Lois Castillo is on a Journey to Create Spaces where Inclusion, Healing, and Legacy can Coexist

For over twenty years, Lois Castillo has designed and spearheaded successful initiatives that guided corporate leadership toward purposefully productive cultural transformations within various industries. She was honored among the Top Women in Media & Ad Tech 2024 DEI Champion and named one of Crain’s Chicago Notable Leaders in DEI in 2023.

Her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and effective cultivation of authentic engagement with overlooked communities and demographics has made her an important and emotionally resonant voice in today’s complex social fabric. Her work in advertising and tech, along with her personal experiences as a woman of faith, a devoted wife and mother, a disciplined US Army veteran, and a compassionate personal and professional development coach, has enabled her to foster systemic change across multiple fronts and propagate a better and more humane future.

Lois also currently serves as DEI Head at Basis Technologies, while remaining active in promoting social change in the corporate world as ADCOLOR Board Chair For Leaders Advisory Board, and a board member of the Toni Morrison Foundation.

Takeaways:

• Entrepreneurship and leadership are about building with both strategy and intention.
• Consistency, accountability, and integrity are the backbone of success.
• Being unbreakable doesn’t mean you don’t bend; it means you rise, again and again.
• Community isn’t an afterthought; it’s the heart of why I do this work.

Lois Castillo of Castle Bell Inc

 “My journey is about helping people and organizations build with both strategy and soul, creating spaces where inclusion, healing, and legacy can coexist.” -Lois Castillo

Thank you for speaking with us! Our readers would like to ‘get to know you’. Can you tell us, in your own words, your inspiring story?

My name is Lois Castillo, and at my core, I am a builder. I’ve spent over two decades working in corporate America, most recently leading Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) at a global technology company. My journey hasn’t been linear; it’s been filled with challenges, moments of doubt, and times when I had to create my own path. As a neurodivergent woman with dyslexia, I know what it feels like to be underestimated. But I also know the power of resilience, faith, and showing up authentically. Those lessons became the foundation for my consulting practice, Castle Bell Inc., and for my debut book, Unbreakable: A Changemaker’s Guide.

What made you decide to go into business for yourself?

For years, I poured myself into building cultures and organizations for other people. I loved the work, crafting strategies, launching programs, and creating spaces where people could grow, but over time, I started to feel limited. I remember one particular moment at an organization where I had invested so much energy. A decision was made at the top that went against the very values I was working so hard to uphold. Sitting there, I realized the direction no longer aligned with who I was or the kind of impact I wanted to make.

I transitioned into another role while quietly laying the foundation for my own path, but deep down I knew God was calling me beyond the four walls of any one company. My gifts were bigger than what a single organization could hold. That’s when Castle Bell Inc. was born, and later the Castle Bell Hope Project Foundation. I wanted to create something that not only supports organizations but also heals, restores, and empowers individuals. My vision has always been to build safe spaces where people can thrive, lead, and heal all at once.

What are the three most important habits to be a successful entrepreneur?

Success can come in different forms for different people. But whatever that looks like for you, the road to it can be informed by what we do and how we do them. For me, success comes down to abiding by certain guideposts: consistency, accountability, and integrity. If I feel that these are present, success is within anyone’s reach.

Consistency is what keeps you showing up every day, even or especially when things get tough. Because believe me, they will. Accountability keeps you honest, with your goals and your team, and perhaps more importantly, with yourself. Taking responsibility for your actions matters in ways that make whatever you accomplish or learn from your journey truly stay with you. And integrity is what sustains you. Leading with your values and making decisions that align with your purpose, not just profit. I genuinely believe those three habits create the foundation for lasting success.

If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?

I would tell anyone that ‘You are enough, and you are worthy’. Everything you need to be successful is already within you. It’s a matter of pulling that out and believing in your own gifts. Don’t second-guess them or wait and wait and wait until you feel perfectly ready. Because no one is truly ready for what the other side looks like. You just need to start from where you are, keep putting one foot in front of the other, and trust what you’ve been given. Let your purpose guide you forward.

Does your company help the community where it is located?

Oh, most definitely. People around us and the spaces we share are what drives us. Through my work, we launched an initiative called the Castle Bell Hope Project, which focuses on serving at-risk veterans and families in the community. We provide resources, services, and support to help them not only meet immediate needs but also build long-term stability. Community impact isn’t separate from my business; it’s at the very heart of why I do this work.

Every entrepreneur has a goal and a problem they’re trying to solve. What was the inspiration that started your journey?

The inspiration came from watching too many brilliant changemakers, especially women and DEI practitioners, burn out. It was and is heartbreaking to see them pour everything into transforming workplaces and communities, but often neglect their own well-being. I was moved to do something to change that. My journey is about helping people and organizations build with both strategy and soul, creating spaces where inclusion, healing, and legacy can coexist.

How do you prioritize self-care and well-being while managing the demands of your business?

When I first stepped into business ownership, I thought self-care was something you squeezed in every blue moon, maybe a spa day, a long nap, or a quick walk when things slowed down. But building something on my own quickly taught me that wasn’t enough. Burnout hit hard. I realized I couldn’t just “learn” self-care as a skill; it had to become a way of being.

There was a season where I was running on empty, pouring into everyone else while quietly neglecting myself. That’s when I discovered the true meaning of rest. Now, I build rhythms into my life that sustain me: practicing Sabbath, being present with my family, and grounding myself in prayer and accountability. I’ve also learned to give myself grace. Some days I move fast, other days I slow down, but both are part of the work.

For me, prioritizing well-being isn’t about perfect balance; it’s about honesty, acknowledging my limits, giving myself permission to pause, and remembering that my impact is greater when I’m whole.

What would you consider your biggest accomplishment and why?

While I can claim to have accomplished things that have helped others, I feel that my biggest personal accomplishment is the publication of “Unbreakable: A Changemaker’s Guide.” In my heart, it’s more than just a book; it’s my love letter to those doing the hard, often unseen work of building equity and inclusion. Just the process of writing it stretched me in every way. But it also allowed me to turn years of experience, lessons, and faith into something that can outlive me. For me, it represents legacy: a resource to uplift others, a reminder that resilience is possible, and a testament to the fact that our voices and stories matter.

We all face challenges. Looking back, what have been some of the biggest challenges and obstacles you’ve had to navigate?

Overcoming challenges is practically our mission statement. One of my biggest challenges has been navigating spaces where I was often the only woman, or the only person of color, at the table. Early on, I felt pressure to prove myself and defend my seat. And these occurred on a consistent basis! Still, over time, I learned that my presence didn’t just need to be earned; it was needed. Another challenge has been embracing my neurodivergence. Living with dyslexia has meant I’ve had to find different ways to process, communicate, and lead. What once felt like a limitation has become one of my greatest strengths, shaping how I think creatively and build with resilience. These obstacles taught me not only perseverance but also the importance of creating space for others who might feel unseen.

What challenges have you faced in the workplace, especially in your experience in male-dominated environments?

I came up in advertising and tech, industries that were overwhelmingly male and overwhelmingly white. I’ll never forget one moment that still sits with me. My executive decided to take my mostly male team out to a Chicago Cubs baseball game. He invited everyone,  even people who reported directly to me, but somehow I wasn’t included.

While at that game, he handed out new client assignments. Because I wasn’t there, I ended up with the account no one else wanted from a client known for being “difficult” and high-maintenance. At the time, it felt like such a sting, like being overlooked and dismissed twice in the same moment.

But that “difficult” client and I built something real. We developed trust, we tripled the business, and even after I left, that client stayed with the agency because of the relationship we had built. What began as exclusion turned into a testament of resilience and proof that I didn’t need to be in their club to succeed.

Can you share some of the most important lessons you’ve learned from your successes and failures in business?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the power of faith. As a woman, faith grounds me. It’s what keeps me steady when the path ahead seems unclear. Success taught me that when you stay anchored in your “why,” the right people and opportunities will align with you. There’s no need to be afraid of failing because it reminded me to be humble. What may seem like a setback is often God’s way of redirecting me. And through it all, I’ve learned the importance of staying true to who I am. The times I leaned on my faith and trusted my own voice, doors opened in ways I never could have planned on my own.

What initiatives or actions do you believe are crucial for fostering a more supportive and inclusive business environment for women?

Fostering inclusion for women requires three things: access, advocacy, and accountability. Access means equitable pay, promotion pathways, and leadership opportunities. Advocacy ensures women’s voices are championed through mentorship, sponsorship, and leaders who model inclusion. Accountability means setting measurable goals and holding companies to their commitments, whether around equity, flexibility, or culture. When these three come together, inclusion becomes more than a statement; it becomes practice.

Which female leader do you admire, and why?

There’s always something to admire in women who find the strength and resolve to take charge. I admire every woman who has paved the way for me to be where I am today. The women who fought for my rights, who broke barriers, and who created opportunities that didn’t exist before. From historical trailblazers to everyday women who challenged systems in their own quiet but powerful ways, I carry their courage with me. Their sacrifices and resilience inspire me to keep opening doors for the next generation.

Do you have a favorite quote or motto that inspires you?

Whenever I feel disheartened – by anything – I find myself often going back to what Toni Morrison once said: “You are your best thing.” This reminds me that I don’t have to strive to be something else to be worthy. Who I am—my gifts, my faith, my story—is enough. It’s a grounding reminder that authenticity is the most powerful thing I can bring into any space.

How can our community follow you online?

You can check out our website CastleBellInc.com, and I’m on LinkedIn Lois Castillo

Unbreakable by Lois Castillo

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