We recently connected with Lori Ennis and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lori, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a time you helped a customer really get an amazing result through their work with you.

One of our clients is a rapidly growing recruiting firm, and we’ve had the privilege of partnering with them on several key initiatives to support both their internal growth and their external client success.

Our work began with policy and procedures HR work for the business. We also completed Maxwell DISC reports and debriefs with their team. By helping each team member understand their communication style—and, more importantly, how those styles interact—we were able to support leadership in strengthening communication, collaboration, and trust with their teams and clients.

We then conducted a custom workshop focused on legal and illegal interview practices, reinforcing compliance and reducing risk in their hiring process. We layered in advanced training on recognizing DISC styles in candidates and flexing communication accordingly. This shift empowered their recruiters to better connect with applicants and make more efficient and better placement decisions for clients.

The results have been both immediate and long-term: stronger team dynamics, more confident and compliant interviewers, and ultimately, more successful placements for their clients. The firm has shared that these tools have elevated the way they do business—creating a competitive advantage in a field where strong relationships and good judgment are everything.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

About Lori Ennis & Her Work at Workwell Nexus + Foundational Nexus

With over two decades of experience in HR and leadership—spanning retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and global aviation industries—I’ve had the privilege of helping people and organizations grow from the inside out. I’m Lori Ennis, Founder & CEO of Workwell Nexus and Co-Founder of Foundational Nexus, and I’m passionate about bridging personal and professional development through coaching, behavioral insights, and practical tools that truly work.

How It All Started
My journey began in traditional HR leadership, where I saw firsthand how people strategy—done well—could unlock potential, increase trust, and transform team dynamics, and ultimately business objectives. But I also saw where businesses and families alike were struggling: communication breakdowns, burnout, and unmet expectations. That’s when I knew I wanted to build something that helped leaders, teams, and families shift from surviving to thriving.

What We Do
At Workwell Nexus, we serve organizations and professionals by:

Cultivating strong, self-aware leaders through coaching, with DISC-based development
Aligning teams for better communication, collaboration, and results
Using behavioral assessments to guide hiring, development, and succession
Designing people-first HR systems that drive real business impact
Delivering workshops and learning programs that engage and stick

At Foundational Nexus, alongside therapist Nancy Grabe, MSW, we bring those same principles into the home. Through our Insightful Connections programs and Insightful Shift Coaching, we help families—especially working moms—navigate conflict, strengthen communication, understanding, and create more peace at home.

We believe your leadership at work and your leadership at home are deeply connected. And when we improve one, the other gets better too.

What Sets Us Apart
We align heart, proven practical solutions and strategy to strengthen businesses . Whether it’s through DISC tools, coaching, or consulting, we don’t just offer solutions—we create shifts. Our work is grounded in behavioral science, shaped by real-world leadership experience, best practices, and infused with empathy. That combination leads to results that matter: more trust, stronger teams, better communication, and lasting change.

We’re also passionate about community impact—offering speaking engagements and sessions for nonprofits, churches, and organizations looking to build emotional resilience and healthier relationships, both professionally and personally.

What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m proud of the leaders and families we’ve empowered to shift how they show up in the world. It’s not just about better workplaces or calmer households—it’s about people rediscovering their strength, reconnecting with purpose, and building lives and legacies they’re proud of.

If you’re looking for a partner who blends strategic thought with heartfelt, actionable support—I’d love to connect.

Websites:
🌐 www.workwellnexus.com
🌐 Insightful Connections – Foundational Nexus- https://icp.foundationalnexus.com/home-insightful-connections

Contact:
📧 [email protected]

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

A few years ago, life hit me with a series of unexpected challenges—one right after the other. On Christmas Eve, a pipe burst in my home, leading to extensive damage and eight months of temporary living- including time spent in a hotel with two cats. At the same time, I was navigating personal life transitions, and not long after, I was hit by a car. It felt like everything paused at once and forced me to take a hard look at my life.

At the time, I was traveling for work 60–80% of the time, and almost every aspect of my life was centered around my career. Those months of disruption gave me space to reflect and reevaluate. I created what I now call my “Between Now and Dead List”—a personal inventory of what really matters and what I wanted the next chapter of my life to look like.

That list became the catalyst for a major pivot. I began building a business grounded in purpose—Workwell Nexus and Foundational Nexus—where I could use my 20+ years of HR and leadership experience to impact others in meaningful ways. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been deeply fulfilling. Today, I get to help leaders and families grow, communicate better, and live with more intention—just like I had to do myself.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that asking for help is a weakness.

For years, especially as a high-performing working mom and leader in demanding industries, I carried the belief that I had to do it all—and do it perfectly. I thought that admitting I needed support would somehow diminish my credibility or competence. But that belief led to burnout, isolation, and constantly feeling like I was falling short in some area of life—work, home, or both.

It wasn’t until I faced a series of personal and professional challenges—including living in temporary housing for months, navigating major life transitions, and reevaluating everything I thought I “should” be doing—that I realized the power in vulnerability. I started reaching out, building support systems, and giving myself permission to let go of perfection.

That shift didn’t just change my life—it became part of the foundation for the work I do today. Whether I’m coaching executives or working with families, I remind people that strength isn’t found in doing it alone; it’s found in knowing when to ask for help and in creating community around you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.workwellnexus.com and https://icp.foundationalnexus.com/home-insightful-connections
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workwellnexus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workwellnexus
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-e/

Image Credits

Profile photos by Stuart Hasson Photography. Other photos are from company or personal camera.