Meet Hope Lutz Firsel

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hope Lutz Firsel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Hope, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience was not born in a single moment—it was forged over years in the quiet spaces between heartbreak and hope. I often say that resilience is not something you discover; it’s something life insists you build. Mine began, unknowingly, in the sterile hallways of fertility clinics, where I learned to sit with uncertainty. It deepened as I navigated a cancer diagnosis, forcing me to confront my own fragility and strength at the same time. And later, it crystallized during my divorce after an eighteen-year marriage—an unraveling that required me to rebuild not just my life, but my sense of self.

What sustained me through each chapter were two things: an unwavering belief that life still held beauty for me, and the people who reminded me of that truth when I momentarily forgot. My parents, with their quiet steadfastness. My boys, whose presence anchored me in purpose. Mentors and friends who reflected back a version of me I was still becoming. Their love allowed me to be vulnerable without being broken.

But the real turning point—the place where resilience transformed from survival into strength—came when I decided that my pain would not be wasted. I made a conscious choice to alchemize everything I had endured into something meaningful. That decision is what ultimately led me to the work I do now: supporting women as they navigate divorce, trauma, and reinvention. Every woman I work with is a reminder that resilience is not a trait reserved for the extraordinary; it is a capacity we all possess, waiting to be activated when life calls us forward.

So when I reflect on where my resilience comes from, the answer is both simple and profound: it comes from living through what I thought might break me, choosing to rise anyway, and discovering—again and again—that my spirit is far more durable, compassionate, and expansive than I ever imagined.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a women’s divorce coach, a guide for women who are standing at the edge of one of life’s most disorienting transitions and trying to find their way back to themselves. My work sits at the intersection of emotional resilience, strategic planning, and deep personal reinvention. What makes my approach special is that it is informed not only by advanced training in coaching, organizational behavior, Rapid Resolution Therapy, and divorce dynamics—but also by lived experience. I have walked through infertility, cancer, and the end of an eighteen-year marriage. I don’t coach from theory; I coach from truth.

Professionally, I help women navigate the legal, financial, and emotional complexities of divorce with clarity, confidence, and compassion. I collaborate closely with divorce attorneys and financial professionals to ensure my clients feel informed and empowered rather than overwhelmed and alone. My role is to help women stay grounded, make strategic decisions, communicate effectively, and build a life anchored in strength and self-worth. It is profoundly meaningful work, and I consider it a privilege to sit with women at such a vulnerable moment in their lives.

What excites me most is witnessing transformation—the moment a woman who once questioned everything finally remembers who she is. Divorce may dismantle the familiar, but it also creates extraordinary space for reinvention. Helping women step into that possibility is the heart of my brand.

This year has been especially energizing, as my work is expanding in several meaningful ways. I recently launched small-group divorce recovery programs, both virtual and in-person, designed to create community and connection among women who are rebuilding their lives. I am also hosting live events and collaborations with leading attorneys, financial planners, and mental health professionals to offer comprehensive, accessible education for women considering or navigating divorce.

Behind the scenes, I am developing workshops, writing more, and continuing to speak at conferences, podcasts, and community events. My mission is simple yet expansive: to ensure no woman ever has to walk through divorce feeling afraid, uninformed, or alone. My brand is built on truth, resilience, and the unwavering belief that a woman’s life after divorce can be richer, more aligned, and more abundant than she ever imagined.

If there is one thing I want readers to know, it’s this: divorce is not the end of your story. It may, in fact, be the beginning of the most empowered chapter yet.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three Most Important Qualities, Skills and Areas of Knowledge

When I look back on my journey—personally, professionally, and everything in between—three qualities stand out as the most transformative: emotional intelligence, courageous self-honesty, and the ability to build aligned relationships. These have shaped not only who I am as a woman, but also the work I feel called to do.

1. Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence has been the backbone of my resilience and the foundation of my coaching practice. Understanding my emotions, rather than resisting or hiding from them, allowed me to navigate infertility, cancer, and divorce with clarity instead of chaos. Today, it helps me hold space for women who are facing their own emotional storms.
My advice: Emotional intelligence begins with self-awareness. Slow down enough to notice what you’re feeling and why. Journaling, therapy, coaching, and mindfulness practices can all help you develop this skill. The more honestly you can sit with your inner world, the more powerfully you can lead yourself through uncertainty.

2. Courageous Self-Honesty
There is a particular kind of bravery required to tell yourself the truth—especially when that truth disrupts the life you’ve built. When my ex and I chose to end our eighteen-year marriage, it meant confronting the parts of my story that were no longer aligned with who I was becoming. That integrity became a turning point. Real transformation doesn’t begin with action—it begins with honesty.
My advice: Practice telling yourself the truth in small ways first. Ask, “What do I really want? What am I pretending not to know?” Truth-telling is a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger and more liberating it becomes.

3. Building Aligned Relationships
My journey has been shaped by the people who walked beside me—family, mentors, therapists, coaches, attorneys, and dear friends. And now, as a divorce coach, collaboration is central to the support I offer. Working seamlessly with attorneys, financial professionals, and mental health experts ensures that women receive not just emotional support, but holistic guidance.
My advice: Seek relationships that feel expansive, not constricting. Surround yourself with people who reflect your potential, not your fears. Invest in communities and mentors who challenge you, uplift you, and believe in your evolution.

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If I could offer one overarching lesson, it would be this: Your journey will demand that you know yourself, trust yourself, and allow yourself to be supported. These qualities aren’t innate—they are cultivated. Start where you are, take one honest step at a time, and let the right people and practices fortify you along the way.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes, I am always looking to collaborate with professionals and organizations who are committed to supporting women through one of the most pivotal transitions of their lives. I welcome partnerships with divorce attorneys, financial planners, mental health professionals, mediators, and community leaders who believe in a holistic, compassionate, and empowering approach to the divorce process. I also love collaborating with podcast hosts, writers, and event organizers who want to bring honest, meaningful conversations about divorce, resilience, and reinvention to their audiences.

If you feel aligned with this mission and are interested in exploring a partnership, I would be delighted to connect. You can reach me through my website, social platforms, or directly via email. Together, we can create spaces, services, and conversations that help women navigate divorce with clarity, courage, and hope.

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