leadership retreats, Shelli’s message is unwavering: “I help leaders reflect on the environment they want to create, use common-sense tools to unleash their team’s potential, and lead with purpose.” With her calendar now booking into next spring, Shelli continues to speak nationally, coach globally, and lead fearlessly.
Editorial Note: The Real Work Begins Within
Shelli Lackey’s story is not about overnight success or headline-making disruption. It’s about the slow, powerful art of alignment — between who you are and how you lead. It’s about redefining success not as achievement, but as embodiment.
From legacy systems to legacy leadership, from spreadsheets to spiritual shifts, Shelli has made one truth very clear:
Transformation isn’t just possible — it’s inevitable when you lead from the inside out.
If you or your team are ready to pause, reflect, and rise with purpose, Shelli’s message is your catalyst, and her work, your next step.
