How'd Her Career Get There?

In this episode, Lauren sits down with Erika Chavarria. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Erika grew up believing that if one person suffers, we all suffer. Erika returned to teach Spanish at her alma mater, Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, MD. When COVID hit, Erika and her colleagues saw the urgent need for hunger relief among their students' families. They set up tables and began collecting donations for grocery distribution. That act of care grew into Columbia Community Care, a nonprofit food bank that also delivers free groceries across Howard County, no proof of need required. This is a conversation about organizations of, by, and for the community, building trust, and addressing the root causes of hunger, injustice, and inequity.

In this episode, Lauren sits down with Tracy Imm. Tracy has built her career on bravery — choosing bold action over comfort at every turn. She quit her job the moment she landed her first coaching contract, betting on herself as one of the only women in rooms full of executives. She learned to charge what she's worth, push through imposter syndrome, and invest in herself. Today she's Founder & CEO of Tracy Imm Worldwide and a VP at Global Financial Firm, and author of The Brave Girl's Guide to Work That You Love. This is a conversation about ditching the victim mindset, treating rejection as protection, and taking your power back.LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyimm/https://tinyurl.com/TracyImmhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brave-girls-with-tracy-imm/id1421334693https://tracyimm.com

Some people learn leadership in business school. Katie Turner came by it naturally, the one who took charge of group projects and rooms that needed someone at the helm. That drive carried her through nearly two decades of leading marketing teams across nonprofits, healthcare, and higher education, including work with the American Red Cross and Howard Community College, before asking herself what it would look like to build something of her own. In 2023, Katie left her VP-level corporate career to launch Kate Turner Marketing, a consultancy helping founder-led businesses close the gap between how they describe what they do and what actually makes their best clients hire them, something most business owners have a hard time answering. This is a conversation about knowing who you are, trusting what you're naturally good at, and having the guts to bet on it.

https://kateturnermarketing.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateturnermarketing/

Lauren interviews Heather Bacher, Senior Vice President and Team Leader at Queenstown Bank, whose career is built on connection, trust, and a people-first approach to leadership. What started as a natural ability to build relationships and help others navigate challenges evolved into a career centered on communication, collaboration, and creating meaningful impact. A clear through line in Heather’s story is her assertiveness, her willingness to ask for what she deserves, and her ability to put herself out there in pursuit of new opportunities. As a natural leader, she has remained deeply curious about what drives people, using that insight to help individuals leverage their strengths and create stronger, more effective teams. This conversation is full of practical gems on networking, building authentic relationships, confidence, leadership, and the power of advocating for yourself while continuing to grow alongside others.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherbacher/

https://www.queenstownbank.com

https://www.facebook.com/heather.bacher1129

Lauren sits down with Erin Lamb, a speech-language pathologist and the President and CEO of the nonprofit Gateway MD, whose career spans healthcare, education, and complex systems. Known for helping families and professionals make sense of environments that often feel overwhelming, Erin has built a reputation for bridging expertise with real-life experience. Her path, however, has been anything but linear. Shaped by both professional work and personal turning points, Erin reflects on how her understanding of success, leadership, and identity has evolved over time. With a deep sense of curiosity and a commitment to staying open-minded, she shares how she has learned to navigate her own anxiety, remain grounded in who she is, and create space for others to do the same. This is a thoughtful and honest conversation about growth, self-awareness, and what it means to keep learning as both a professional and a person.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-lamb44/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/gateway-maryland/

https://gatewaymaryland.org

https://www.facebook.com/gatewaymaryland/

https://www.instagram.com/gatewaymaryland/

https://gatewaymd.givevirtuous.org/Event/2026-ultimate-speakeasy

https://www.instagram.com/arentwelucky44?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Lauren speaks with Jacquie Cohen Roth, a leader in the cannabis industry whose journey is defined by resilience, curiosity, and drive. From an early pull toward entrepreneurship, Jacquie learned to lean on the strength and wisdom of the women who came before her, shaping her belief in education, growth, and pushing beyond her limits. Today, she is the founder and CEO of CannabizMD and The Tea Pad Foundation LTD, an educator, and a force in building more equitable pathways within the cannabis industry. Jacquie shares how she turned challenges into momentum, why she is passionate about creating access and opportunity, and what it really takes to keep moving forward when the path is anything but straightforward. Her story is both powerful and energizing, and one that will leave you thinking differently about resilience, leadership, and carving your own lane.

https://www.cannabizmd.com

https://cannabis.maryland.gov/Pages/home.aspx

https://teapad.co/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquiecohenroth/

In this episode, Lauren speaks with Amy Clark, leadership strategist, executive coach, and founder of Growth Minded Leadership Group. With a calm and grounding presence, Amy shares how her naturally reflective and growth-oriented mindset led her to build a business rooted in something she felt was missing from traditional leadership development. Rather than focusing only on skills, expertise, or performance metrics, Amy challenges leaders to shift their perspective. True growth, she explains, begins with deeper self-awareness and a clear understanding of how you want to impact others. It is not about repeating what you are already good at, but about asking better questions, redefining success, and aligning your leadership with intention. Drawing on lessons from her career, three decades of marriage, and the early loss of a parent, Amy offers thoughtful insights on resilience, purpose, and the kind of inner work that fuels meaningful leadership. This conversation is especially powerful for anyone at the beginning of their leadership journey or ready to grow in a more intentional way.

https://www.unseenleadership.com

https://www.growthmindedleadership.com

https://a.co/d/04ZWL6sT

In this episode, Lauren speaks with Jessica Quincosa, Esq., Executive Director of Community Legal Services in Prince George’s County. Driven by a commitment to service, Jessica has built a career focused on expanding access to justice for communities that are often underserved. Raised by Cuban immigrant parents in a close-knit community, Jessica’s passion for public service was shaped early on by the belief that education and opportunity can change lives. Inspired by seeing women in leadership, including a formative visit from then Florida State Attorney Janet Reno, she set her sights on pursuing a career in law. Recognized with the Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Hispanic Leadership Award and named one of the Daily Record’s Top 100 Women, Jessica shares her journey, values, and dedication to building stronger, more equitable communities through the law.

https://www.clspgc.org/

https://www.facebook.com/clspgc#

In this episode, Lauren talks with Brooke Lively, a serial entrepreneur, author, and longtime insider in the legal world who knows law firms from the inside out. Brooke shares a peek into her unique career path, from retail and finance to working in her family’s law firm and ultimately building companies that help attorneys grow smarter, calmer, and more profitable practices. With sharp insight, quick wit, and a refreshingly human approach to leadership, Brooke touches on how best to scale a business, what some professionals get wrong about growth, and how clarity can change everything. She also previews her upcoming book, Scaling Law, releasing in February 2026, available to order on Amazon!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/scalinglaw/

https://linkedin.com/in/brookelively/

https://brookelively.com/

Pre-order Brooke's new book here!

https://tinyurl.com/yx6xn2ub

In this episode, Lauren speaks with Kim McKay, Assistant Secretary of Programs for the Maryland Department of Disabilities, whose career has been shaped by both professional experience and personal purpose. Although she grew up around medicine, Kim knew early on that her path was not clinical. While working in healthcare administration, her son’s autism diagnosis became a turning point that led her to focus on improving systems of support for families navigating disability services. From leading nonprofit initiatives to developing innovative employment and education programs, Kim has dedicated her career to making complex systems more accessible and effective. Recognized as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 2025, Kim shares her deep knowledge, hard-earned insight, and commitment to building better pathways for individuals with disabilities and the families who support them.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-mckay-9242b994/

https://mdod.maryland.gov/Pages/Home.aspx

https://mcie.org