From Private Practice to Purposeful Leadership: Dr. Lani Jones on Building What’s Next

What happens when you’ve checked all the boxes, but still feel like something’s missing?

That was the question facing Dr. Lani Jones—a clinical psychologist with a thriving private practice, a full client load, and everything on paper going exactly right. But deep down, Lani knew she had outgrown the role. “I wasn’t even using the word ‘bored’ yet,” she reflects. “But in hindsight, that’s exactly what I was. I needed a new challenge.”

After taking a six-week sabbatical abroad, Lani walked back into her practice and made a decision that would change everything: she was done. “Three hours in, I knew,” she said. “I’d already been slowly letting go of things, I just hadn’t fully caught up to the truth yet.”

That leap of faith was the beginning of her second act—founding HBL Advisory Group, where she now serves high-achieving professionals and executives navigating burnout, transition, or simply asking, “What’s next?”

A Childhood Rooted in Safety

Raised in a small, rural Indiana town, Lani was steeped in the belief that safety and security were everything. Get the degree. Land the job. Buy the house. “There wasn’t much risk-taking,” she says. “And I definitely didn’t grow up around entrepreneurs.”

Which makes her current path—a bold, strategy-forward business owner—all the more powerful. She’s proof that you don’t need a family legacy of entrepreneurship to become one.

From Expertise to Expansion

Though her clinical background gave her a deep well of experience in psychology, the pivot to business ownership was anything but smooth. “I was so set on never being a business owner,” Lani laughs. “And then I had to learn everything—from taxes to payroll—the hard way.”

Now in her second business, she brings together her experience in psychology, leadership coaching, and HR to offer a one-of-a-kind service for executives and entrepreneurs navigating major transitions. From KPI strategy to marriage dynamics, she’s the rare coach who can hold space for the whole person.

Two Types of Clients, One Mission

Lani typically works with two types of clients:

1. Leaders in a specific, high-pressure season (divorce, scaling a business, major reorgs)
2. Executives seeking a longer-term vision for what’s next

“Either way, it’s not about quick fixes,” she explains. “It’s about legacy. What are you building? And how can we support both the personal and professional parts of you in that process?”

With a minimum of three to six months, her coaching engagements are designed for sustainable growth, not overnight change.

Letting Go of Perfection, Embracing Process

When asked what she’s currently learning, Lani doesn’t hesitate. “I’m learning to love the process. Even the parts I’m not good at. I’ve had to release perfectionism and just keep going.”

She also shares a simple but freeing mindset shift: “Put on some blinders. There’s so much noise and advice out there, but you have to trust your gut. You do know what’s right for you.”

The Impact of Influence

At the core of everything she does is a belief in influence. “Whether you have one contractor or 100 employees, you’re in a position of impact,” she says. “Leadership isn’t just about strategy—it’s about stewardship.”

Lani’s work reminds us that growth is possible at every stage. That influence can be leveraged for good. And that sometimes, the next chapter starts with saying: I’m done—with this version, so I can step into what’s next.

You can learn more about her work and download her starter kit at www.drlanijones.com.