Transforming the aspirational to the operational by aligning brain science with human systems.
starts in
the brain
Lisa A Riegel Ph.D.
- Policies shape change, but people make it stick.”
-Lisa A. Riegel
MY WHY
50% Strategist
50% ChangE CATALYST
I started my career in education, driven by one goal: to help people reach their potential. Over time, I realized that fulfillment—whether in a classroom, company, or community—comes from understanding how the brain drives behavior and how systems shape success.
That discovery became the foundation for my life’s work. As an educator, researcher, and author, I’ve spent two decades helping schools, leaders, and organizations align brain science with human systems—creating cultures where people feel connected, capable, and in control of their growth.
HOW I CAN HELP
I Help You Go from ASPIRATIONAl
to OPERATIONAL
I Help Businesses, Schools, and Individuals:
- Build cultures of engagement and alignment using brain-based strategy
- Rewire leadership and team systems to make change sustainable
- Strengthen connection, communication, and clarity across every level of an organization
- Apply neuroscience to reduce burnout and improve performance
- Create measurable, lasting improvement
I Help Businesses, Schools, and Individuals:
- Increased health, happiness, and success
- Reduced burnout and improved well-being
- Sustainable systems of accountability and growth
- Improved leadership capacity to turn strategy into culture
The approach
Where brain science meets human systems.
The 8C Commitment Framework
- Culture
- Clarity
- Coherence
- Cadence
- Collaboration
- Celebration
- Coaching
- Communication
Each “C” builds on the next, helping leaders and teams strengthen alignment, trust, and performance through brain science and human systems.
The NeuroWell Approach to Culture
Behavior is the intersection between biology and context. When we understand the biology of behavior, we reframe how we define problems which changes how we solve them. When we control the context so it is safe, supportive, and proactive, we avoid conflict.
With NeuroWell in Your Culture
With NeuroWell in Your Culture - Understand the biology of social, academic, or work behavior
- Reframe problems using brain science
- Align solutions to influence behavioral change
- Build a safe supportive, and proactive culture
- Enjoy greater engagement and success
- Improve organizational health and productivity
My written books
- COMING SOON Building Your Highway to Happiness, Health, and Success
- COMING SOON The 8C Commitment Framework
SPEAKING & MEDIA
Book me to speak
signature talks
- The Neuroscience of Change: How to Make Transformation Stick
- Rewiring Leadership: The Science of Engagement, Motivation, and Growth
- NeuroWell: The intersection of brain science and human systems
- Culture Shift: Building a NeuroWell culture that yields engagement and success
Speaking focus
Engagement • Leadership • Organizational Culture • Education Reform • Brain Science Applied
what people are saying
Dr. Riegel made us think deeper, mirror our newly gained knowledge inwardly and within our own families not just classrooms, hallways or counseling centers. Her fervor for what could be too-science heavy of a topic is electric. We were engaged, laughing, taking notes, and making plans for how to bring her to our local schools, districts and regions. NeuroWell makes us each well and we want that so to be the best we can be for the wellness of our learners.
– Lauren Jones
(Austin) NCC, CSCDA, LPCc, *MCC, Program Director for Special Populations, Counseling & Career Development
Dr. Lisa Riegel is an expert at providing job-embedded professional development and leadership support. She shares new, powerful ideas and strategies for building human capacity and for increasing student achievement. Dr. Riegel also develops educational innovations that transform schools, homes and lives.
– Dr. Rodney Harrelson
Columbus City Schools, Office of School Improvement
Following a comprehensive communications audit, our district is committed to strengthening our communications and marketing efforts, with customer service as our top priority. Lisa Riegel plays an active role in our leadership teams, helping us provide a positive learning experience for students and families. With her support, we are better able to communicate our mission and follow through on our commitment to Relentlessly Pursue Success.
– Kevin Kimmel
Superintendent, Bucyrus City Schools
I enjoyed working with Dr. Riegel. The information she provided was amazing. I can use all of it in my professional leadership. Every topic we hit on was something I could bring back and use. Her knowledge about how people work together and what to do to get them to change behavior is amazing.
– Workshop attendee
Dr. Lisa Riegel’s keynote at the 2025 CTE PWR Conference was inspiring and insightful. Her research-based approach to brain science and stress regulation offered practical strategies to better support students in goal-setting, engagement, and wellness. Her message truly resonated and will positively impact how we work with youth.
– Emily Sherwood
Bringing Lisa to our district has allowed us to clearly define our scope of work. Her NeuroWell framework has become part of our priority framework, and as a district, we are applying brain science to help us build a better culture, improve the effectiveness and productivity of our teams, and reframe our programs. This focus has changed the way we are defining and working toward our district goals. Lisa is able to translate the science to actionable strategy that will work in our context which allows us to be more productive, build a cohesive team, and provide active support for all of our learners.
– Barb Green
Superintendent
For fifteen years, we’ve had the privilege of working with Dr. Lisa Riegel and The Tomorrow Center team. Lisa led a full school redesign that reshaped how we operate, helping our staff apply brain science to classroom practice and significantly improving student outcomes and behavior.
Our partnership deepened in 2020 through an intensive project to restructure the entire school day and implement a mastery-based blended learning model—an initiative that has transformed teaching and learning at our school.
Thanks to Lisa’s leadership, The Tomorrow Center is now recognized as a model program for at-risk students.
– Jamie Byrne
Superintendent of The Tomorrow Center
beyond the bio
- Former educator turned organizational strategist — still a teacher at heart.
- Lives in Columbus, Ohio, and loves golfing with her husband and friends around the world.
- Earned her Ph.D. while raising two kids—her proudest achievement.
- Believes growth should be joyful: her life motto is “Just say yes.”
- Loves cooking, reading on the beach, and helping people discover their "aha" moment.
Let’s work together
LET’S WORK TOGETHER
