Why I Do What I Do

As a young reporter, I saw a woman save her home from a wildfire using only a kitchen broom and a garden hose. As surprised by her courage as she was, I became a lifelong student of how people rise to extraordinary challenges.

Since then, I’ve been fortunate to learn from hundreds of people, including Nobel Prize-winning scientists, Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, top civil rights leaders, university presidents, foundation and nonprofit heads, CEOs, extreme athletes, and many more who didn’t have the titles but had a lasting impact.

Today, these lessons are more relevant than ever, and I am excited to share them with people who want to make a positive difference in their organizations, communities, and families.

Bio

Lisa Bennett is an author, award-winning journalist, and speaker focused on helping mission-driven leaders and teams overcome common mindset challenges that sabotage success in a complex, fast-changing world.

Lisa collaborated with emotional intelligence expert Daniel Goleman to co-author Ecoliterate, which Sir Ken Robinson called “powerful and persuasive” and Frances Moore Lappé called "Gutsy, eloquent, and moving." She is also the editor of Women Amplified and a contributor to The Compassionate Instinct, Smart by Nature, A Place at the Table, and other books.

Lisa has held leadership positions in several national organizations dedicated to advancing equality, education, and the environment. She has been a keynote speaker, national conference facilitator, and appeared on dozens of TV and radio programs, including ABC and NBC-TV San Francisco, C-Span, NPR, and the BBC.

A former Harvard University fellow, Lisa holds a master’s in international affairs and journalism and a bachelor’s in literature and writing from Columbia University.

Her work has be featured in The New York Times, Harpers, The Atlantic, The Christian Science Monitor, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Forbes, Vox, More Magazine, Mothering, Greater Good, Lion's Roar, The Huffington Post, Thrive, Narratively, and elsewhere. 

Lisa lives in California and is the mother of two adventurous sons. She loves hiking, swimming, yoga, skiing, travel, and a good challenge.