Felise T Matlock Brown
Felise T Matlock Brown is a senior human resources executive, Founder of Sanctuary of Self, and organizational strategy leader with more than 25 years of experience in the HR industry. She holds a master’s degree in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has built a distinguished career partnering with executive leadership teams to scale organizations, shape culture, and lead enterprise transformation. Over the course of her career, she has held senior roles at globally recognized organizations including Google, Bank of America, NBCUniversal, CNBC, and Pepsi Bottling Group, where she advised C suite leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, leadership development, and large scale change management.
In August of last year, Felise experienced a significant professional transition when her role at Google was eliminated. Although she was presented with an opportunity to remain, she chose to view the moment as a turning point in her life and career. At the time, she had been managing persistent back pain while working under a medical accommodation from home and regularly receiving chiropractic care. She describes a profound shift occurring shortly after learning of the role change her physical discomfort eased in a way she experienced as deeply meaningful, prompting her to reflect on the connection between stress, the body, and overall well-being. She took time away from work to focus on her family, rest, and reflection, using the space to reassess her direction and priorities.
During this period, Felise invested in her own development by enrolling in a coaching certification program, beginning a PhD journey in holistic medicine, and engaging in a structured coaching relationship that she describes as transformative. These experiences deepened her belief in integrated well-being and reinforced her long-standing passion for helping people thrive in the environments where they spend most of their lives. This path led to the launch of Sanctuary of Self on April 3rd, a bespoke coaching experience designed for high-performing individuals primarily women, though open to all who are seeking to realign success with purpose, clarity, and internal harmony. Through her work, she helps clients move beyond achievement alone and toward a more grounded, whole-person approach to leadership and fulfillment.
• Certified Life Coach
• Classically Trained Chef from French Culinary Institute
• Holistic Health Coach from Institute of Integrative Nutrition
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - BA, Speech Communication
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Masters, Human Resources & Industrial Relations
• Englewood on the Palisades Charter School
• Community Baptist Church of Englewood
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Believe in yourself, trust in yourself, and do not allow fear to halt you. Literally, 1% change daily. Put one foot out there. I'm speaking from exactly what I have felt in this very interesting 9 months that I've been in. Literally, I have awakened and said, okay, Lord, what are we going to co-create today? And he'll just say, oh, go research this. And I'll sit at my desk, and I'll pull up the website, or I'll go to Google, and I'll research something, and then lo and behold, my full day is now consumed, because one thing has come up, and then another thing, and it just has led me to think, you know, growth. So, don't stop. Don't allow the fear of not knowing, the fear of not having a plan, the fear of it not being perfect, the fear of what somebody else will think. Don't allow that. Be centered and true within yourself. And take that one step. I know it from experience. Other steps will come. Your next step will reveal itself. And your next will reveal itself. Don't worry about 20 steps away, and don't worry about the future. Take the one divine, inspired step.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family is a primary value for me, outside of working. I spend a lot of spare time with my children - I have two small kids. I also believe in just my own time for centering. I enjoy walks, I enjoy grounding, I enjoy travel. It's just personal, staying grounded for myself, because if I'm not whole, then it's hard for me to be whole for my clients, or my children, or my husband. So, I pour a lot into them, but I also look to pour consciously and with intention, pour into myself. I love walking outside with no shoes on, and walking in the grass with no shoes on, and prayer, meditation, travel. A good nap is always good, and it hurts no one. I truly believe that we all have the sanctuary of ourselves inside of us. We don't have to look outside of ourselves to find everything that we need. I love humans, and I love helping people have the best opportunity that they can have in the environment that they spend most of their time.