Who We Are

Amanda Lake, DSL | Founder

Amanda founded Lakeside Leadership Services in 2017 and 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 as 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 is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the Association for Talent Development (ATD). She enjoys traveling and exploring new places but is 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. 

Regent University | Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL), Learning and Development, 2020
Immaculata University | M.A., Educational Leadership and Administration, 2005
West Chester University of Pennsylvania | BSED, Elementary Education, 1999
Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach

Amanda Lacey, MTA | Partner

Amanda Lacey is a coach and consultant at Lakeside Leadership Services, which offers practical, research-based learning and development solutions tailored to leaders of all levels. Having experience in leadership roles herself at both large and small organizations, Amanda has witnessed the benefits and long-term successes that result from intentionally investing in the growth and development of leaders. Conversely, like many of us, she has experienced the dark side of leadership where teams and individuals are left feeling demoralized, depleted, and disengaged. 

With a drive to see more effective leaders emerge, Amanda is passionate about shedding light on strengths-based approaches as outlined by the research of the late Donald Clifton, Ph.D. As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, she believes that helping people discover their natural talents and grow them into strengths is a driving factor in living productive, successful, and fulfilled lives.

Throughout her career, Amanda has held various roles in childcare, administrative coordination, marketing and communication, client services, human resources, and payroll. Her involvement in community and volunteer positions has afforded her opportunities to develop and implement programs, coordinate events, and lead teams to collaborate and meet objectives.

Amanda continues her own strengths journey in the Denver, Colorado area where she resides with her husband Sean. They enjoy their mountain views, hiking, biking, cooking, and visiting the local breweries.

The George Washington University | Master of Tourism Administration, 2003
Colorado State University | BS Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism, 2001
Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach