Lisa Ryals

I am a mission-driven operations leader with 20+ years of experience guiding multi-site organizations, securing multimillion-dollar grants, and building high-performing teams that deliver measurable impact for youth, families, and communities. Rising from direct service roles to Chief Operating Officer, I’ve led statewide initiatives, mentored leadership teams, and championed innovation in nonprofit advocacy.

Along the way, I discovered my greatest passion: helping people see the gifts and talents within themselves that they often don’t recognize. I thrive on coaching and encouraging individuals to do their best, practicing servant leadership that empowers teams to grow, adapt, and succeed. In many ways, I see myself as a social engineer—creating environments where collaboration, trust, and resilience flourish.

Now, as a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) pursuing additional credentials like PMP and Salesforce Admin, I bring both proven executive leadership and formal Agile expertise to organizations ready to embrace change. I thrive in dynamic environments where collaboration, adaptability, and strategic execution drive results. Whether advancing nonprofit missions or pivoting into tech-adjacent project management, my focus remains the same: inspire teams, remove obstacles, and deliver outcomes that matter.

 

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Western Governors University
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Scrum Alliance
• Non-Profit Leadership Institute – Stanford University
• Advanced Executive Leadership Program – University of Michigan 
• Pursuing Project Management Professional (PMP) and (PSM)–Scrum Alliance
• Multiple certifications in nonprofit and youth leadership

• 20+ years of executive leadership rising to Chief Operating Officer, managing multimillion-dollar budgets and statewide operations.
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) with hands-on expertise in Jira, Agile Essentials, DevOps, Kanban, and Miro.
• Secured $30M+ in grants, expanded development programs statewide, and mentored cross-functional leadership teams.
• Skilled in Agile facilitation, servant leadership, and coaching, empowering teams to uncover hidden talents and achieve peak performance.
• Proven record of strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and process optimization across nonprofit and tech-adjacent environments.