The Strategy Behind The Story: Leading Through Every Chapter
Every organization, team, and leader goes through chapters of change. Some chapters are marked by rapid, exhilarating growth; others by restructuring, friction, and the need to completely rebuild.
I’m Lori Prey, the founder of Chapters Coaching & Consulting. With more than two decades of experience in talent development, I partner with organizations to build leadership capabilities, align high-performing teams, and guide professionals through their own pivotal next chapters.
My approach isn't theoretical. It’s built on thirty years of hands-on execution inside startups, mid-market businesses, and multi-billion-dollar global enterprises.
From the Dealership Floor to Global Enterprise
My path to talent development wasn’t a straight line, which is exactly why it is my greatest asset. I began my career in working in the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of an automotive franchise. Over 13 years, I have moved through virtually every facet of the business, expanding my skills in customer service, accounting, and finance. Eventually, I stepped into the role of Executive Assistant to three Vice Presidents. It was in this role, managing competing priorities at the executive level, that my true passion for developing others took center stage. While navigating the operational side of business, I discovered the common thread that would define my life's work: an obsession with human potential and development.
I took the leap out of the automotive world and into organizational development, starting from the ground up as a coordinator, eventually traveling the United States facilitating professional development workshops. Along the way, I was tapped to lead a high-stakes enterprise-wide special project as a training and change management lead. It was a trial by fire that taught me more about leading without positional power than any textbook or workshop ever could.
Building Foundations that Scale
When I relocated to Madison, Wisconsin, I took on the challenge of rebuilding a learning and development function from scratch. We mapped out core leadership competencies; defining what it looks like to lead yourself, lead others, and lead the organization. We scaled these behaviors using the 70-20-10 development model, partnering directly with leaders and HR business partners to close performance gaps.
From there, I stepped into the hyper-growth environment of a start-up. The organization was scaling rapidly and needed to build leadership capability at top speed. To meet that hyper-growth demand, I consulted directly with HR business partners and executive leaders to co-create the organization’s leadership and team development strategy, which included architecting and facilitating several key programs
Ready, Set, Grow and Leadership Essentials
Emerging Leader and Pipeline Development
M&A Energy Management and Strategic Integration
Why This Work is Deeply Personal
Whether working with an 100-year-old established corporation or a fast-moving startup, my mission has always been to create a safe, high-trust space for people to learn, fail, and evolve.
I do this work because I have lived it. Going through my own deep coaching education completely shifted the trajectory of my life. It allowed me to break through my own internal barriers, step into my power as an entrepreneur, and build a business that completely aligns with my values and purpose.
My Essential Chapters
When I’m not facilitating executive workshops or coaching rising leaders, I am a proud mom and my favorite chapter of all is raising my son. Born and raised in Wisconsin, we love living in the Madison area. On any given weekend, you can find me firmly in my "sports mom" era cheering from the sidelines at his baseball games, basketball games, or taekwondo tournaments.
As a lifelong learner, you will almost always find me with a book or planning our next family adventure. To protect my own energy and practice the self-care I advocate for, I make time for the things that ground me. For me, that means cooking with friends and family, spending quiet moments in my backyard, and getting out into nature.
I am a true believer in taking personal retreats to recharge; whether that looks like an afternoon of painting, a relaxing spa day, or finding a beach where I can just put my feet in the sand.
I am an unshakeable believer in continuous self-development, and a firm advocate that your next chapter can always be your best one!
Ready to co-create your next chapter?
Whether you are looking to secure a trusted talent development partner for your organization or step into an immersive coaching experience, let's connect.