Meet Lisa Pagotto
Lisa Pagotto is living proof that resilience isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a way of life. With over 18 years of experience in entrepreneurship, leadership, and building businesses from scratch, Lisa speaks from the kind of hard-earned wisdom that can't be taught in a classroom.
Her journey has been anything but conventional. From navigating a four-year, grueling international adoption process while launching a company, to surviving the collapse of a high-profile investment deal that nearly broke her business, to reinventing her brand mid-pandemic when the world shut down — Lisa has walked through fire and kept going.
She’s the founder of a multi-award-winning brand, a former Shark Tank entrepreneur, an aviation pioneer, and a leader who knows firsthand what it means to fight for your vision when everything around you says "give up." Along the way, she faced profound personal battles — including becoming a single mother during COVID, recovering from severe health challenges caused by stress, and finding love and family again in the most unexpected of places.
What makes Lisa a truly unique speaker is her raw honesty and her unapologetic belief that backing yourself — relentlessly, fiercely, and imperfectly — is the most powerful tool any leader can have. Audiences are drawn to her because she doesn’t just inspire; she gives people permission to own their ambition, face their fear, and build lives and businesses aligned with who they truly are.
Lisa’s sessions are not just talks. They are a call to action:
✔️To back yourself when no one else will. ✔️To drown out the noise and trust your inner compass. ✔️To refuse failure — not just for your dreams, but for your health, your future, and the people who depend on you.
Through every curveball life throws, Lisa reminds her audiences that adversity builds character — and that every time you rise, you light the way for someone else to rise too.
My Why
✔️ I speak because true success isn’t scripted — it’s carved by those who dare to back themselves when the path is uncertain. ✔️ In a world that rewards conformity, I believe in choosing courage over comfort. ✔️ The lives we’re proud of aren’t built by playing safe — they’re built by daring to do it differently. ✔️ I know what it’s like to be told you’re too much — too bold, too ambitious, too disruptive. ✔️ I also know what it feels like to back yourself anyway — and win, not because it was easy, but because it mattered. ✔️ I don’t offer perfect formulas. I offer something deeper: the reminder that everything you need is already inside you. ✔️ Resilience. Courage. The power to turn failure into fuel. ✔️ I speak to help people define success on their own terms — not the world’s. ✔️ Because the world doesn’t need more people fitting in. ✔️ It needs more people brave enough to stand out — and back themselves every step of the way.
My Accomplishments
✔️ Founder of Crooked Compass — Award-winning travel brand redefining immersive, off-the-beaten-path exploration.
✔️ Shark Tank Entrepreneur — Turned 12 minutes on national TV into major brand exposure and investor interest.
✔️ Aviation Pioneer — Launched private charter tours mid-pandemic, flying travellers into remote Australia when borders closed.
✔️ Award-Winning Leader — Entrepreneur of the Year winner and multi-time finalist for innovation and resilience.
✔️ Industry Advocate — Took the reins during COVID to help steer Australia’s tourism industry through crisis.
✔️ Resilient to the Core — Built a business while adopting solo, overcame burnout and health collapse, and rebuilt with strength and purpose.
✔️ Real Talk, Real Results — I don’t just speak about bold leadership. I live it.
Fun facts
✔️ Most people are surprised to learn I became a licensed pilot — but not just any pilot. ✔️ During the pandemic, while the world stood still, I used my JobKeeper payments to learn to fly. ✔️ I went on to land a tiny light aircraft on the main runway of Sydney International Airport — normally reserved for A380s and Dreamliners. ✔️ The grounded global fleet made it possible, but the idea came from one simple question: “What if?” ✔️ That single moment — a tiny aircraft taxiing alongside giants — became the spark for one of my most successful COVID pivots - a new business idea. ✔️ I am also a crazy cat lady. ✔️ I am addicted to travelling to places others would not dare set foot. Ask me where I've been!
How I can help
Back Themselves with Relentless Courage
Redefine Success on Your Own Terms
Build Resilience That Withstands Real-World Pressure
Create Momentum Out of Setbacks
Lead with Authenticity, Grit, and Heart
Profile information supplied through Cuppa’s talent directory. Availability and suitability are confirmed on enquiry.