Some of Lissa Daub’s earliest lessons in leadership did not come from a classroom or a corner office. They came from the dinner table in Elk Lake, a small town in Northern Ontario, where her parents owned two local businesses. That table often doubled as an informal boardroom, the only moment in the day when her parents could talk openly about what was really happening in their companies. Conversations about cash flow, employee challenges, inventory decisions, and hard won sales victories were a regular part of family life. For Lissa, business was never abstract or theoretical. It was lived, discussed, debated, and felt. Long before she held professional titles or earned certifications, she learned a fundamental truth that would shape her career: businesses succeed or fail based on people, decisions, and the systems that support them.
An Entrepreneurial Upbringing Rooted in Reality
Growing up in an entrepreneurial household gave Lissa an unusually honest view of what it means to own a business. She saw both the freedom and the weight that came with leadership. Success was celebrated, but so were the late nights, the stress of payroll, and the responsibility her parents carried for their employees and community. That early exposure planted a deep respect for entrepreneurship and a curiosity about how businesses actually work behind the scenes.
Motivated to formalize what she had absorbed through experience, Lissa pursued post secondary education in accounting. She wanted to understand the mechanics that underpin strong businesses, not just from instinct but from skill. Over time, that commitment to learning became a defining characteristic. She went on to earn her designation as a Chartered Professional in Human Resources, became a Certified Exit Planning Advisor, and achieved accreditation through The Value Builder System. Each credential added another layer to her understanding of how people, process, and strategy intersect to create durable value.
At just 22 years old, Lissa made a decision that would become one of the most formative moments of her life. She purchased her first business. The move marked her transition from observer to owner, from theory to full accountability. That experience also brought an outcome few talk about openly. The business failed, and Lissa went bankrupt. It was a painful and humbling chapter, but one that clarified everything she had learned since childhood. Success is not guaranteed by ambition alone. Sustainable businesses require intentional leadership, resilient systems, and people who are empowered to carry responsibility alongside the owner.
From Human Resources to Strategic Leadership
Following that early setback, Lissa did not retreat from business. She leaned deeper into it. Her corporate career spanned purchasing, production planning, quality control, and human resources, giving her a rare, end to end view of how organizations function. In her role as People Services Manager, she worked closely with leadership teams to address one of the most persistent challenges in business: aligning people with strategy.
Human resources became more than a function for Lissa. It became a lens through which she viewed organizational health. She saw firsthand how disengaged teams, unclear leadership, and reactive decision making eroded value over time. She also saw how clarity, accountability, and trust could transform not just performance, but culture.
That perspective eventually led her back to entrepreneurship, this time with intention and purpose. In 2020, she founded The Strong Impact Academy, a virtual training and consulting firm dedicated to helping business owners build companies that do not depend entirely on them. The mission was clear. A better business is one that supports the life you want to live today and funds the life you want when you are no longer running it.
At the core of her work is a simple but powerful philosophy she calls the Business Freedom Formula. Business freedom is created when a clear plan and effective processes are multiplied by the right people. This approach reflects her belief that freedom is not accidental. It is designed. Through structured assessments, strategic planning, and disciplined execution, Lissa helps owners shift from being the center of every decision to leading businesses that can operate predictably without constant intervention.
Her work resonates because it is grounded in reality. As one client noted, “Lissa provided insight that turned vague goals into actionable plans with real purpose.” Another described her ability to help leaders understand and apply their strengths in ways that immediately improved decision making and team performance. These experiences underscore what sets her apart. She does not offer motivation for its own sake. She offers clarity and direction.
Building Businesses That Work for Life, Not Against It
Today, Lissa is known as a Business Freedom Strategist, speaker, and published author who helps small and mid sized business owners build valuable, sellable companies whether they plan to exit in three years or twenty three. Her impact lies in her ability to bridge the gap between personal goals and business strategy.
Leadership development is a central pillar of her work. Through her EMPOWER Leadership Model, Lissa equips leaders to inspire, develop, and trust their teams. She believes leadership is not about control, but about creating the conditions where others can lead. As she often reminds clients, buyers do not want to buy a job. They want to buy a business that works without its owner at the center of every decision.
Clients consistently point to her practical approach and ability to create environments where growth feels possible. One colleague described her as “a star at helping clients improve their human resources strategy while creating optimal environments for people to win.” Another emphasized the value of her facilitation style, noting the sharpness and clarity she brings to complex conversations.
Beyond frameworks and strategy, Lissa’s work is deeply human. She understands the tension many entrepreneurs feel between ambition and presence. Missing family milestones, feeling perpetually behind, and losing the sense of enjoyment that once fueled the business are common struggles she encounters. Her message is clear. Your business and your life are not separate. When they are aligned, both become stronger.
Vision for the Future: Quiet Courage and Designed Freedom
Lissa’s leadership philosophy is anchored in resilience and quiet courage. One quote has stayed with her throughout her journey, especially during moments of challenge. “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” For Lissa, leadership is not defined by dramatic gestures, but by consistency, reflection, and the willingness to keep going when outcomes are uncertain.
She brings that same perspective to the advice she offers the next generation. Start at the bottom. Learn how businesses actually operate. Do not be afraid to fail, because failure is not the opposite of success. It is part of the path toward it. Those lessons, shaped by early exposure, hard setbacks, and years of strategic work, continue to guide her mission.
Looking ahead, Lissa’s focus is on expanding her reach through speaking engagements, podcast conversations, and advisory work that allows her to influence how entrepreneurs think about freedom, value, and leadership. Her goal is not just to help businesses grow, but to help owners design companies that support meaningful lives.
Editorial Note
Lissa Daub’s journey is a reminder that strong businesses are built with intention, humility, and people at the center. From a small town dinner table to boardrooms and consulting rooms across Canada and beyond, her work challenges entrepreneurs to rethink what success really looks like. The question she leaves readers with is simple and powerful. Is your business designed to work for you, or are you working for it.
