Amanda Lake, DSL | Founder

Amanda founded Lakeside Leadership Services in 2017, has provided training, coaching, consultation, and support to leaders in non-profit organizations, schools, small businesses, and churches since then. Her focus on learning and development has enabled her to not only identify practical research-based solutions to her client’s challenging problems but to also provide the support that clients need to learn and implement these best practices in their organizations.

Amanda took the CliftonStrengths assessment in 2012, and she’s been talking about Strengths ever since! As a public school administrator, she received Strengths coaching from Gallup-Certified Strengths Coaches, which left her with a deep appreciation for the value of executive coaching. The experience of managing a team using Strengths-Based planning and goal setting revolutionized Amanda’s leadership practice. As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, Amanda values the opportunity to help others gain insight into their own talents and Strengths and to recognize the important contributions they make to their communities, workplaces, schools, and families. She has found that the “Aha Moment” that almost always results from coaching conversations to be one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. Amanda feels truly privileged to coach others as they gain greater awareness of their talents, develop an appreciation for their gifts, and apply their strengths to both improve their own lives and better serve others. 

Amanda’s experience in organizational leadership began in 2001 as a Middle School Math Teacher in a growing charter school in Pennsylvania. She served a school leader for 15 years starting out as a Lead Teacher, then obtained her Principal Certification, and served as both an Assistant Principal and Principal before becoming the Director of Educational Services. Serving as a member of a senior leadership team that grew the school from 800 students to close to 3,000 students was a truly rewarding experience! Amanda’s work as an instructor for online graduate-level courses in educational leadership provided her with the opportunity to help prepare teachers for successful careers in school administration. The courses she facilitated focused on the recruitment and selection of new employees, as well as the evaluation and development of faculty and staff.  

Amanda enjoys traveling and exploring new places, but feels blessed to call Kennett Square, Pennsylvania her home. When she’s not researching, reading, and writing, Amanda enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, taking long walks in the woods with her dog, and fly fishing.