Empowering Leadership: How Lisa Bayer Helps Women Embrace Their Authentic Power
Interview by Heather Anderson
Lisa Bayer is a coach committed to helping women step into authentic leadership by aligning their personal vision and purpose. Through her unique approach, she guides clients toward embracing their intuition and emotional intelligence, empowering them to lead fulfilling lives. In this interview, Lisa shares her philosophy on leadership, the importance of community, and how her women's circles are making a difference.
You've expressed a compelling vision of helping women step into their authentic leadership by aligning vision and purpose. What inspired you to focus on empowering creative female leaders, and how do you guide them to live powerful, fulfilling lives?
I know a lot of amazing women who experience limited success despite their brilliance. What I’ve observed, both personally and professionally, is that while many of us have incredible intuition and creative flow, we often lack the necessary support, self-belief, and awareness that our intuition is spot-on. Compound that with the fact that leadership models are still evolving, and many women feel disconnected from traditional forms of leadership. The way women naturally show up in leadership often focuses on co-leading, community building, and supporting others from behind the scenes. That’s just as much leadership as being the person at the front of the room directing traffic. My work is about helping women figure out where they are in their life, what version of leadership feels most authentic to them at that moment, and embracing that fully.
What do you mean by 'feminine' and 'masculine' leadership?
I don't love using terms like 'feminine' or 'masculine' because leadership is so varied. What I mean is that there are traditional models of leadership—ones that we might call 'dominant culture' leadership—that center around dictating from the front of the room. But there are also powerful, impressive leadership styles that look more like co-leading or creating communities, which aren’t always recognized as 'leadership.' Leadership can be quieter, more supportive, and just as impactful.
Your approach centers around the power of authenticity and vision in leadership. How do you facilitate the process for your clients to uncover their true selves and the vision they aspire to achieve?
It really depends on where they’re starting from. We always work together to build awareness—whether that’s awareness of their body, intuition, or their emotions. I believe that much of the information we need comes from parts of ourselves we’ve been taught not to listen to, particularly our bodies. I help clients tune in to what authenticity feels like, what flow feels like, and what joy feels like in their bodies. By using these sensations as a compass, they can start making decisions that are more aligned with their true selves.
“Discovering your ‘why’ is about understanding your values and how they intersect with the vision you have for yourself, your business, and your life. It’s where your values meet your vision. ”
What strategies do you use to help your clients build emotional intelligence and resilience?
It all starts with awareness. I work with clients to recognize their emotional patterns—when and where they feel certain emotions, and how those emotions manifest in their bodies. Once they have that awareness, we can begin to interrupt unhelpful patterns. For example, if a client notices they feel angry when they’re not seen, we’ll work on identifying when that feeling first arises in their body. We’ll start with low-stakes situations, like noticing the feeling when someone misspells their name at a coffee shop, and then build from there. It’s like emotional training in microdoses—working on manageable situations before tackling the bigger ones.
Leadership often involves overcoming obstacles and embracing change. What common challenges do your clients face, and what guidance do you provide to navigate these hurdles?
A lot of my clients struggle with visibility—they want more leadership or recognition in their roles but aren’t sure how to get there. Sometimes, it’s about stepping into a bigger role, but sometimes it’s about letting go of roles that no longer serve them. We also work on moving away from 'doing, doing, doing' and into a more balanced way of leading—where they guide and inspire rather than micromanage. It’s about making empowered, conscious choices that align with who they are and where they want to go.
You’ve crafted diverse programs to meet the unique needs of your clients. Could you highlight some of these programs and explain their focus areas?
Right now, I’m working on a group program that offers three months of active support with group coaching and guest practitioners. These practitioners bring in tools like breathwork, applied improv, and art embodiment, which complement the work we do. That’s followed by two months of one-on-one support. I also offer standalone sessions for those who have already completed a program with me and need occasional guidance. My programs are designed to support anyone—from high achievers who just need a bit of extra guidance, to those recovering from trauma and working hard to get through the day. The common thread is a willingness to learn and grow.
How do you help clients discover their 'why,' and why is it important for authentic leadership?
Discovering your 'why' is about understanding your values and how they intersect with the vision you have for yourself, your business, and your life. It’s where your values meet your vision. I often use the analogy of a Venn diagram—your 'why' is at the intersection of the things that matter most to you and the impact you want to have. Once you uncover that, everything else becomes clearer.
Could you share an example of a client transformation that has been particularly meaningful for you?
I’ve worked with clients across a wide spectrum of personal and professional challenges, and I have a few case studies I often refer to. One in particular was a client who came to me feeling stuck in her career and unsure of her next step. Through our work together, she uncovered her true passion and shifted her career focus to align with that. I’ll be sharing more detailed case studies on my website for anyone interested.
You’re launching a women’s circle soon. How do these circles enhance your mission, and what can participants expect from the experience?
Every time I’m in a circle of women doing this work, I learn something new. There’s something incredibly powerful about women coming together to share their thoughts and ideas in a supportive environment. The circles empower everyone involved, including me, and directly influence the work I do as a coach. Participants can expect a mix of open conversations, exercises, and guest facilitators who bring unique practices like breathwork or improv to help us tap into deeper parts of ourselves. It’s about connecting with those hidden layers of ourselves and bringing that awareness back into our lives.
What advice would you give to someone who is unsure about the benefits of coaching?
Coaching isn’t for everyone or for every problem. If you’re looking for someone to tell you what to do, coaching may not be the right fit. But if you’re curious about your life and ready to build new perspectives and skills, coaching can be transformative. It’s a fantastic process for those who want to explore self-discovery in a supportive, non-judgmental space.
Interested in joining Lisa’s next women’s circle? Learn more and sign up on her website here.
Sign up for a free 30-minute mini coaching session to experience Lisa’s work firsthand.
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You can also find Lisa Bayer on The M List, The Mamahood’s searchable database of mom-recommended resources, or connect and collaborate with her inside The Club membership for women Founders.