Lisa Castillo Laird, a proud New Orleans Westbank native, is the dynamic CEO of Nola Persistence. With a degree in Safety and Health Technology from Southeastern University, Lisa's journey is a testament to resilience, strategic thinking, and unwavering dedication.

Her path was forged in the crucible of adversity. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, facing homelessness, joblessness, and the imminent arrival of her first child, Lisa embarked on a commission-only sales career in employee benefits. Within just one year, her natural talent and sheer determination propelled her to become one of the industry's top closers.

This extraordinary success led her to a decade-long career training sales representatives for insurance carriers. Lisa didn't just teach theory; she delivered hands-on, in-field training, sharing her secrets for mastering cold calling, effective follow-up, and powerful referral techniques.

In 2020, a different kind of challenge arose with the COVID-19 pandemic, which slowed her business. Yet, this slowdown became a profound blessing. Lisa dedicated three years to her youngest son, Kaleb, who was diagnosed with a rare fine motor disorder, apraxia, with suspected Autism, and was nonverbal. Putting her career on hold, she prioritized his intensive therapy, defying expectations as Kaleb began showing remarkable progress in communication.

Fearless and refocused, Lisa re-entered the business world in Fall 2022, ready to make an even greater impact. She now leverages her rich experience to conduct impactful training seminars for high school seniors, college undergraduates, and various sales groups. Additionally, she passionately teaches a vital course, "How to handle phone Solicitors!" at senior centers across South Louisiana, empowering communities with practical skills.

Lisa Castillo Laird embodies the spirit of persistence, transforming challenges into platforms for profound success, both personally and professionally. She is truly a champion of navigating adversity with grace and emerging stronger, ready to share her wisdom with the world.