Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli Risse.
Hi Kelli, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always been an all-or-nothing person. For years, I did everything right. I worked hard, showed up for everyone, and kept pushing for more. From the outside, it looked like success. On the inside, I was living in constant overdrive.
Then my body forced me to stop. I ended up in the hospital with supraventricular tachycardia, a dangerously fast heart rate triggered by stress. That moment changed everything. I realized that success means nothing if it costs your health and peace of mind.
That experience inspired me to study how the mind and body respond to pressure. I became certified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Emotional Intelligence, and Health and Life Coaching. In 2018, I founded Rise Up and Live Wellness to help individuals manage stress and perform at their best. As my work grew, I saw that sustainable success requires more than personal wellbeing.
That experience led me to study how the mind and body respond to pressure. I became certified in Neuro Linguistic Programming, Emotional Intelligence, and Health and Life Coaching. In 2018, I founded Rise Up and Live Wellness to help individuals manage stress and perform at their best. As my work grew, I saw that true scalability and sustainability begin within. It takes mindset, focus, wellbeing, and connection to create success that lasts.
Today, my company is called Winning in Business. I help leaders and business owners achieve scalable and sustainable success through my Succeed with Ease framework so they can perform at a high level while living with greater focus, energy, and fulfillment.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Owning a business has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life. When I started, I believed hard work alone would guarantee success. I quickly learned that running a business requires more than drive. It takes clarity, adaptability, and the courage to evolve as the world changes.
There have been times when the market shifted, and I had to shift with it. What began as a coaching business grew into speaking and authorship as I realized that my message needed to reach leaders and organizations on a larger scale. Growth has required me to refine my message, my business model, and even my own mindset.
The biggest lesson has been learning that growth does not have to mean doing more. It means doing what matters. I stopped chasing opportunities and started choosing the ones that matched my values, mission, and energy. That is when my business became both successful and sustainable.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Winning In Business?
Winning in Business helps leaders, business owners, and entrepreneurs achieve success that is both high performing and sustainable. I specialize in helping high achievers shift from pushing harder to leading smarter through the Succeed with Ease framework, which focuses on mindset, focus, wellbeing, and connection. My work helps organizations avoid burnout, retain top talent, and create a culture of sustainable success.
My services include keynote speaking, executive coaching, and leadership training, all designed to help individuals and teams perform at a higher level with less stress. I also use world-class assessment tools, including TriMetrix EQ, DISC, Driving Forces, and the Stress Quotient, to help leaders understand their behavior, motivators, and sources of stress. For teams that want to go from good to great, I use the 8 Factors of Engagement assessment to strengthen engagement, communication, and trust.
What sets my work apart is the focus on the person behind the performance. Most coaching emphasizes systems and strategy. I focus on self leadership and emotional intelligence, which create the foundation for scalability, sustainability, and impact.
What I am most proud of is the lasting impact my work creates. Whether I am speaking on stage or working one-on-one in a One-Day Breakthrough Session, I help leaders gain clarity, shift perspective, and take meaningful action that transforms how they lead and live.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I have always believed that leaders are learners. I am drawn to authors and thinkers who help me understand what drives people and performance. Some of the voices that have most influenced me are Brené Brown, Dr. Caroline Leaf, Simon Sinek, Brian Tracy, Tony Robbins, Louise Hay, and Patrick Lencioni. Each brings a unique perspective on leadership, mindset, and behavior that continues to shape how I coach and teach.
I also believe in practicing what I teach, which is why I often revisit my own book Mindset Mastery: 25 Principles to Outsmart Burnout and Redefine Success. It reminds me daily that sustainable success starts within.
I regularly use AI tools to streamline ideas, research, and creativity in my business. Technology helps me stay focused on what matters most—serving leaders and organizations who want to perform at a high level with clarity, purpose, and ease.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kellirisse.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kelli_risse
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/winninginbusinesskr
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kellirisse
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kellirisse
