Meet Laura Green | Growth Strategist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Green and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I didn’t set out to start my own business although in hindsight I maybe should have suspected it would happen. My parents are fairly business-minded and entrepreneurial but I always thought I wanted something very different (despite being a girl who collected business cards as a kid!). I started out pursuing a career in private education and then accidentally discovered how much I loved business development while working for that firm. It was energizing for me and I loved the strategic thinking I was able to bring to that work. I moved into similar roles across several different industries and sectors, paying close attention to which work I loved that other people didn’t. For several years I tossed around the idea of starting my own company. Based on my past successes and my interests, I knew that impact, strategy, and systems would be cornerstones to whatever work I pursued. After a handful of pivots, I had space to make the jump. It was a nerve racking leap but it’s been just over three years and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
There are strategists everywhere so that’s not very unique. There are really 2 things that set my work apart. First, I love working with founders. I have a fondness for founders and I really understand them. Founders often have their hearts in their business whether they mean to or not – we can’t help it. I really believe that when a founder is able to connect the work they’re most passionate about with the work they excel at, they’re leaning in to what the world needs from them. That’s why it’s so important to me to protect the vision of a founder; it’s precious to them and it’s something we need.

Secondly is the framework I use to support entrepreneurs through that process. Regardless of the size or industry of the business, I know that solid strategies and sound systems should protect the organization’s vision – not just accomplish “more” in a general sense. My work starts with getting meticulous about what the vision is and how that’s measured. That’s what we use to drive growth; it’s how we create more impact with less friction. We develop and deploy strategies that spur growth towards a carefully defined outcome and that make it more difficult to get off track.

It took a couple of years to fine tune this framework but after working with a couple hundred organizations it’s become clear that this is what propels my clients toward success. The framework reflects my own learnings, too. As I’ve gotten clear about what I love, leaned into my instincts, on focused on what I’m great at, the work has built momentum and become even more energizing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My free time is pretty family-focused so the itinerary would probably start with coloring with my kids and a tour of my garden. I would show off some of Atlanta’s great green spaces and visit some local restaurants like the Deer and the Dove. I’m a bit of a beer snob so I’d probably want to check out the Brickstore or the Monday Night Garage. One of my favorite things about Atlanta is that it offers something for everybody.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Plywood People is a nonprofit that supports a community of social impact leaders. I became involved with them through a group coaching experience a few years before I started my own business. In fact, it was during one of those coaching sessions that I first realized how much other people needed and wanted someone to do the work I loved and excelled at. Since that time, Plywood People, and their co-working space Plywood Place, has been my entrepreneurial home – connecting me to collaborators, clients, and mentors. It’s where I show up authentically as a human and a strategist and because of that I’ve connected to some of my favorite people there.

Website: https://impact-vector.com

Instagram: https://impact.vector

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/