Lived Experience Advising

Building Ethical Innovation

Lived-Experience Consulting to center human experience and wellbeing

Our world is racing toward innovation, with new discoveries and creations happening by the second.

However, the most meaningful progress comes when we slow down and center the human experience. We can gain profound insight when we have authentic conversations that ask the right questions.

At The Thrive Shift, we help mission-driven startups and companies build from a foundation of lived experience, ethical leadership, and community insight.

If you're creating AI, tools, or services to support mental health and wellness, you have an opportunity — and a responsibility — to do it differently. To do it thoughtfully.

We want to help you build it right, together.

You can’t get the right answers if you don’t ask the right questions.

What we offer

Four diverse young adults gathered around a laptop in a modern workspace, looking at the screen with interest.

Lived Experience Council (LEC) Development

The people closest to the problems often hold the richest solutions.

A LEC brings authentic voices into the heart of your innovation, ensuring your work stays grounded, inclusive, and impactful.

Together, we'll:

  • Define your council’s vision and structure

  • Recruit and onboard diverse lived experience experts

  • Create ethical frameworks for meaningful collaboration

  • Facilitate your initial council sessions

  • Build sustainable systems for long-term impact

Whether you're starting fresh or deepening your community partnerships, we’ll guide you every step of the way.

Two people, a woman and a man, sitting on a blue sofa in a bright room, laughing and looking at two open laptops on a glass table in front of them.
A woman with long wavy hair, wearing a striped sleeveless dress, sitting on a stool, holding a microphone, and smiling while speaking.

Ongoing Strategic Partnership

Building ethical, community-centered innovation is not a one-time effort. It's an ongoing practice.

We offer flexible, continued support to help you:

-Integrate council insights into design, research, and product strategy

-Stay aligned with your mission as you scale

-Foster healthy, trusting relationships with lived experience partners

Your needs will evolve — and our support will evolve with you.

Public-Facing Representation

When it's time to share your story with the world, we'll help you do it with authenticity and heart.

We can represent your company at:

  • Industry conferences and events

  • Speaking engagements and panels

  • Video content and educational initiatives

  • Thought leadership opportunities

If you want a credible, lived-experience-centered voice aligned with your mission, we can help you amplify your impact while staying true to your values.

Who We Help

Companies:

  • Guidance on developing inclusive policies and communication strategies.

  • Support in prioritizing individual and customer experiences in company initiatives, product design, and marketing.

Boards:

  • First-person perspective to inform board decisions and initiatives.

  • Support leading with empathy and making informed, impactful choices for stakeholders' well-being.

Teams:

  • Collaboration to craft empathetic mental health and wellness campaigns.

  • Guidance in designing initiatives that foster understanding and support within the organization.

Media and the Arts:

  • Story read-throughs and development guidance for authentic portrayal of mental health challenges.

  • Ongoing support to ensure narratives resonate and inspire.

How We Begin

  • We start with a conversation about your vision, goals, and challenges.

  • We craft a custom roadmap aligned with your needs and mission.

  • We build momentum together through collaborative action.

Ready to explore how we can help?