About
Hi! I’m Liz. For nearly 20 years, I have been a practicing organizational psychologist, researcher, and advisor specializing in the intersection of leadership development and identity. My practice focuses on a question that most standard development models ignore: what actually happens to a leader’s sense of self when the work they've been doing stops fitting who they are becoming?
In the nearly two decades that I have spent inside startups, high-growth global enterprises, and leadership teams under immense pressure, I have watched this exact scenario play out. My dual vantage point — as both a high-stakes internal leader and an external advisor — defines how I work. Before founding the Lab, I held senior leadership roles at Workday, Qualtrics, CoachHub, Limeade, and Healthfirst, leading at the intersection of behavioral science, product strategy, and executive development. I have built teams, advised C-suites, and engineered people strategies in environments where the pace was relentless, and the consequences of misalignment were high.
This experience informs Pavese Insights Lab, my research-grounded advisory, speaking, and coaching practice, and forthcoming book, The In-Between. My practice works specifically with executives, founders and high performers navigating private inflection points, and high-growth organizations where leadership drift has begun to impact systemic dynamics, culture, and decision-making.
I hold a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and am an ICF-credentialed executive coach. As a recognized speaker, I have keynoted at ATD, SHRM, and SIOP and many other conferences. My writing has appeared in Fast Company, SHRM, and Training Industry, and I currently have a monthly column on Workday Perspectives. I am also a contributing author to The Coaching Buyer's Handbook and The Ethical Coaches Handbook.
My work begins with a single premise: the leaders who navigate transitions well are not the ones who push through fastest. They are the ones who understand what is actually changing, and why.
My Approach
My work begins with a single, foundational premise: the leaders who navigate transitions well are not the ones who push through fastest. They are the ones who understand what is actually changing, and why. I believe Big Data is only as useful as the human insight that interprets it, and that Big Vision is only sustainable when grounded in Big Reality.
Simple Truths
I listen for the 'old scripts' that hold leaders back. Our work together involves naming the systemic misalignments that show up in decisions, culture, and dynamics before anyone has named what’s happening.
Lasting Impact
We focus on pragmatic engineering, not temporary training. My goal is to help you build a new internal operating system so that big-picture vision translates into sustainable reality.
Ready to Start the Conversation?
Whether you're planning an executive retreat, an annual summit, or need strategic guidance, let’s explore the solution that best fits your needs for growth.