Testimonials
I am been incredibly lucky to have worked with some of the most talented, creative, hilarious, smart, thoughtful people around. Here are some of their words about our work together.
Ash Huang:: artist/author/designer
Lauren is definitely a soul sister, and I knew this from the beginning when I was interviewing coaches. I love how she believes in the power of driven and rebellious (and slightly but pleasantly deranged) women*. You always made me feel understood and never ashamed of my more...charming qualities.
From our work together, I’m a lot more accepting of myself and I understand the danger of obligations. I understand that saying no when I don’t want something is actually a kindness, because it frees up both parties to seek what they really need. I do this now with people who want to ‘get coffee’ (and mostly they just go away) and with projects I don’t want to do, vs. before I would have been very afraid that that person would hate me forever. I also feel a lot less pressure to achieve for the sake of achieving. Through our time together I’ve discovered that authentically expressing myself is actually the way I’ll grow my platform, so doing what feels good (just doing the work) is actually all I need to do. Do the work, tell people about it, repeat, repeat. I’m very ‘not my circus, not my monkeys’ now. I don’t get so emotionally caught up in others’ problems and can evaluate them from afar and wish them the best. I’ve noticed a big change in relationships with people because of this and I’m less often drained by others’ drama. People have self-selected themselves out of my life because they can’t get a rise from me anymore. I spend a lot more time just enjoying my work and making things that make me laugh. I don’t think as much about what other people will like or accept and just do stuff (like publish my books).
Ash is one of the most creative, prolific people you will ever meet. she is an idea factory who actually follows through. wherever she goes, she has a trail of admirers demanding an audience and she fairly nicely shares her wisdom, even though she would honestly just rather be out in the middle of nowhere writing, with her pup. i want to buy everything she makes, not because she is my client, but because it is all so good.
You should run to tiffany davis for your content needs. She is a savvy strategist, a sharp writer, and a brilliant storyteller. She also brings people together like nobody's business.
Tiffany Davis::Co-Founder, Context & Co.
Working with Lauren repeatedly has taught me to listen to myself and honor my own inklings -- about transition, frustration, repression -- by not pushing them down, but meeting them with perspective and compassion. She coaches with purpose. And that purpose is to get you from frazzled Craycrayville to "I can deal with my shit and honor my values without becoming a heaping mess in the process."
Lauren helped me clarify the on-the-job identities that I wanted to project versus the ones that I was actually living. She gave me tools to find connections between the woman that I would respect most when I looked in the mirror (even if it wasn't the most accommodating, yes-to-everything, overachiever I have so much practice at) and the woman that leads with gratitude, kindness, and awareness that I also want to be 24/7.
Lauren engaged with me at a time that the nation was sliding off it's political axis. She saw that it was affecting me -- not just in the moment, but fundamentally and in relation to my goals for our work together, too. She was compassionate, communicative, and unwavering with her ability to champion our work together and leaving me with more tools than when I started.
Thomas Woo::Developer/Entrepreneur
I chose to work with Lauren because I was feeling stuck getting my business started, and was looking for someone to help get things going. Lauren came highly recommended from a friend, and I liked the style of her coaching I saw from her articles. Through our sessions, I've managed to get a handle on my procrastination, as well as understand how to work through mental creative road blocks.
One of the best things about working with Lauren is her style of coaching - sessions always feel very helpful and personal. She helped me achieve my specific goals rather than providing general knowledge, and was able to push me out of my comfort zone.
Working with Lauren was really helpful, she was able to get me past some of my work and personal road blocks. I was a bit worried when I started how much the coaching would be able to help, but it definitely exceeded expectations. I definitely would recommend Lauren as a coach to others, especially entrepreneurs who are having trouble getting started or keeping motivation going.
Clarisa Ramirez::Journalist/publicist/Founder of Small Coffee ATX
I worked with Lauren so that I could get a fresh perspective of what I needed to do to grow my two-year-old business. I was feeling stagnant and overwhelmed by all of the things I could be doing, and I literally had a stack of business books and bookmarked articles I promised I'd go through one day but never did. Lauren came over with all of her tools and experience to help me clarify both my messaging and objectives, and look at solutions to get me closer to where I want to be. Working with her, I was able to define all of those things that were on the tip of my tongue by focusing in on core elements of my business: how I was marketing myself, how I was making money, who I was working with, and the type of work I liked to do. I basically saved myself 6 months of time doing my own research and I now have a plan in place. Since working with her, I've slowly but surely increased the amount of money I'm taking in, and I'm making better decisions because I know how to express what I do more clearly. I no longer think about hanging up the towel every time I get discouraged because I have confidence in the way I do business.
Brenna Rae Eckerson-Pahlow:: Writer/Producer/director
"I was at a crossroads in my career, and needed a jolt straight to the heart of my creativity. Lauren was that JOLT! I had the unique opportunity to connect with her through a respected friend and former colleague, from the moment we first spoke—we truly connected. I felt as if Lauren heard exactly what I was struggling with, both out in the world and within myself. Her ability to sift through the noise and help me see what was most important has helped lead me to where I am today. My outlook on the path of my career has changed each day I grab those bootstraps and pull ‘em up—which is everyday. Putting Lauren’s approach of ‘structured freedom’ into practice, has been the backbone for my freelancing and consulting success in the past two years. She’s a change-agent and if you are looking for change, I mean c’mon, who isn’t?! I guarantee Lauren will become both a creative ally and honest friend during the most fruitful self-discovery journey of your professional life."
by the time you finish this sentence, Brenna will have made more connections between people, ideas, and projects than you can conceive of. You definitely want her on your project.
Krista is a feminist mensa member who charms people the world over with her wit, compassion, capability, and charisma. she tackles difficult subjects with a gleam in her eye and a spring in her step.
Krista suh::
artist/author/screenwriter/founder of the pussyhat project
When I think of the way I was in my early 20s, in college especially, I am amazed by how far I've come. I don't think at that age I could truly CONCEIVE how amazing my life would be now: I am a writer, and I'm audacious about it - when I have an idea, I don't doubt that it can happen or whether I deserve to write it, in stead I am PSYCHED and excited about the idea and have faith in myself and my network to see it through. And Iam so SEXY now in a way that was feeling unattainable 7+ years ago... I have a clarity of mind, I am a much better friend to myself, I have really awesome super successful friends, I've had so many dreams come true... I have MEN in my life who adore me. It's freaking fabulous!
Alysha Naples:: Speaker/designer/consultant/
I had seen a career coach before, and while it had been a useful interaction, I never felt as though that coach was interested in addressing me as a whole person. So it had been about a decade since I'd had coaching, but it had always been in the back of my mind as being something I should explore again. So, when I found Lauren's website and read about her philosophy and approach, I decided I had nothing to lose by trying a sample session. And once I had spoken with Lauren, I knew she was the right coach for me.
It would be much easier to go into what hasn't changed for me since working with Lauren. Every aspect of my life — personal, professional, emotional, physical, intellectual — has improved since we started working together. I am a better mentor, a better friend, a better partner, and a better person than I was before.
Lauren is kind and compassionate, but she's also unafraid to call me on my own bullshit, of which there is plenty. While I have never questioned that she's on my side, I really appreciate her candor and openness.
The experience has been utterly transformative. I am happier in my forties than I even thought possible.
Alysha is a designer with a focus on how we can design our physical and virtual worlds to foster more connection, not less. She works with a-level people: artists, designers, writers. she is wicked smart and has amazing taste. Seriously, I want all of her clothes but am not tall enough to pull them off.
Jenny Jimenez:: Photographer
Lauren came recommended by someone I admired, and I felt an immediate connection to her when we spoke during our initial consult. It just felt right. Lauren's candor, humor and ability to get at the heart of what's happening, no bullshit, was just what I needed to help me see the big picture and steer my brain in the right direction. Since working with Lauren, I've learned a lot about setting boundaries and have been given a clearer perspective on where I stand in my career and in life. I went in thinking I wanted to remove a segment of photo work from what I did, and ended up finding that my original draw to that work had meaning that didn't exist in the area of work I was trying to move towards. As a result, I've decided to fulfill that need in another way, one that will hopefully feed me creatively and energetically. Lauren is insightful, brilliant, easy to talk to--and you need to hire you immediately.
Grace Seol:: Writer/Artist/Hypnotist
Lauren has a track record of igniting huge changes in my life. I talk to her whenever I need a spring clean for my brain and a major re-alignment with my creative genius. She is the clear-seeing, truth-telling, oppression-smashing leader we need, and having her on my side feels like rocket fuel for my dreams.
I started working with Lauren at a time when I had long given up on my creative dreams. After going through some tough challenges in life, I had been crippled with self-doubt, anxiety and fears about every aspect of my everyday life, let alone feel comfortable enough to even contemplate chasing after a dream which felt, at that point, like a laughable fantasy. When I entered into our coaching sessions, I thought the time would be worth it if I could walk away with less pain and confusion about everything. Little did I know that, in the next six weeks, I would move to a different continent, dramatically re-configure my self-image and witness the first unfoldings of my dream through a series of truly improbable, magical events. I've learned how to interact with myself as I never have before, and I speak as someone who studies and works with self-awareness for a living. The intensity of joy and open-heartedness and possibility I have access to now blows me away on a daily basis.
grace is a goddamn genius and a goddess. she has a voracious appetite for food, knowledge, insight, music, and love. if you are lucky she will travel with you.
I was in the midst of transitioning out of a job that I "less than loved", and thought that it was time to learn the tools to finding what I wanted, instead of taking the first offer that came along. On paper, things looked pretty good, but appearances weren't enough to make me feel fulfilled in my work. I'd never worked with a coach before, and felt a bit indulgent to pay for someone to focus solely on me! But, since I was getting the same results when I approached things on my own, I was totally game to try something new.
Working with Lauren was a great way to ask myself the tough questions that often get overlooked in the frenzy of transitions. I'm one to power through, and our sessions were a great way to give myself the time and mental space to approach what I wanted with a clear head, and fresh perspective. I love that my mission statement allowed me to get out of tunnel vision mode, and lead to a completely different position than I expected. Once I got out of my own way, and head, I found what I was looking for. It's pretty exciting when your vision comes to fruition.
I loved that the process felt tailored to me. Each session felt like a progression that helped me build a strategy that worked for my specific goals. There was no right or wrong, it was all about finding my best fit. I still use the tactics that I learned during our sessions now - I came in with the end goal of finding a great gig, but walked away with tips that I can apply to just about everything.
Colleen Trentham:: Creative Strategist/Improvisor/Warrior
Lauren does more than just listen and empathize- she offers actionable, forward-moving solutions that go beyond traditional therapy. She seamlessly moves between topics like career advice, interpersonal relationships, physical health, and emotional wellbeing. Whatever is top of mind when we talk, Lauren is able to make sense of the nonsensical and turn what feels huge and unmanageable into something approachable. I can think there is no way I can handle a certain issue, and talking to Lauren helps put steps and action items towards the seemingly impossible. I leave talks with Lauren feeling more centered, more capable of handling the world around me, and more determined to take action towards making a better life for myself.
Lauren is direct and approachable. I have never felt judged or misunderstood when communicating with Lauren. She is friendly, funny, and understanding. I appreciate her sense of humor towards all the lemons life can throw our way. It also feels like there is no issue or problem that Lauren doesn't have helpful advice for. On a personal level, I tend to be skeptical of "therapy" or new age-y "solutions" to things. My mind has a natural tendency to be critical, especially critical of things that appear to help or be "too easy." I appreciate that Lauren understands this about me and offers perspective and advice that my critical brain can accept. She uses research, well-documented examples, and behavioral science to coach me in a way that just makes sense.
