Meet the Founder & CEO

Lisa Nicole, M.S.
Founder| Domestic Violence & Workplace Safety Consultant| Educator | Speaker

Lisa Nicole is the Founder and CEO of the International Institute for Healing & Development (IIHD) and the founder of Stand Up Survivor. With more than a decade of experience in domestic violence advocacy, nonprofit leadership, education, and organizational development, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to the work of building safer organizations and healthier communities.

As a survivor of domestic violence, Lisa understands the impact of abuse from both sides of the table—as someone who has experienced it and as a professional who has spent years working alongside survivors.

That perspective shapes IIHD's approach to helping organizations, businesses, faith communities, and institutions recognize the impact of domestic violence and develop the knowledge, systems, and leadership practices needed to respond effectively.

Lisa holds a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology and is a doctoral candidate whose research focuses on domestic violence and disclosure.

She has spoken and provided education across the United States and internationally, working with faith communities, businesses, schools, nonprofits, and leaders around issues of safety, trauma, domestic violence, and organizational response.

Through IIHD, Lisa is focused on moving organizations beyond awareness toward preparedness, accountability, and intentional systems of safety.

Her mission is simple: equip leaders, transform cultures, and create environments where people can thrive.

Who We Are

Equipping Leaders. Transforming Organizations. Building Safer Systems.

The International Institute for Healing & Development (IIHD) is a training, consulting, and organizational development institute specializing in domestic violence prevention, healthy relationships, workplace safety, and trauma-informed leadership.

We help organizations recognize risk, respond effectively, and build policies and systems that promote safety, accountability, and healthier organizational cultures.

Our work is grounded in real-world experience, research, and years of work alongside survivors, families, leaders, and organizations.

Why We Exist

Domestic violence doesn't stop at the workplace door.

It can affect employee safety, attendance, productivity, performance, retention, workplace security, and organizational culture. Yet many organizations are not equipped to recognize the warning signs or respond appropriately when domestic violence impacts an employee or workplace.

IIHD exists to close that gap.

We help organizations move from reactive responses to proactive preparedness—equipping leaders and teams with the knowledge, policies, protocols, and systems needed to respond well.