Hi, I’m Hilani.

Pronounced: (Hill-lonnie)

Who is Hilani?

Personal Bio

Founder, Author, Wife, Mother, Friend, Shenanigans Organizer

Those who know me would say, "For two decades, she’s been helping ambitious professionals improve their output and capacity to achieve greater productivity and stronger business outcomes. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and her ability to solve problems with a fresh perspective never disappoints."

As an only child raised in a single-parent household in a low-income community in southern Florida, I learned early how to pivot and adapt. Often left to figure things out on my own, those experiences, combined with moving several times, shaped my unique 'scrappy-classy' style.

I’m deeply uncomfortable with wasted time and capacity, because I’ve seen how it hinders momentum and outcomes. That’s why I’ve dedicated my career to capacity architecture, helping professionals build the structures they need to thrive, lead, and achieve sustainable progress (while also enjoying life).

Disclaimer: At my age, shenanigans organizer means: day-time activities, last call at 6pm, and lights out at 10pm.

A group of four people, two adults and two teenagers, stand in front of a barn wall with red and white accents and a patch of grass at their feet.

The Family

My husband and I have been married since 2000, and together we’re raising two incredible boys in Colorado. You’ll often find us teaming up for a round of golf, rolling dice, shuffling cards or exploring new destinations on vacation.

Improving productivity is my healthy obsession.

As the founder of a boutique placement firm and a productivity facilitator to over 400 executives—from start-ups to global enterprises—I’ve helped professionals remodel how they work to operate more efficiently. The result? Optimized work styles that free up time for what drives the business forward: growth, strategy, and leadership.

Serving Others

Group Facilitation

A group of people attending a presentation in a conference room. A woman stands at the front speaking, with a screen displaying a presentation titled 'Mastering Work-Life Harmony.' Attendees are seated at a table with documents, pens, and coffee cups. The room is well-lit with ceiling lights and decorative wall art.

Moderator

Woman in a white top and gray pants sitting and laughing, holding a piece of paper, in an elegant room.

Keynote

Large conference room filled with attendees seated at round tables, listening to a speaker on stage with projected screens displaying the speaker. The room has a high ceiling with modern lighting fixtures.

My Values

Pursuits

Pour your heart into everything, igniting contagious influence.

Communication

Elevate communication because it’s more than words; it’s sharing ideas, lifting spirits, and listening to stories.

Illuminate Possibilities

Be a catalyst lighting the way to new possibilities and fresh pursuits driven by enthusiasm.

Connections

Help others achieve their personal and professional goals, resulting in growth and development in their lives.

What others are saying

Testimonials

“Hilani is very entertaining, engaging and listening to her for a short hour was very insightful and inspiring.”

Dorianne - Conference Attendee

“It gives you tools to move your mindset towards the change that you want, while also helping you figure out what needs to change to make your goals a reality.”

Kimberly - Conference Attendee

"Hilani had amazing energy! Her talk was extremely thought provoking and she makes you want to lean in and learn more from her!"

Rachel - Conference Attendee

"Could listen to her for another hour! Would love a breakout session with opportunity to engage more in a smaller group.”

Andrea - Conference Attendee

"Hilani needs a few more hours! Great perspective and a fresh way of looking at things!"

Kate - Conference Attendee

"I think Hilani was great as a speaker and kept everyone's attention. The material she provided was valuable."

CEO - Vistage Member (Monterey, CA)

"Hilani provided tangible and actionable tips on how to manage our energy vs. manage our time! It was a great session filled with awesome dialogue to address meeting fatigue, calendar blocking, and how we view the time we have / perception of that time. Loved it! Thank you!"

CEO - Vistage Member (Denver, CO)

"Great speaker and presentation. Super professional, knowledgeable, and thought provoking. Extremely thoughtful with many take-homes that I will use to improve my effectiveness, time management, and intentional communication."

CEO - Vistage Member (Fort Collins, CO)

“I was so impressed by Hilani's facilitation methods and ability to engage with the class, we asked her back to facilitate more sessions for our large group.”

Sarah W. - Talent and Development, US Army

“Her ability to reiterate key points is not only brilliant but also highly engaging for the audience. I wholeheartedly recommend Hilani Ellis to elevate any panel and make it truly shine.”

Christine D. - Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce

“Hilani is a blue chip asset for any corporation."

Bruce C. - TV Production Executive, Paramount

“Hilani’s charismatic approach coupled with her sense of leadership and accountability make her a rarity in today’s business environment.”

Joey B. - CEO Advisor and Entrepreneur

“With every interaction I’ve had with Hilani, I have been impressed with her ability to communicate, engage, and see a vision.”

Michael H. - Entrepreneur, Loclyz Complete Media Services

“Interacting with Hilani and being able to leverage her abilities is an advantage to me and my business. She offers an unmatched level of energy and excitement to her work; it’s infectious.“

Mike V., Executive Coach

“I don’t know if I can say I’ve ever meet someone as passionate about productivity as Hilani. Her level of knowledge and expertise connected to productivity and systems is a huge advantage to someone like me scaling a business. Having a partnership with Hilani gives me much assurance that I’m in good hands.”

Garrett K. - 4x Entrepreneur

“From the moment Hilani and I had our first meeting, I loved her energy, charisma, and straight talking attitude.”

Sarabeth B. - Author and Keynote Speaker