I’m Emily Pasnak-Lapchick (she/her)
Get a feel for what I care about and what I support folks with.
For 10+ years, I worked in the social impact space in nonprofits, foundations, and academia. I know what it’s like to feel deeply connected to my purpose, and I also know what it’s like to feel lost and unsure of where I fit in the world. Life comes in cycles - some have the rhythm of waves, some feel like mountain peaks with the sun shining on our skin, and others can feel like trudging through mud.
I’ve navigated several organizational restructures, strategic plans, and launched new programs. As a team member, supervisor, and direct report I’ve witnessed how folks who are drawn to social change work pour themselves into their work and risk repeating cycles of burnout. I’ve been there too many times to count and learned the hard way what it’s like to hit the bottom and crawl my way out.
After working with a coach myself, I went from slumped shoulders, wondering if I could ever feel fulfilled again, being totally disconnected from myself and my sense of passion (visualize Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh) – to my vibrant, fun, passionate self again with a reinvigorated thirst for meaning and for life. I knew during that process that I wanted to hold that space for other people.
Those collective experiences are what inspired me to create Chrysalis Exchange, where I create space for you to navigate these difficulties, build resiliency within yourself and your organization, and begin to live in the space of creation and fulfillment.
I’m a Certified Coach, COR.E Dynamics Transitions Specialist, Energy Leadership Index (ELI) Master Practitioner, and hold a MA in Social Innovation with training in human-centered design. I integrate these certifications with my personal and professional experience to hold space for you to navigate transitions, self-exploration, and growth. I believe we can be passionate about what we do and create a vibrant personal life, prioritizing what’s most precious to us as individuals rather than what society dictates we “should” do.
Outside of my work
I live in St. Petersburg, Florida in the United States with my wonderful spouse, Andrés, and our two cat companions – Akela and Koa. I adore our local community and am proud that we hold the largest Pride Festival in the state! I lived in New York City for over a decade, a place that will always have a part of my heart.
I spend my mornings near the sea, enjoy creative endeavors, and one of my current goals is to cultivate more time for play.
Food occupies my mind a lot and I enjoy experimenting with new recipes and ingredients - I was raised vegetarian and became vegan a few years ago, and I think part of my creative and defiant personality comes from the constant questioning I’ve received about those choices.
Two incredible parents raised me and instilled values of social justice, service to community, and fighting for a society where everyone can safely be their authentic selves. My dad’s definition of a leader is, “Someone who stands up for justice and doesn’t block its path." They have both embodied this and continue to be two of my biggest inspirations.
Last year I was diagnosed with ADHD, and while I was aware I struggled with depression and anxiety for most of my life, this new diagnosis has been a big awakening. There have been - and continue to be - many ups and downs in navigating mental health. My ever-curious spirit keeps me learning how to work with my brain, and cultivating a practice of self-compassion has been the absolute best thing I’ve done for myself. That’s why it’s a cornerstone of my work with clients. We can’t do this life thing alone, and I have a superhero support crew with my therapist, coach, and loving friends and family.
Three things on my bucket list I’ve already checked off:
See the Northern Lights – I went to Iceland with one of my close friends Taryn a few years ago and we danced under them! It was beyond what I could’ve imagined
Swim with sharks (I love ‘em!). I’ve done this in the Florida Keys, in San Diego where Leopard Sharks come into the Bay to incubate in the warm waters, and most recently with Nurse Sharks in Hol Chan Marine Reserve in Belize
Launch my own thing (you’re witnessing it!)
Why the name Chrysalis Exchange?
A few years ago a dear friend burst into a room brimming with excitement.
“Do you know how caterpillars become butterflies?!” she exclaimed.
She went on to explain the process, engrossed in the complete metamorphosis that takes place within the chrysalis. Do you know caterpillars break down into literal GOO before becoming a butterfly?
That story has stuck with me for a few reasons: the pure joy and fascination my friend expressed, the beauty and possibilities that emerge from transformations, and the inspiration that we can all grow beyond our expectations when given the space to do so.
Those are qualities embodied at Chrysalis Exchange: wonderment, radical transformation, and cultivating space for people to emerge as their most extravagant, wild, authentic selves.