PICA Member Spotlights
Q&A with independent consultants who successfully “made the leap” and created the consulting career of their dreams
Q: Who are you and what’s your business?
A: Hi, I’m Lisa Hunefeld, founder of Soul Lab, a boutique leadership consultancy that works at the intersection of purpose, strategy, and transformation. I support leaders and teams during pivotal moments of change, helping them reconnect to what matters most and lead in more human, effective, and regenerative ways.
Q: How long have you been independent?
A: I’ve been an independent consultant for eight years.
Q: Why did you become an independent consultant?
A: After 30 years inside organizations, I wanted more freedom and integrity in how I showed up for the work. I was craving depth, authenticity, and the chance to build something that reflected my whole self, not just my résumé. I was also feeling increasingly constrained by the way so many workplaces separate us from our humanness, often celebrating it as a badge of honor. Sure, it might deliver short-term results, but at what long-term cost?
I believe in putting humans at the center of everything we do, because otherwise, what’s the point of being alive at this time and place on Earth? I knew there had to be a better way to lead, work, and be in relationship, and I wanted to help create it.
Q: How did you “make the leap”?
A: In 2016, I left my company of 16+ years without a plan, just a deep knowing that it was time for a change. About six months later, that same company reached out and asked if I’d consider coaching a leader going through a major transition. I said yes, and they became my first client.
From there, word spread among former colleagues, and I found myself coaching and consulting in much the same way I had internally, only now with more freedom and flexibility. Then COVID hit, and I began asking deeper questions about the kind of work I wanted to offer and who I really wanted to serve. That’s when Soul Lab was born. No more hiding from the call to integrate humanity back into leadership and organizational life. That shift changed everything for the better.
Q: How did you get your first (and second) client?
A: Both came from relationships I had nurtured over time. These were people I had worked with in past roles who believed in me and my work. Referrals have been the heartbeat of my business ever since.
Q: What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known before you started?
A: You don’t have to have it all figured out. Clarity comes through doing. Just start.
Q: What’s surprised you the most about being self-employed?
A: How deeply personal it is. Every success and every learning reflect your own growth, mindset, and energy. It’s not just work, it’s soul work.
Q: What’s been your biggest challenge?
A: Learning to honor the seasons of my business. There are quiet spells and growth spurts, and both have their place. Forcing and pushing doesn’t work. Trusting the rhythm has been key.
Q: What does “solopreneur” mean to you?
A: It means freedom, alignment, and responsibility. You get to choose what you build and how you show up for it. Your impact, your way.
Q: What’s something aspiring solopreneurs think they need that they really don’t?
A: A perfect website or polished brand. What I believe you really need is vision, courage, and relationships.
Q: Is there a particular quote that motivates you?
A: “Pressure is a privilege.” – Billie Jean King
Q: What’s next for you and your business?
A: Continuing to grow Soul Lab’s impact through transformational leadership retreats, strategy activation with purpose-driven organizations, and coaching that helps leaders navigate transition with intention and impact.
The polycrisis we’re experiencing demands new ways of leading, rooted in moral imagination and collective action. Soul Lab will continue to help facilitate the emergent conversations of our time. We have much to learn and reimagine. I believe we are the answer - and that the way forward will be together.
Q: How can people find out more about you or your business?
A: You can visit www.soullabproject.com or reach out directly. I always love meeting fellow humans on the path.
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