Organizational and Professional Affiliations

For most of my career, I have had the privilege of helping people navigate some of life's most important transitions.

I have sat across from adults who wanted a better future but weren't sure how to get there. Some were seeking new careers. Others needed new skills to remain competitive in a changing workforce. Many simply wanted the confidence to believe that their next chapter could be greater than their last.

What I discovered is that transformation is never just about education, credentials, or career advancement.

It's about people.

For decades at Old Dominion University, I guided thousands of adult learners as they pursued new opportunities through continuing education, workforce development, and lifelong learning programs. During my final ten years with the School of Continuing Education, I served as Education Division Director and Program Director for the Virginia Department of Education Career Switcher Program.

There, I had the privilege of leading an exceptional team united by a shared commitment to adult learner success. Each team member brought unique talents, perspectives, and expertise that helped create an environment where aspiring educators could thrive. By empowering individuals to lead from their strengths and contribute their unique gifts and abilities, we built strategic partnerships, developed innovative programs, and delivered meaningful results across the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Together, we supported thousands of career changers pursuing a new calling in education. More than 90 percent of program participants successfully completed the Career Switcher Program, over 90 percent effectively met Virginia's Uniform Performance Standards for Teachers, and employer satisfaction exceeded 90 percent. The program achieved an overall hiring rate of 88 percent, reflecting both the quality of the preparation provided and the determination of the adults we served.

Behind every statistic was a story.

A military veteran discovering a renewed sense of purpose.

A professional reinventing their career.

A parent creating greater stability for their family.

An aspiring teacher preparing to influence generations of students.

These experiences shaped my understanding of leadership, workforce development, and human potential. More importantly, they reinforced a belief that continues to guide my work today: meaningful transformation happens when people feel seen, supported, and empowered to move forward.

That belief inspired the creation of Polaris Future Shift.

Polaris Future Shift was founded to help individuals and organizations align purpose with action. Whether supporting workforce development initiatives, educational institutions, community organizations, or individuals navigating change, our focus remains the same: helping people move from uncertainty to opportunity.

Our work is grounded in three pillars:

Branding to clarify identity and purpose.

Leadership to build confidence, influence, and impact.

Transformation to create lasting personal and organizational growth.

As a member of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals and the American Marketing Association, I remain connected to emerging trends and best practices that shape today's workforce and learning environments.

This work is more than a profession for me.

It is a calling rooted in a lifelong commitment to helping people discover what is possible, embrace change, and create futures filled with purpose. That calling was born from my own experiences navigating life's transitions, stepping into uncertainty, and finding the courage to move forward when the path ahead was not always clear. Sometimes I walked that journey alone. Other times, I was strengthened by the support, guidance, and encouragement of others. Those experiences taught me the value of resilience, the power of human connection, and the importance of having someone who believes in you along the way.

Because transformation is not simply about changing what you do.

It's about becoming who you were created to be.

On purpose, 

Lisa Temple, Founder and Managing Director