Bio

About Kelli
Kelli Dunaway is a coach, teacher, activist and writer whose raison d’être is helping people realize their potential.
Kelli designs and delivers coaching and training that empowers people to define the leader they aspire to be and pursue its achievement with intentionality and purpose.
Contact her at kelli@aspiretoyourpotential.com
As coach, Kelli uses humor, instinct, and powerful questions to support her clients in imagining and executing practices and habits that help them achieve their professional and personal leadership goals.
As consultant, Kelli works with law firms and organizations to define what leadership looks like and design training and coaching programs and policies to meet these goals.
As Councilwoman, Kelli imagines policy and works with constituents, County departments, the County Counselor’s office, industry experts and the Executive’s team to create laws to the equitable benefit of St. Louis County and the environment.
As woman, Kelli is mom to Bella and Liam, historical novelist, magick enthusiast and lover of happy hour and brunch.
Kelli is the Founder and CEO of Aspire, an elected Councilwoman in St. Louis County, Missouri, 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.

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.