Meet Lauren Dike | Somatic Practitioner, Wellness Consultant, Facilitator & Speaker

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

Hi Lauren, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My journey to founding Harmonna Inclusive Wellbeing was very kismet—every step of my career has led me here.

I started in real estate finance and spent 12 years in corporate America, often as the only Black woman in the room. I experienced what’s known as attributional ambiguity—the stress of never knowing whether the way I was treated was due to my work performance, unconscious bias, or both. This triple consciousness was exhausting, and I even had physical reactions to predominantly white spaces that I couldn’t articulate at the time.

Then, in a moment of divine alignment, I was laid off on Juneteenth in 2020—a clear sign from the universe to follow my passion. This brought me to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, which I loved but quickly found just as draining—if not more—than corporate life. The urgency, hypocrisy, and emotional toll of the work, paired with the unspoken stress and burnout in these spaces, made me realize something critical: we weren’t practicing what we preached at the firms I was working at.

I saw firsthand that DEI efforts, culture change, and belonging initiatives fail when people are in a constant state of stress and dysregulation. Trauma was showing up in interpersonal relationships, decision-making, and the very way we engaged with one another. If our social engagement systems aren’t online and we don’t feel safe in our own bodies, DEI work becomes performative at best.

This realization led me to create Harmonna Inclusive Wellbeing, where I focus on nervous system health and regulation as the foundation for creating strong, sustainable workplaces. Because when we address stress, trauma, and regulation first, we don’t just talk about inclusion and equity—we actually embody it.

What should our readers know about your business?
Harmonna Inclusive Wellbeing is built on the belief that stress and trauma aren’t just personal experiences—they are shaped by identity, systems, and the environments we navigate. What sets me apart is my DEI lens—I deeply understand how race, gender, and systemic factors impact stress and burnout, and my work focuses on helping people build self-safety and healing in spite of those barriers.

I’m most proud of my focus on Black women. We are often expected to endure, push through, and hold everything together. In many of our communities, there’s a strong emphasis on prayer as the solution, and while faith is powerful, I also believe God gave us tools here on Earth—movement, breath, awareness—that support our longevity and well-being. Many of these tools are accessible, simple, and rooted in the body’s natural ability to heal.

Building Harmonna hasn’t been easy, but it’s been deeply fulfilling. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that networking and putting myself out there has been the biggest payoff. I gave away a lot of my work for free—not because I undervalued myself, but because I wanted to stay active in my craft, build trust, and learn from real experiences. Some say never do free work, but I see money as just one form of energetic exchange. Attention, feedback, relationships—those are valuable currencies too. And because I stayed busy, learning, and refining my practice, when the paid opportunities started coming in, I was able to receive them from an embodied place, not from scarcity.

One of the biggest lessons? Social media, websites, and sales funnels have their place, but when you’re starting out, they shouldn’t be your main focus. What actually moves the needle is talking to people, sharing your work, and making connections.

At the core of what I do, nervous system regulation is crucial for the sustainability of individuals, organizations, and businesses. When we are constantly activated in the absence of real danger, it drains our energy, affects our mental and physical health, and leads to ineffective decision-making. When we focus only on symptoms of dysregulation instead of the root cause, we waste time, energy, and money trying to fix surface-level problems instead of creating lasting change.

I want the world to know: Healing isn’t just about reducing stress—it’s about restoring our capacity to live, lead, and create with ease. And that starts in the body.

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.
If my best friend was visiting for a week, I’d make sure they got the full Atlanta experience—good food, movement, relaxation, and some unexpected gems. Here’s how we’d do it:

Saturday: Beltline Vibes & City Magic
Start the day walking the Beltline Eastside Trail, beginning at Krog Street Market and ending at Piedmont Park—soaking in the energy of the city, street vendors, and live performances.
Stop at Ponce City Market for some shopping and a bite at The Bite of Korea

Sunday: Spa & Slow Down
Full recovery mode at JeJu Korean Spa—because nothing says relaxation like a full day of saunas, cold plunges, and body scrubs.

Monday: Mind Over Matter & A Chill Zoo Day

[solidcore] at Madison Yards—the hardest workout I’ve ever done, and a test in mental strength as much as physical. (Bonus: I have an unlimited membership and know all the instructors.)
Post-workout coffee at Daily Dose Coffee before heading to Zoo Atlanta for a slow walk through Grant Park.
Dinner at Grant Park Market, one of my favorite neighborhood spots.

Tuesday: East Atlanta (EAV) Energy
Breakfast at Emerald City Bagels—bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel is the move.
Walk through Brownwood Park before exploring the EAV town center.
Bar hopping at Argosy, The EARL, and 529 Bar before ending the night with dinner at Banshee—one of the best in the city.

Wednesday: West Midtown Foodie Day
Breakfast burritos & coffee at The Daily, plus their homemade sourdough to go.
A peaceful walk around Westside Park—a must-see for first-timers.
Lunch at El Viñedo Local for South American flavors and a glass of wine.
Dinner at Antico, because Atlanta’s pizza scene is serious.

Thursday: Chill & Beltline Westside
People-watching with coffee from Portrait Coffee on the Westside Beltline Trail.
Lunch at El Progreso #14 (aka prison tacos—a hidden gem).
Dinner at Barcelona Wine Bar in Inman Park—perfect for wine lovers and tapas fans.

Friday: Music & Late-Night Dancing
A Sofar Sounds concert at a secret location—because live music is always better in an intimate space.
Ending the trip right at Johnny’s Hideaway in Buckhead—where the night always gets interesting.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to my Aunty Josie Campinha-Bacote.

Losing both of my parents in a seven-year span was one of the most shocking and disorienting experiences of my life—one I’m still navigating. When you lose the people who shaped you, your sense of self and family norms can feel completely uprooted. It’s easy to turn inward, not wanting to be a burden to others.

But my aunt stepped up as the matriarch of our family in the most beautiful way. She has been my rock, my advisor, and my biggest cheerleader. As an award-winning author, doctor, and researcher, her wisdom is unmatched, but more than that, she always lifts me up and reminds me of my power. When I’ve struggled with self-doubt or shame, she’s been the one to push me forward—always leaving me more excited, grounded, and ready after our conversations.

I’m endlessly grateful for her love and encouragement—she’s a force, and I wouldn’t be where I am without her.

Website: https://www.harmonna.org

Instagram: @harmonnawellbeing

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-d-0404/