Lisa O’Neil
Located In: South Carolina
Position: Director
Lisa is a proven leader, teacher, mentor, and team developer who finds her greatest professional joy in helping individuals and teams realize their potential. She believes collaboration, compassion, and commitment are critical enablers of success.
A third-generation Air Force officer, Lisa was immersed in varied communities from an early age. After graduating from her 3rd high school in 4 years, Lisa attended Texas A&M University and was commissioned into the Air Force as an intelligence officer.
Throughout her 21 years of service, Lisa continued to develop her teamwork and leadership styles in a variety of organizations. After graduating from the prestigious Air Force Fighter Weapons School (TOP GUN), Lisa was propelled into dynamic and fast-paced environments advising some of the Air Force’s most senior leaders as well as leading in combat environments culminating in her earning the Bronze Star medal for her service to the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan. During this time, Lisa saw the direct impact cross-functional team alignment has in securing organizational success.
Over the last five years of her career, Lisa served in back-to-back command leadership assignments. As a squadron commander, she led 115 analysts in delivering 800 hours of adversary threat training valued at $24 million for over 5,000 personnel. Concluding her active duty career with a comprehensive focus on the cultivation and leadership development of future Air Force Officers, she commanded an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) detachment at Louisiana State University. In that time, she led a 442-member staff in training 3,400 cadets. Additionally, she extended the principles of her cadet training program to the university, partnering with faculty to offer leadership training and peer coaching certifications for over thirty thousand students. After 21 years of service, Lisa retired in 2023 at the rank of Colonel.
Lisa has spent her career honing her skills in decision-making under pressure and effective communication. She thrives in coaching others to collaborate through trust-filled communication and compassion. Lisa believes in her core, that people desire to contribute to solutions and organizational success, but also want to feel comfortable and secure as they share their ideas. Lisa has also mastered the art of balancing personal and professional aspirations as she rocketed up the professional ladder while remaining fully engaged at home with her family. She is passionate about sharing those experiences, insights, and techniques with her teammates and clients.
Lisa holds two advanced degrees, one in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and one in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. She resides in Baton Rouge with her husband, independent-minded twins, and a sassy Irish triplet!