about Lisa
Lisa Hurley is a five-time Anthem Award-winning author, activist, podcaster, second-generation Reiki Master, and rest advocate. Her work centers Black women, and converges at the nexus of self care, community care, joy, and rest. Through her writing, speaking, and community-building, Lisa champions soft living for Black women.
Hurley is the author of Space To Exhale: A Handbook For Curating A Soft, Centered, Serene Life, a transformational book created to help people beat burnout, embrace rest, and curate a soft life. Part memoir, part manifesto, part meditation guide, Space To Exhale is a self-help book that inspires readers to practice the pause and take time to exhale.
As a champion of rest for Black women, Lisa is the founder of The Great Exhale, a global virtual community dedicated to sisterhood, serenity, and soft living. TGE offers curated rituals, inspiring affirmations, and healing conversations for those ready to say no to hustle culture and yes to a life of ease. It is a healing hub where Black women can relax, lay their burdens down—and exhale.
An Executive Member IADAS, Lisa is also a board member of Yuvoice, and a Juror for the Anthem Awards. A respected figure, she has been honored as one of the Top 20 Entrepreneurs to follow on LinkedIn, voted as one of LinkedIn’s Top 50 Black Creators, and recognized as one of the Top 10 Anti-Discrimination Activists in the world. In addition, Lisa has been honored by Hush Loudly as an Introvert to Watch, and as one of pocstock's Future of Black America Top 50 Leaders. As a result of her activism, her thought leadership has been featured in Essence, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Adweek, and more.
With a passion for speaking out that belies her natural introversion, Lisa is a prolific podcaster. In addition to being the Host and Executive producer of Space To Exhale: The Podcast, a five star-rated show that focuses on self care for Black women, she is also the Co-Founder & Co-Host of The Introvert Sisters LIVE! Podcast, and a former Co-Host of The Tea on Tap podcast.
With a strong belief in good vibes, Lisa is known for her inspiring affirmations on TikTok. In her free time, she enjoys bonding with her family, reading a good book, and expressing her creativity through fashion.
Of Caribbean heritage (Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica), Lisa is a world traveler with an understandable preference for warmer climes. Her love languages are sunshine, laughter, and naps.
5-time anthem award winner
gold, silver & bronze honors across podcasting, storytelling, and social impact
featured in major media
Essence, Forbes, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Adweek, & The Globe and Mail
at a glance
wiley author
author of space to exhale: a handbook for curating a soft, centered, serene life, and recipient of 12+ national & international book awards
cultural commentator
offering perspectives on rest, soft living, workplace culture, neurodivergence, wellbeing, and work-life balance
podcast host & producer
host and executive producer of Space To Exhale: The Podcast and Co-Host of The Introvert Sisters Podcast
keynote speaker
speaking on rest, burnout recovery, neurodivergence, leadership, and sustainable success
founder
creator of the great exhale, a soft space for Black women and for the culture and the coins®
reiki master & practitioner
second-generation Reiki Master with more than 20 years of experience in mindfulness and energy healing
professional recognition
selected honors recognizing Lisa Hurley’s work as an author, speaker, podcaster, and community builder.
latest honor
CREA Global Awards Honoree
BRAINZ Magazine, 2026
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50 Best Keynote Speakers on Rejecting Hustle Culture
Consulting Clarity, 2026
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CREA Global Award
BRAINZ Magazine, 2026
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Black Woman of the Year
EM-Spire, 2026
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Gold Anthem Award
The Anthem Awards, 2025
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Bronze Anthem Award
The Anthem awards, 2025
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Top 10 Anti-Discrimination Activist Worldwide
Favikon, 2025
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CORE 100 Black Women of Impact and Influence
CORE Magazine, 2024
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Women of Fire
Women of Fire, 2024
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POC Power 50
POC Power 50, 2024
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Gamechangers: Introverts to Watch
Hush Loudly, 2024
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Top 200 Female LinkedIn Creators Worldwide
Favikon, 2023
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Silver Muse Award, Logos
The Muse Awards, 2023
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Silver Muse Award, Brand Identity
The Muse Awards, 2023
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Silver Anthem Award
The Anthem Awards, 2023
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100 Best LinkedIn Influencers
Taplio, 2023
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20 Changemakers to Watch
Good Ripple, 2023
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Gamechangers: Introverts to Watch
Hush Loudly, 2023
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Top 20 Entrepreneurs to Follow on LinkedIn
The Business Anecdote, 2023
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7 Role Models for Inclusion in Business
Good Ripple, 2023
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Bronze Anthem Award
The Anthem Awards, 2022
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Bronze Anthem Award
The Anthem Awards, 2022
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Top 10 LinkedIn Creator in Inclusion & Diversity Worldwide
Favikon, 2022
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SARN Top Voices
SARN, 2022
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Future of Black America Top 50 Leader
pocstock 2022
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Top 200 Female LinkedIn Creators Worldwide
Favikon, 2022
books featuring Lisa Hurley
featured thought leader
foreword writer
blurb contributor
blurb contributor
featured thought leader
frequently asked questions
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Lisa Hurley is a five-time Anthem Award-winning author, speaker, cultural commentator, podcast host and executive producer, community builder, and Reiki Master.
She is the author of Space To Exhale: A Handbook for Curating a Soft, Centered, Serene Life, founder of The Great Exhale, host and executive producer of Space To Exhale: The Podcast, and co-host of The Introvert Sisters Podcast.
Her work explores rest, burnout recovery, emotional wellbeing, neurodivergence, workplace culture, soft living, and sustainable success.
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Lisa is best known for helping people rethink their relationship with rest, achievement, productivity, and success.
Through her book, podcasts, speaking, writing, and community work, she encourages people to say no to hustle culture and yes to a life of ease.
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Lisa speaks and writes about rest, burnout recovery, emotional wellbeing, neurodivergence, workplace culture, leadership, life-work balance, soft living, healing, boundaries, and sustainable success.
She also offers cultural commentary on the systems and expectations that contribute to chronic stress, overwork, and emotional exhaustion.
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Lisa’s work is rooted in her lived experience as a Black woman of Caribbean descent, and intentionally centers Black women, whose needs and wellbeing are often overlooked.
Her work also resonates with high achievers, leaders, caregivers, creatives, neurodivergent people, burned-out professionals, and anyone seeking a softer, healthier, and more sustainable way to live and work.
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Each part of Lisa’s work expands the same central invitation: to make space to exhale.
Her book offers a personal and practical framework for rest, healing, and self-reconnection. Space To Exhale: The Podcast brings those ideas into conversation with experts, authors, leaders, healers, and changemakers. The Great Exhale creates community-centered spaces for Black women to rest, connect, and be supported.
Together, they form an ecosystem rooted in rest, care, reflection, and sustainable success.
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The Exhalation Point™ is the proprietary framework at the heart of Space To Exhale.
It is built around three connected practices: Know Yourself, Love Yourself, Be Yourself. The framework invites people to deepen their self-awareness, strengthen their self-compassion, and create lives that reflect who they truly are.
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“Rest is the new success” challenges the belief that worth must be earned through constant productivity, sacrifice, or exhaustion.
For Lisa, success is not only about what we achieve. It is also about whether our lives support our health, peace, relationships, values, and ability to remain whole.
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Lisa is a second-generation Reiki Master and has integrated mindfulness, meditation, energy work, and healing practices into her life for more than 20 years.
Her approach is grounded in care, reflection, and self-awareness. She does not present Reiki or spiritual practices as substitutes for medical or mental health care.
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Yes. Lisa is available for keynote speaking, panels, podcast interviews, media commentary, workplace conversations, and selected partnerships.
Her areas of expertise include rest, burnout recovery, neurodivergence, workplace culture, emotional wellbeing, leadership, soft living, and sustainable success. Click here to book Lisa to speak.
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For speaking engagements, media requests, podcast invitations, partnerships, and other professional inquiries, please contact Celeste Stein at Bishop, Stein, & Associates.
Including relevant details such as the event date, audience, topic, format, budget, and timeline will help Lisa respond more effectively.