About Kelli
Kelli Dunaway is a coach, teacher, consultant, and writer whose raison d’être is helping people realize their potential.
Kelli began her career as a lawyer, but found her calling in coaching lawyers and the people who support them. A fierce advocate for a better world, Kelli has spent much of her career dabbling in the public sector as a volunteer and elected official. These experiences have uniquely shaped Kelli’s coaching and training practices, designed to empower others to lead their lives with intentionality and purpose.
Contact her at kelli@aspiretoyourpotential.com
As coach, Kelli uses humor, instinct, powerful questions (and sometimes tarot cards) to support her clients in imagining and executing new practices and habits that help them achieve their professional and personal goals.
As teacher, Kelli brings energy, enthusiasm and shared experience to the classroom, delivering high-impact, engaging training on a wide array of professional and leadership skills.
As consultant, Kelli works with firms and organizations to design training and coaching programs and talent management policies and initiatives to meet its strategic business objectives.
As writer, Kelli is a historical fantasy novelist and Legal Witchcraft substacker.
Outside of the office, Kelli is mom to Bella and Liam, avid reader, garden enthusiast and lover of lazy Sundays.
Kelli is the Founder of Aspire, an ICF-certified coach and a member of the California Bar. She earned her J.D. from UCLA and her B.A. in History from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Awards, Publications & Presentations:
Presenter
“Building Back Belonging: Strategies for Fostering Associate Engagement.”
PDI Conference, November 2022. Washington, DC.
Kelli Dunaway & Kendra Brodin
“Feedback with Emotional Intelligence.”
NALP Bulletin. June 2022.
Panelist
“Hot Topics for Women in the Law.”
Women in the Legal Profession. May 21, 2021.
Panelist
“2020 Legislative Update.”
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. April 9, 2021.
Advocacy Award
Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis. August 13, 2020.
Kelli Dunaway & Tishaura Jones
“It’s time to change the conversation about childcare.”
St. Louis Business Journal. June 3, 2020.
Kelli Dunaway
“Preparing the Next Generation to Lead.”
Law Practice. November 2019.
Kelli Dunaway
“Running for St. Louis County Council with an Eye toward Equity.”
St. Louis American. July 18, 2019.
Kelli Dunaway
“Innovating in Training.”
Professional Development Quarterly. August 2018.
Panelist
“Women in the Workplace: Employment Scorecard Report.”
Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis & St. Louis Public Radio. August 2018, St. Louis, MO.
Kelli Dunaway
“Reinventing Associate Training.”
LinkedIn. May 2018.
Presenter
“Hacking the Wildebeest: Developing the Innovative Lawyer.”
NALP Conference. April 2017, San Francisco, CA.
Kelli Dunaway, Kelly Green
“Making the Most of Secondments.”
NALP Bulletin. June 2016.
Presenter
“Retention and Engagement Strategies That Align with Today’s Idea of Professional Satisfaction.”
NALP Conference, April 2016. Boston, MA.
Presenter
“Building a Business of Law Academy.”
PDC Conference, July 2015. San Francisco, CA.
Kelli Dunaway
“Residencies Offer Cure for Associate Problem.”
National Law Journal. October 28, 2013.