There was a time when Rayna Schroeder walked into work each day feeling like her soul was slowly slipping away. “It felt like I was dying a little bit inside,” she recalls. Stuck in a job where the environment drained her and the leadership discouraged her, she realized something had to change. That turning point eventually led her to become the CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer) of Positive Impact Leaders, a coaching and consulting company focused on helping purpose-driven leaders rediscover fulfillment and lead in ways that lift others.
With over 30 years of experience in leadership development and more than 2,000 hours of coaching under her belt, Rayna brings a strengths-based, optimistic approach to her work. She helps leaders reconnect with their purpose, clarify their values, and take action that energizes both them and their teams. Her style is often described as “lovingly direct” and “ridiculously likeable”—a mix of kindness, honesty, and encouragement that makes people feel both safe and motivated.
Rayna didn’t start Positive Impact Leaders out of convenience or comfort. She started it because she knew firsthand what it felt like to be in a toxic workplace and how important it was to leave behind a culture of burnout and step into one of growth and genuine connection.
“When you work under a boss who doesn’t recognize your efforts, who second guesses your work and drains your energy, it impacts everything, your confidence, your joy, and even your home life,” she says. But she also believes in the power of change, even when it starts small. “I was able to turn it around. And now I help others do the same but in a much shorter time.”
Her coaching is deeply rooted in the belief that leadership is not about power or authority, it’s about service. That belief led her to co-author Becoming a Servant-Leader: A Workbook for Bringing Skill and Spirit to Professional and Personal Life. In it, Rayna shares how servant leadership can shift the way we lead, moving the focus from control to care. “It’s about asking, ‘How can I help you succeed?’” she explains. “Not ‘What can you do for me?’ but ‘What can I do for you?’”
Rayna works with individual leaders, teams, and entire organizations, including government agencies and private companies. She coaches, facilitates workshops, and supports long-term leadership development programs. What sets her apart is her focus on helping clients build habits they can keep; not just lessons they hear once and forget. “Hearing me speak for an hour is not enough,” she says. “Change comes from taking action, reflecting, and trying again. That’s where the real growth happens.”
One thing that comes up often in her work? Burnout. “Leaders are stretched thin. They’re working long days, attending back-to-back meetings, and only catching up on emails at night,” she says. “They’re running on empty. That’s why I tell them; you can’t pour from an empty cup. You have to recharge first.”
Rayna’s approach centers around helping leaders step away from their stress-driven ‘fight-or-flight’ mindset and into a calmer, wiser, more connected space. “When we operate from fear, we get tunnel vision. But when we’re in a positive mental and emotional state, we see more options. We connect more deeply. We lead better.”
That approach is especially meaningful to the many women she coaches, who often deal with self-doubt and internal pressure. Rayna understands those struggles and offers tools to help women quiet the critical voice in their heads and tune into the confident one. “We all have that voice saying we’re not enough. But that’s not the truth. The truth is, we’re strong, capable, and full of potential.”
She now teaches a powerful workshop that helps people shift from negative inner talk to positive self-leadership. “The women who’ve taken this course tell me they feel more confident, more in control, and more joyful. That’s the kind of change I want to see.”
When asked what advice she would give to women stepping into leadership roles, Rayna smiles and says, “The first step is knowing you have a choice. You don’t have to stay in an environment that dims your light. Whether it’s finding a better boss, starting a business, or asking for the support you need—take that first step.”
She also reminds women that leadership is something they’ve likely been practicing for years, often without realizing it. “Managing a household, raising children, organizing everything—that’s leadership. We’ve been doing it all along. Now it’s about bringing that strength into our professional lives.”
Rayna’s mission is clear: help leaders tap into their best selves so they can help others do the same. Whether through one-on-one coaching, group workshops, or her upcoming program Laughing and Leading Yourself: Lead with more Ease, Joy and Impact, Rayna is helping people find more joy and meaning in how they lead.
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