Meet Milisa

 

I’ve noticed the women I work with deeply value honesty: they're willing to dive in to find the truth and be real.

Coaching women taking big leaps requires me to be honest too - and open to the complexity of our struggles. I had my first reckoning working as a lawyer in a prestigious firm while feeling caught in perfectionism, striving, and doubt.

I know the experience of working in high stress environments: the hyper-vigilance and the tension it produces in our bodies as we work to keep it together. I know how it feels to wonder ‘what’s wrong with me?’ and ‘why can’t I manage this in a way that feels sustainable?’ Going through a dark night of the soul while trying to balance a professional and personal life and struggling with motherhood is where I’ve been challenged the most to grow.

I questioned so many of my assumptions about what constitutes a meaningful life.

The experience of being “broken open”, both professionally and personally, has transformed what’s meaningful to me. It’s brought clarity into my relationships and helped me find groundedness and balance while building my own business.

 

I value transparency and learning from each other.

With the feeling of being stuck and questioning comes an opportunity to learn and grow. My clients are bright women who have gone after their dreams and goals with much success. When they hit a barrier, they’re frustrated and also curious to learn what will help them move forward. I don’t impose myself as an expert with the answers - my process is to engage with you through your intellectual curiosity, emotions, and your body so you can uncover what’s holding you back.

“I like that unless she’s asked to take off the coaching hat and offer advice, she doesn’t do that. She doesn’t assume she knows what’s best for you, she doesn’t have an agenda. For me she’s someone who can stand for you and show you the other side of what you’re experiencing.”

— Shirin, Career Coach

“I am so grateful for my work with Milisa. Before working with her, I felt frustrated and very much alone in dealing with some of the bigger problems in life. My work with Milisa made me feel seen and supported. Each week she helped me see possibility where before there was only darkness. As a result, my belief in myself increased, and I was able to get momentum in areas of my life that otherwise felt stuck and dull. She is in 100% and always makes me feel authentically cared for and championed.”

— Dea, Professional woman in Ontario

 

My Approach

One of the tools I love to incorporate into my coaching is the concept of practicing a growth mindset.

When I started coaching 16 years ago, I had no idea how deep the sharing and insights in coaching could go. Many of my clients don’t know either. They say things they’ve never said out loud before because they’ve given themselves the room to grow.

Since I started coaching, I’ve continued to learn new tools to work with change within myself and my clients.

My work is a fusion of evidence-based Positive Psychology principles, Positive Intelligence and the acclaimed Feminine Power Transformational coaching model.

Tools and Practices:

  • Evidence-based tools and practices from Positive Psychology

  • Embodiment practices

  • Leveraging Strengths of Character based on VIA Survey of Character Strengths

  • Emotional intelligence teachings based on Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Model

  • Feminine Power teaching and practices

  • Visioning and Intention-setting practices

  • Habit formation and goal-setting teachings and practices

  • Growth mindset teachings and practices

  • Feelings and needs teachings and practices

  • Self-compassion practices

  • Guided meditations

“Milisa has an unusual ability to connect with each member of our team in a group setting and makes each person feel comfortable enough to share their challenges with the group. What makes Milisa so approachable is the manner in which she shares her own personal stories that most of us can identify with.”

— Denise Lash, Founder Lash Condo Law

 
 

My Background

  • In 2006, I founded my practice, Strategic Evolution Coaching & Consulting. I trained as a coach at Adler International and as a coach, facilitator and leader with Feminine Power. I’ve been an ICF Certified Coach since 2009.

  • I was awarded Facilitator of the Year 2019 by Feminine Power and was a speaker for the Ontario Bar Association’s award-winning program The Mindful Lawyer CPD Series. I was named a Top 20 Coach in Toronto by Influence Digest in 2021.

  • I’m certified as a Positive Psychology coach and have been trained as an assessor for Six Seconds, an emotional intelligence non-profit. I’m currently training as a Positive Intelligence Coach.

  • I have a BA from McGill University and an LLB from the University of Toronto. I practiced law for six years beginning at Stikeman Elliott and then at Call-Net. At Call-Net, I enjoyed working on human resources issues, which ultimately led to my interest in coaching and facilitation.

  • I live in downtown Toronto, Canada with my husband, our third child and our labradoodle, who gives us a daily dose of joy.

  • Reading and athleticism have always been a big part of my life. These days I enjoy walking (and talking!), pilates and yoga and always have my nose in several books.

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