Belle Sisters: Welcome. Today, we’re joined by Lisa Thee, founder, AI ethics leader, and award-winning author of Go: Reboot Your Career in 90 Days. Lisa, thank you for joining us.

Lisa Thee: Thank you so much. I’m happy to be here.

Belle Sisters: Tell us a little about yourself and your journey.

Lisa Thee: I started my career in engineering and spent nearly two decades working in large multinational organizations across technology and industrial automation. I had never worked for a company with fewer than 25,000 employees.

As my career progressed and I became a working mother, I found myself wanting more impact and autonomy. I was leading a multi-billion-dollar business unit, but I began to realize that some of the issues I cared most deeply about weren’t being addressed effectively, especially those affecting women, children, and other vulnerable groups.

Entrepreneurship became a way for me to act on my convictions rather than wait for permission. That ultimately led me to use artificial intelligence to address issues related to human trafficking and child protection.

Belle Sisters: Was there a defining moment that pushed you toward entrepreneurship?

Lisa Thee: Absolutely. Around 2017, I reached a point where my personal values no longer aligned with the environment I was working in.

At the time, my team had developed technology that significantly reduced the time it took to process reports involving crimes against children. Seeing the real-world impact of that work changed me. I realized I didn’t want to spend my career simply chasing revenue. I wanted to focus on creating meaningful change. That experience made me ask a difficult question: Was I building a career, or was I building a legacy? The answer led me toward entrepreneurship.

Belle Sisters: Your work has had a remarkable impact. What were some of the biggest challenges in building that vision?

Lisa Thee: Entrepreneurship is an emotional roller coaster. The difference between your best day and your worst day can sometimes be a single email.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was that meaningful impact is never created alone. Our work involved engineers, data scientists, legal experts, nonprofits, and major technology companies all working toward a shared mission.

What made the difference wasn’t any one person. It was having a clear vision and bringing together people who genuinely cared about solving the problem.

Another challenge was navigating difficult ethical decisions. There were moments when I realized that some organizations were willing to tolerate harmful outcomes because addressing them wasn’t financially convenient. For me, that became a turning point. I decided I would rather build something aligned with my values than stay in an environment where those values were compromised.

Belle Sisters: The work you do can be emotionally intense. How do you protect your well-being while working on such serious issues?

Lisa Thee: That’s something I had to learn the hard way.

Early in my work, I didn’t fully understand secondary trauma. After spending years immersed in difficult cases involving children and vulnerable populations, I experienced severe burnout and PTSD.

It forced me to slow down and rethink how I approached my work.

Today, I know my boundaries. I know what affects me emotionally, and I understand the importance of protecting my mental well-being if I want to continue contributing over the long term.

I also make wellness a priority. I walk daily, stay connected with people who understand my journey, and intentionally create space for joy in my life. For years, I focused on keeping my children alive, my career alive, and my marriage alive. Somewhere along the way, I forgot to keep my spirit alive.

Now I make sure I don’t make that mistake again.

Belle Sisters: Looking back, what have been some of the happiest moments in your entrepreneurial journey?

Lisa Thee: Surprisingly, many of them came after I exited the business.

Watching former team members grow into leaders, start their own ventures, and continue making an impact has been incredibly rewarding. What makes me happiest isn’t necessarily the awards or recognition. It’s knowing that the work continues long after I’m gone.

We’ve helped create tools that protect children, support investigators, and make online spaces safer. Knowing that those efforts continue to help people is deeply meaningful.

Belle Sisters: You mentioned your exit. What did that experience teach you?

Lisa Thee: One of the biggest lessons was learning that setbacks often create opportunities you can’t see in the moment.

At the time, certain partnerships didn’t unfold the way I expected. It was disappointing and, honestly, painful. But looking back, those challenges ultimately led to greater impact. The technology evolved, larger organizations adopted similar solutions, and more families gained access to tools that help protect children online.

I’ve learned that if you’re clear about your purpose, setbacks become obstacles to navigate rather than reasons to quit.

Belle Sisters: What advice would you give to women entering entrepreneurship for the first time?

Lisa Thee: First, don’t let jargon intimidate you.

Everyone has walked out of a meeting and Googled terms they didn’t understand. That’s normal.

Second, understand that your perspective matters. We need more women building companies, products, and services because diverse perspectives create better outcomes.

And finally, don’t wait until you feel fully prepared.

The world is changing rapidly. Technology is evolving. Leadership is evolving. Nobody has all the answers.

So why not you? Step into your power. Trust your experience. Lead with confidence. The future is being built right now, and we need more women helping shape it.

Belle Sisters: Lisa, thank you for sharing your story and your insights with us today.

Lisa Thee: Thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure.

Belle Sisters: And thank you to everyone readinf. Until next time, remember that meaningful change begins when we’re willing to take the first step forward.