Member since December 2018
Living at the intersection of Leadership, Tech, Strategy & Consciousness, Lav Chintapalli helps high-performing leaders stay connected to themselves in environments where performance never pauses, while building thriving teams. Lav has coached leaders at Cisco, MIT, and has helped global companies navigate through growth, change, and complex people issues.
An International Speaker and Thought Leader, Lav has taught leadership seminars all across the country including academia and her work is published in technical and literary journals. Once a Geneticist, a Programmer, and a meditation teacher, Lav brings a vast understanding of disciplines to her passion for developing heart-centered and powerful leaders and increasing talent capacity within organizations. Developer of the Awareness Leadership framework, Lav speaks on organizational success, workplace wellness and balanced leadership.
Helping Organizations Prevent Quiet Burnout in High-Performing Leaders & Complex Teams Where Performance Never Pauses.
Bridging Meaning & Matter, so we lead as cohesive selves.
Awareness Leadership, Organizational Strategy, Mindfulness, Increasing Engagement In Teams, Creating a Coaching Culture, Communication and Connection
TESTIMONIALS FROM AUDIENCE:
“You did such an incredible job with your presentation. I’ve heard this feedback from members too! And I want you to know that we've had many people make the updates based on your call to action - thank you!” - Nicole, Impact Austin
“Hello Lav. I was at the event last night and was hoping to connect with you. Thank you for your inspiration yesterday. I was mesmerized by your words and confidence.” - Jeanette, Employee Experience Specialist, Centaur Technology
“Lav, I wanted to reach out to thank you for sharing your time and wisdom with us. I'm so sad that I couldn't be there to experience it first-hand, but the team reported back that you were spectacular.” - RM Harrison, Career Coach, Austin Chapter Lead
“Dear Lav, Thank you so much for your fantastic presentation to our membership. Our members experienced some “ah-ha” moments at Discovery Day and that’s due in large part to you carefully considered remarks. Thank you so much.” Christina Gorczynski, Executive Director, Impact Austin
“Lav was awesome - very inspirational and great thoughts were shared.”- Neeta Kaandoori, Technical Program Lead, Amazon
'Lav, thank you for the wonderful and inspirational speech.” - Lavanya Reddy, Financial Analyst, Pearson
“Thank you so much for presenting at our Acxiom WomenLEAD event. The feedback has been extremely positive! I am so glad we connected through the WomenWhoTechAreDangerous project and hope we continue to engage.” - Janet Cinfio, CIO, Acxiom
"I feel so calm and motivated after your talk, Lav. I have taken so many notes for myself. Thank you for giving me much needed perspective!" - Julie, Deloitte
In a world driven by urgency, noise, and constant change, the most impactful leaders are not always the loudest — they are the most aware. Fireflies in the Night invites leaders to explore the invisible edge that separates reactivity from resonance, pressure from presence, and busyness from clarity. Based on her Awareness Leadership model, Lav Chintapalli weaves story, insight, and research-backed practices to reveal how subtle moments of awareness — like fireflies flickering in the dark — can illuminate powerful new pathways in how we lead ourselves, our teams, and our systems. This keynote offers more than inspiration; it opens a doorway to a different kind of leadership: one that begins within, but transforms everything around us.
“Lav’s keynote offered more than insight. It gave our leaders a new lens on how to lead with clarity, calm, and intention. Her approach to awareness-based leadership helped attendees recognize the subtle shifts that move us from reactivity to resonance. Many left feeling not only inspired, but equipped to lead with greater presence and purpose.”
“I left Lav’s keynote feeling grounded, clear, and more connected to the kind of leader I want to be. Her words didn’t just resonate — they stayed with me. There was something about the way she spoke to both the inner experience and the outer impact that gave me a whole new way of thinking about leadership.”
“Lav’s keynote didn’t just inspire, it sparked change. Her clarity and presence left people not just thinking differently, but deeply moved and ready to lead with renewed intention.”
Leadership isn’t tied to a title — it’s rooted in presence, trust, and the way we impact others through everyday moments. In this session, you’ll learn how to grow your influence from the inside out, whether or not you hold a formal position. We’ll explore five foundational traits of influential people — including integrity, care, listening, belief in others, and the ability to elevate — and how they show up in real-world work and life dynamics. If you’ve ever felt like your voice gets lost in the noise — or you want to lead in a way that resonates — this session will help you show up with clarity, credibility, and meaningful impact.
1. We’ll start by unraveling the assumption that leadership requires authority. You’ll see why your influence — your ability to move people — starts long before a title ever arrives
2. Drawing from timeless leadership principles, I’ll walk you through five essential traits that make you the kind of person others trust, follow, and grow with: Integrity, Care, Belief in Others, Listening, and Elevating.
3. You’ll create a simple visual tool to identify who you already influence — at home, at work, and in your community — and how you can lead those relationships with more intention and clarity.
In a rapidly evolving world, tools and technology are only part of the equation. It’s how people think, communicate, and collaborate that ultimately determines a team’s success—or its breakdown. This session introduces the DISC behavioral model as a practical lens to improve team performance, reduce friction, and elevate leadership. You’ll learn how to spot communication patterns, align roles with people’s strengths, and build trust—even under pressure. Whether you’re leading a small municipal team, managing IT risk, or navigating human dynamics across silos, behavioral intelligence can help you lead more effectively—from the inside out.
Objectives
- Understand the core principles of the DISC behavioral model and how they influence communication, collaboration, and decision-making in teams.
- Identify individual and team communication patterns to reduce friction, enhance trust, and align roles with behavioral strengths.
- Apply behavioral intelligence strategies to lead more effectively under pressure, improve team resilience, and foster cross-functional collaboration.
In today’s fast-paced world, true connection is what cuts through the noise — and creates lasting impact. Whether you’re leading a team, an organization, or a movement, your ability to connect at a human level is what builds trust, inspires action, and drives meaningful change.
This session explores the art of authentic, purposeful communication as a core leadership skill. You’ll learn how to go beyond delivering messages to forging real connections — across differences, in challenging moments, and in the everyday interactions that shape culture and results.
Objectives
- Discover why authentic connection — not just communication — is the key to trust, influence, and meaningful leadership.
- Learn how to connect across differences, inspire action, and navigate tough conversations with clarity and empathy.
- Walk away with practical tools to strengthen your presence, deepen relationships, and lead with greater impact.
In today’s rapidly shifting workplace, employee engagement isn’t just about surveys or perks — it’s about culture. And culture starts with conversation. This session introduces a new playbook for cultivating a coaching culture that transforms how leaders connect, how teams collaborate, and how organizations thrive.
In this session, you’ll discover a new playbook for embedding coaching into the fabric of organizational life. Learn how coaching cultures drive measurable gains in engagement, psychological safety, and adaptability — and explore practical tools to activate this shift in your teams. Whether you're navigating burnout, building trust, or leading change, coaching offers a human-centered, high-impact path forward.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
TESTIMONIALS FROM AUDIENCE:
“You did such an incredible job with your presentation. I’ve heard this feedback from members too! And I want you to know that we've had many people make the updates based on your call to action - thank you!” - Nicole, Impact Austin
“Hello Lav. I was at the event last night and was hoping to connect with you. Thank you for your inspiration yesterday. I was mesmerized by your words and confidence.” - Jeanette, Employee Experience Specialist, Centaur Technology
“Lav, I wanted to reach out to thank you for sharing your time and wisdom with us. I'm so sad that I couldn't be there to experience it first-hand, but the team reported back that you were spectacular.” - RM Harrison, Career Coach, Austin Chapter Lead
“Dear Lav, Thank you so much for your fantastic presentation to our membership. Our members experienced some “ah-ha” moments at Discovery Day and that’s due in large part to you carefully considered remarks. Thank you so much.” Christina Gorczynski, Executive Director, Impact Austin
“Lav was awesome - very inspirational and great thoughts were shared.”- Neeta Kaandoori, Technical Program Lead, Amazon
'Lav, thank you for the wonderful and inspirational speech.” - Lavanya Reddy, Financial Analyst, Pearson
“Thank you so much for presenting at our Acxiom WomenLEAD event. The feedback has been extremely positive! I am so glad we connected through the WomenWhoTechAreDangerous project and hope we continue to engage.” - Janet Cinfio, CIO, Acxiom
"I feel so calm and motivated after your talk, Lav. I have taken so many notes for myself. Thank you for giving me much needed perspective!" - Julie, Deloitte
In a world driven by urgency, noise, and constant change, the most impactful leaders are not always the loudest — they are the most aware. Fireflies in the Night invites leaders to explore the invisible edge that separates reactivity from resonance, pressure from presence, and busyness from clarity. Based on her Awareness Leadership model, Lav Chintapalli weaves story, insight, and research-backed practices to reveal how subtle moments of awareness — like fireflies flickering in the dark — can illuminate powerful new pathways in how we lead ourselves, our teams, and our systems. This keynote offers more than inspiration; it opens a doorway to a different kind of leadership: one that begins within, but transforms everything around us.
“Lav’s keynote offered more than insight. It gave our leaders a new lens on how to lead with clarity, calm, and intention. Her approach to awareness-based leadership helped attendees recognize the subtle shifts that move us from reactivity to resonance. Many left feeling not only inspired, but equipped to lead with greater presence and purpose.”
“I left Lav’s keynote feeling grounded, clear, and more connected to the kind of leader I want to be. Her words didn’t just resonate — they stayed with me. There was something about the way she spoke to both the inner experience and the outer impact that gave me a whole new way of thinking about leadership.”
“Lav’s keynote didn’t just inspire, it sparked change. Her clarity and presence left people not just thinking differently, but deeply moved and ready to lead with renewed intention.”
Leadership isn’t tied to a title — it’s rooted in presence, trust, and the way we impact others through everyday moments. In this session, you’ll learn how to grow your influence from the inside out, whether or not you hold a formal position. We’ll explore five foundational traits of influential people — including integrity, care, listening, belief in others, and the ability to elevate — and how they show up in real-world work and life dynamics. If you’ve ever felt like your voice gets lost in the noise — or you want to lead in a way that resonates — this session will help you show up with clarity, credibility, and meaningful impact.
1. We’ll start by unraveling the assumption that leadership requires authority. You’ll see why your influence — your ability to move people — starts long before a title ever arrives
2. Drawing from timeless leadership principles, I’ll walk you through five essential traits that make you the kind of person others trust, follow, and grow with: Integrity, Care, Belief in Others, Listening, and Elevating.
3. You’ll create a simple visual tool to identify who you already influence — at home, at work, and in your community — and how you can lead those relationships with more intention and clarity.
In a rapidly evolving world, tools and technology are only part of the equation. It’s how people think, communicate, and collaborate that ultimately determines a team’s success—or its breakdown. This session introduces the DISC behavioral model as a practical lens to improve team performance, reduce friction, and elevate leadership. You’ll learn how to spot communication patterns, align roles with people’s strengths, and build trust—even under pressure. Whether you’re leading a small municipal team, managing IT risk, or navigating human dynamics across silos, behavioral intelligence can help you lead more effectively—from the inside out.
Objectives
- Understand the core principles of the DISC behavioral model and how they influence communication, collaboration, and decision-making in teams.
- Identify individual and team communication patterns to reduce friction, enhance trust, and align roles with behavioral strengths.
- Apply behavioral intelligence strategies to lead more effectively under pressure, improve team resilience, and foster cross-functional collaboration.
In today’s fast-paced world, true connection is what cuts through the noise — and creates lasting impact. Whether you’re leading a team, an organization, or a movement, your ability to connect at a human level is what builds trust, inspires action, and drives meaningful change.
This session explores the art of authentic, purposeful communication as a core leadership skill. You’ll learn how to go beyond delivering messages to forging real connections — across differences, in challenging moments, and in the everyday interactions that shape culture and results.
Objectives
- Discover why authentic connection — not just communication — is the key to trust, influence, and meaningful leadership.
- Learn how to connect across differences, inspire action, and navigate tough conversations with clarity and empathy.
- Walk away with practical tools to strengthen your presence, deepen relationships, and lead with greater impact.
In today’s rapidly shifting workplace, employee engagement isn’t just about surveys or perks — it’s about culture. And culture starts with conversation. This session introduces a new playbook for cultivating a coaching culture that transforms how leaders connect, how teams collaborate, and how organizations thrive.
In this session, you’ll discover a new playbook for embedding coaching into the fabric of organizational life. Learn how coaching cultures drive measurable gains in engagement, psychological safety, and adaptability — and explore practical tools to activate this shift in your teams. Whether you're navigating burnout, building trust, or leading change, coaching offers a human-centered, high-impact path forward.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
