About the CEO and President
Lisa Marie Platske, President and CEO of Upside Thinking, Inc., is a dynamic motivational speaker, leadership coach, and author with a mission: To equip professionals, students, and leaders from all walks of life to see their possibilities, identify what they truly want, and use the three principles of Upside Thinking to achieve long-lasting results. Known for her contagious high energy and cutting-edge leadership strategies, Ms. Platske is changing the way leaders approach their personal and professional lives.
Because she believes that every enterprise rises or falls with leadership, she helps people unlock their leadership potential. She shows them how to develop an authentic leadership vision, increase their sphere of influence, and achieve long-term growth and steady profits in their businesses. But she doesn‚t stop there. Since true happiness, success, and meaning come from living a balanced life (not simply from making more money), she shows clients how they can achieve that equilibrium.
Her recently published book Designing Your Destiny: Achieving Personal and Professional Success through Upside Thinking was written to help even more people achieve this success. It is a powerful playbook that is transforming lives across the country. Click here to read the testimonials(pdf).
With a BS in Criminal Justice and an MA in Human Resources Training & Development, Ms. Platske acquired much of her leadership expertise during her 15 years in banking and federal law enforcement. She served as Supervisory Customs Inspector for the Department of the Treasury, United States Customs Service. Then, in March of 2002, she transferred to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Customs and Border Protection where she assisted in the development of a new supervisory leadership course for the future leaders of the DHS. As a Course Developer/Instructor, Ms. Platske taught the new leadership curriculum to supervisors and managers in various disciplines within multiple agencies of the DHS at the Leadership Development Center in Dallas, Texas.
Today, she is using her expertise not only to help professionals, but to benefit those in need, partnering with Alternatives to Domestic Violence and launching two new programs (The Art of Being Extraordinary and The Circle of Success) to provide coaching and workshop opportunities to those who would not ordinarily be able to afford them. Active in her community, she also serves on several committees and boards for the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, is a member of the American Society of Training & Development, and serves as the Vice President of Fundraising for a non-profit 501(3)(c) organization that provides emergency relief to those in need.
It comes as no surprise then that Lisa Marie was awarded the National Association of Female Executives‚ Woman of Excellence award for her vision, creativity, and service to others in 2007 and has recently been featured in The Press Enterprise, The Business Journal, The San Bernardino Sun, 951 magazine, Alert magazine, and the book Speaking of Success.
