From Executive Coaching to Workplace Wellness: How Dr. Lisa Leit is Revolutionizing Employee Happiness with AI and 28 Dimensions of Human Well-Being

Executive Coach of the Year 2025, Dr. Lisa Leit, reveals her game-changing approach to career transitions, team dynamics, and why "there's a we in wellness" 

Meet Dr. Lisa Leit, the Master Certified Coach (MCC) who's transforming how Fortune 500 companies approach employee wellness and career development. Named Executive Coach of the Year – USA (2025), she's pioneered the Happy Whole Human® methodology that measures wellness across 28 dimensions and helped over 2,000 clients worldwide navigate everything from job loss to executive leadership challenges. 

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Leit shares her insights with Roy Perlson, the founder of Jobago.ai, on career transitions, team dynamics, and her revolutionary approach that combines AI coaching with human connection. From her home base in Barcelona to boardrooms across America, she's proving that when people take better care of themselves, they give more to their families, companies, and communities. 

Q: Dr. Leit, let's start with something many of our readers are facing – job loss. What's your approach to helping someone who's been unemployed for months and struggling with the emotional toll? 

Dr. Leit: The first thing I tell people is that grief is natural and necessary. Job loss isn't just about losing income – you're grieving the loss of identity, routine, and often relationships. The key is self-compassion. When you're in that space of prolonged unemployment, negativity and depression can really take hold, especially when you start believing that circumstances will never change. 

I have a simple tool from our Happy Whole Human Program called The Four Words Tool to help process difficult situations. It starts with accepting reality by saying, 'Yes, this is happening.' Then, we validate the emotion with 'Of course,' this feels hard. When ready, we take the quantum leap with 'Let it go' to release the emotion and move forward, remembering that in the grand scheme, 'It's no big deal'—we aren't defined by any single event, and we will get through it. These aren't about minimizing your experience, but about accepting reality, releasing the stress of fighting what is, and gaining perspective on the broader scope of your life. 

The most fascinating life stories often involve overcoming adversity. This challenging time is part of your larger journey, not the defining moment. 

Q: You mentioned the challenge of envy and social isolation during career transitions. Can you elaborate? 

Dr. Leit: Absolutely. I often see people who suddenly can't afford their previous lifestyle – maybe they have to cancel country club memberships or skip social events. There's this shame and embarrassment that leads to isolation right when they need support most. 

Everyone has different comfort levels with vulnerability, especially around financial problems. But here's what I want people to understand: these challenges are incredibly common and they're not a judgment of your character or worth. 

The tendency is to hide, but I encourage people to use stress and grief as opportunities to reach out and form deeper connections. Real relationships are built on authenticity, not on your ability to maintain a certain lifestyle. 

Q: Your Happy Whole Human Institute uses a 28-dimension assessment. What makes this approach different from other wellness programs? 

Dr. Leit: Most wellness programs focus on one or two areas – maybe stress management or work-life balance. But humans are complex systems. Our 28-dimension assessment looks at everything from personal fulfillment and professional satisfaction to relationship health and environmental consciousness. 

It's a 15-minute online assessment that gives us a comprehensive picture of where someone is thriving and where they need support. This isn't just feel-good wellness – it's evidence-based, scientifically validated, and it works. We've seen companies achieve 40% increases in employee retention using our programs. 

Our tagline is "There's a we in wellness" because individual wellness and systemic health are interconnected. When people take good care of themselves, they give more to their families, their companies, their friendships, and their communities. 

Q: You work with major companies like Amazon and Whole Foods. Can you give us a practical example of how you help teams? 

Dr. Leit: Sure. I recently worked with a team that was completely siloed – different departments doing duplicated work, a lack of communication, and zero psychological safety. People were frustrated, productivity was down, and there was underlying tension everywhere. 

My approach involves empowering individuals to improve communication and surface those underlying tensions constructively. We don't just talk about team dynamics in theory – we create safe spaces for people to practice vulnerable conversations, establish new communication protocols, and develop the skills to maintain psychological safety over time. 

The result? Teams start collaborating instead of competing, innovation increases because people feel safe to share ideas, and productivity goes up because they're not duplicating efforts. 

Q: Your background is fascinating – from English teacher to rocket scientist's wife to PhD in psychology. How did this journey shape your coaching philosophy? 

Dr. Leit: Each phase taught me something crucial. Teaching on the Mexican border with Teach for America showed me the power of education to transform lives. Working in corporate New York taught me about high-pressure environments and the cost of burnout culture. My PhD research at UT Austin on narcissism and codependence in relationships gave me the scientific foundation for understanding the balance between self-care and caring for others. 

And yes, my husband's background as a rocket scientist – he's retired now – taught us both about systems thinking and precision. But ultimately, humans aren't machines. We need approaches that honor both our complexity and our need for connection. 

Living in Barcelona now has also reinforced my belief in the Mediterranean approach to life – work hard, but also prioritize relationships, time in nature, and joy. The environment here is amazing, and it's influenced how I think about sustainable success. 

Q: You're launching an app in January. How does technology fit into your human-centered approach? 

Dr. Leit: This is really exciting for us. We're not trying to replace human coaches – we're enhancing them. Our AI Coach Agents provide continuous support between coaching sessions. Think of it as having a wellness companion available 24/7 that knows your specific challenges and can offer personalized guidance. 

The app will include our full ecosystem – the 28-dimension assessment, self-paced courses, AI coaching, and connection to human coaches when you need that deeper support. We're maintaining our presence in the US market while innovating from Barcelona for our European expansion. 

It's a hybrid model that gives coaches tools for greater impact while providing users with multiple ways to access support. Some people need that human connection, others prefer the privacy of working with AI, and most people benefit from both. 

Q: Your coaching certification program attracts entrepreneurial-minded individuals. What are you looking for in potential coaches? 

Dr. Leit: I'm not necessarily looking for prior coaching experience. What I need are people who are entrepreneurial-minded, professionally dedicated, and have a genuine business mindset about helping others. 

Our Level 1 certification can be completed in as little as twelve weeks, but our advanced training takes up to four years. We're ICF-accredited and recognized by multiple organizations because we don't cut corners on quality. 

We're looking for people who understand that coaching is both an art and a science, who are willing to do their own inner work, and who see this as a way to build a meaningful business while making a real impact. 

Q: What's your "Agile Wellness" approach, and how does it help during career transitions? 

Dr. Leit: Agile Wellness is our three-step framework: Inspect, Adapt, and Improve. Just like in technology, we're constantly assessing where you are, implementing evidence-based interventions, and tracking measurable outcomes. 

During career transitions, this means regularly checking in with yourself – What's working? What isn't? What do you need to adjust? Instead of following a rigid plan that isn't working, you adapt based on real feedback and results. 

Life is constantly changing, and our wellness approaches need to be equally adaptable. The ability to learn and grow is often the most important takeaway from any challenging period. 

Q: What's your advice for someone who feels stuck in their career but isn't sure what their next step should be? 

Dr. Leit: Start with our 28-dimension assessment – seriously. You can't navigate to where you want to go if you don't know where you are now. Most people have never done a comprehensive evaluation of their wellness across all life domains. 

Then remember that being stuck is often a sign that you're outgrowing your current situation, not that you're failing. Ask yourself: What would it look like to take exquisite care of yourself during this transition? What support do you need? What small experiment could you try this week? 

And please, be kind to yourself. The most interesting people I know have had periods of uncertainty and transition. These aren't detours from your path – they are your path. 

Key Takeaways 

• Well-being is measurable. Dr. Leit’s 28-dimension Happy Whole Human® assessment gives individuals and organizations a roadmap to improve. 

• Career transitions are emotional, not just logistical. Coaching and outplacement services like Jobago.ai help professionals navigate uncertainty with clarity and resilience. 

• Healthy teams are interdependent. Addressing blind spots and communication gaps creates stronger collaboration. 

• AI + Human coaching is the future. Scalable tech solutions combined with human empathy make well-being support accessible and effective. 

• Wellness drives performance. Companies that invest in employee happiness see improvements in productivity, engagement, and retention. 

👉 Explore Dr. Leit’s work at Happy Whole Human® and connect with her on LinkedIn. 

Ready to discover your wellness gaps and strengths? Visit happywholehuman.com to take the 28-dimension assessment and explore Dr. Leit's evidence-based programs for individuals, teams, and organizations.