We’re looking forward to introducing you to Laura Gowans. Check out our conversation below.
Laura, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Volunteering is always a huge source of joy! Since I ended my term as President of SocialHeart, I’ve had the opportunity to work with several of the other amazing nonprofits in Kansas City. It’s been incredible to learn more about their missions and do what I can to contribute.
I recently joined the board of directors for the Consumers Council of Missouri. For more than 40 years, CCM has advocated for a world where utility bills are affordable, banking opportunities are offered equitably, and healthcare services are available for all. Recently, we’ve also started helping offer medical debt relief. Did you know that some hospitals – including nonprofit hospitals – pursue medical debts as low as $100? If you’re in the St. Louis area, CCM is hosting its annual fundraiser on October 5th. I encourage everyone to learn more and support their amazing mission!
I’m also a member of the advisory board for Scraps KC. Scraps KC is a creative reuse center and teacher resource center in Kansas City. Most people know them as a place to buy amazing creative supplies at affordable prices – that would otherwise have gone into the dumpster! Scraps is also passionate about supporting teachers, and their Teacher Resource Center offers not only school supplies but also hygiene items and other necessities that many teachers pay for out of pocket. Scraps is having its first annual fundraiser on September 18th – if you’re in the KC area, don’t miss it!!
I care deeply about climate and our planet’s future, so I work closely with our local chapter of the Climate Changemakers. They hold “Hours of Action” where everyone takes actions to promote sustainable, climate-friendly policy. We contact our representatives, write letters to the editor, attend public hearings, and more! If you’re concerned about the future of our climate or you just want to promote more environmentally-friendly policies, find a local Hour of Action or host one of your own!
Last but hardly least, I’m proud to serve as the new Editor and Committee Chair of the eVoter for the KC chapter of the League of Women Voters. I knew the League has spent 100 years promoting voter education and voter registration. I didn’t know that they are a non-partisan group that has women and men as members! My fellow volunteers and committee chairs are some of the most passionate, dedicated, service-minded people I’ve had the pleasure to work with – and they always need more help!!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve spent my career helping nonprofits and startups turn big ideas into reality. Whether I’m leading operations in tech or helping nonprofits achieve their mission, I’ve always gravitated toward roles where I can play a significant part in helping incredible companies change the world. My superpowers are communication and execution. I love writing, public speaking, networking, and finding the signal in the noise. I’m also known for hitting my targets and meeting my goals – no matter how much I have to juggle!
I’ve already talked about my passion for volunteering, and I don’t think you’ll be surprised to learn I’m extroverted: I love meeting new people and learning new things. In the last year I’ve become a pescatarian, and I enjoy trying out new recipes. I also love travel, reading, working out, and wine!
If I had to sum up my “brand,” it’s this: I’m passionate about doing my part to make the world a better place. I am beyond grateful for those who came before me and fought to give me the freedoms I enjoy today, and I’m always inspired by the folks I meet who are doing that hard work now. I love creating systems that help people and organizations thrive, and I thrive myself when I’m part of something that blends purpose with impact.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was 18, I moved away from Lee’s Summit, MO for the first time to go to college in a suburb of Los Angeles. My freshman year, one of my favorite professors assigned me a book that changed my life: Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody. Anne is an extremely humble and funny writer, and she talks about her journey from growing up in rural Mississippi to becoming a member of the NAACP, participating in sit-ins and freedom rides. Eventually, she makes it onto the KKK’s kill list.
I had spent most of my life pretty oblivious to any issues that didn’t directly affect me – and since I came from a world of relative privilege, those issues were few. I was amazed by the courage and tenacity that people like Anne had shown in their fight for a better world. So many activists have dedicated their lives to advancing justice and equity; Anne herself became involved in the Civil Rights movement after the brutal murder of Emmett Till.
This book made me ask myself what the issues of my day were that I should be fighting for, and what I owed future generations. It also made me reexamine how much of my own life and privileges I owed to other activists, and it taught me humility and gratitude for all the progress we’ve made thus far.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
At some points in my life, I’ve been afraid to share when I am in pain or struggling. Sometimes it’s because I don’t want to feel like a burden: I know everyone has their own struggles. Other times, though, it’s been pride holding me back. I didn’t want to talk about my pain because I didn’t want anyone to know I was in pain.
Now, as I’ve gone through some of the hardest moments of my life in the past few years, I have been reaching out to my network of friends and family for support – and they have saved my life. I’m so grateful and lucky to have such an incredible support network, but I’m also glad that I opened up to them about my struggles. They have been my thought partners, my pep squad, my reality checks. They’ve held me up when I wasn’t sure I was going to make it.
If I hadn’t opened up, I couldn’t have received all this vital support and love. That’s been a powerful lesson for me: your life is only as good as the relationships you’ve forged, and by that measure I’m wealthy beyond belief.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
For the most part, yes! I try hard to be my authentic self in public, even in my leadership roles. However, one of the things that I’m working on is being able to share my own struggles and strains as a human without being unprofessional.
I learned from some incredible coworkers that acknowledging your life outside of work can be both necessary and powerful. We all face challenges in our personal lives that impact how we show up in the workplace: there’s no way around it! But as a leader, I thought it was inappropriate to share much about my personal life. Since I didn’t share much, my teammates often felt uncomfortable sharing with me. I thought that this was what professionalism demanded of me.
Now, I understand that my personal life was impacting my behavior in my workplace and volunteer roles anyway – my teammates saw the changes, but didn’t have the context to understand why I was acting a certain way. I was inspired by some of my colleagues at Leanlab who acknowledged when they were stressed, unwell, or distracted without divulging too many personal details. They shared just enough to let the rest of us know: OK, he needs a little more grace today.
This blew my mind! Now, I’m working on not being completely aloof or never speaking about my personal life in the workplace. It’s helped some of my colleagues open to me in work-appropriate ways, so we can show up for each other and maybe lend an extra hand when someone is struggling. I’m still learning, but acknowledging my private self in public has helped me be more authentic and a better leader.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What will you regret not doing?
Taking risks! At my core, I’m a risk-averse person. I often craft strategies to account for the worst-case scenario, since I’ve experienced them several times.
However, I know that sometimes this risk-averse mindset holds me back from achieving everything I’m capable of. So even though it can be uncomfortable, I’m taking more leaps of faith and trusting myself more.
Contact Info:
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauragowans/
