About Wisdom Out

Sustaining Transformational Change

Wisdom Out is a leadership and organizational development company that helps people, teams and organizations sustain transformational change and bring their best initiatives to deep implementation where they can make a real difference.

Our Vision: Inspired and sustained leaders who are resilient, optimistic and renewed in order to have energy for meaningful work that has a positive impact within the organization and for a greater good.

Our Mission: To help people, teams and organizations do more of what makes them wise, happy and successful, and to remove that which diminishes them and prevents them from being great in their work and lives.

The Back Story

“It’s been said that only a fool would think they could study wisdom. Of course that’s why I got a PhD. in it.” ~Dr. Elle Allison-Napolitano

In 2000, when Wisdom Out founder Elle Allison-Napolitano began her doctoral studies in Organizational Learning at the University of New Mexico, she came across a line in a book that read, “Wisdom is the pinnacle of adult thought” (Merriam and Caffarella, 1999. Learning in Adulthood (Jossey-Bass 1999)). The idea that wisdom is the pinnacle of adult thought was particularly intriguing to Elle. For if it were true, then wouldn’t we want to encourage wisdom in leaders, who presumably would create organizational cultures where wisdom would flourish?

Having worked as a teacher, school principal and assistant superintendent and educational consultant, Elle wanted to expand her experience. And so she decided to research the nature of wisdom in nurses–a vulnerable workforce where demand for skilled nurses, exceeds availability. The insights that emerged from her research with nurses led to actionable applications for all organizations and provide the foundation for the professional development provided by Wisdom Out for leaders, teams and organization.

In 2006, Elle told her friend Doug Reeves that the most significant findings of her research to date was that wise nurses were incredibly resilient, passionate about their work and sought to serve a greater good. She also told him that leadership coaching was an organizational strategy for sustaining leaders who were passionate about doing meaningful work. Together, starting in 2009, Elle and Doug wrote the three books in the Renewal Coaching series (Jossey-Bass).

Since then, Elle developed a series of leadership development programs that include a transformational approach to leadership coaching.

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“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

These words, famously uttered by management guru Peter Drucker,
inspired Elle to specialize in helping people, teams and organizations
create sustainable change that makes a real difference.

About Dr. Elle Allison-Napolitano

Dr. Elle Allison-Napolitano is founder of Wisdom Out, a professional development company specializing in leadership and organizational learning and a hub for research and information about the nature of wisdom in individuals, couples, leaders, and organizations.

Dr. Elle Allison, Ph.D.

Elle is also the creator of the Renewal Coaching training program. Renewal Coaching is a transformational leadership coaching model that is a timely response to what individuals and organizations want most today: a job embedded process and support for creating sustainable change and accomplishing the most meaningful work of the organization. Elle co-authored along with her friend, Dr. Douglas Reeves, the three book series called Renewal Coaching:  Sustainable Change for Individuals and Organizations (Jossey-Bass, 2009, 2010, 2012).

Originally educated and employed as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent, Elle started her professional development and consulting business in 2000. In 2006, Elle received her doctorate in Organizational Learning from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque where she wrote her dissertation on the nature of wisdom in nurses and the organizational practices that support the development of transformational leadership.

Building on her original wisdom studies, Elle’s research and fieldwork has led to discoveries about how to leverage organizational practices, processes and structures for sustainable change. These insights include the importance of: engagement in meaningful work projects, personal renewal, workplace happiness, making progress and achieving wins in the first 100-days of launching important initiatives, and choosing to be resilient in the face of set-backs. These practices combined with a culture of coaching where colleagues “partner in thought” with colleagues on the job, lead to an organizational culture where creativity thrives and aspirational goals are achieved.

Dr. Allison-Napolitano has worked with clients in education, health care, business, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Elle is a member of the National Speakers Association and is a graduate of National Staff Development Academy.  She reaches a diverse audience by delivering engaging and informative keynote addresses and seminars on leadership and organizational development, leadership coaching, and wisdom.

Click here to download Dr. Elle Allison’s bio (PDF)

Please contact Dr. Elle Allison, President of Wisdom Out, at 925.786.0987 or Elle@WisdomOut.com