We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lauren Cunningham. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Lauren, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Two of my hobbies that always bring me joy are reading and needlepointing! I was a big reader as a child, but recently picked it back up in the past few years. It’s one of my favorite parts of my day! I started a book club with a few of my friends and that’s been so much fun. I also started a book club on my podcast this year and that’s been a great way to connect with people on my podcast in a different way than before!
I also love needlepointing — it’s such a good way to slow down my mind in the evenings!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Growing up, it was never a dream of mine to have my own business. However, I had always been very entrepreneurial. It wasn’t until I graduated college with a degree in accounting and got my first job that I realized I wanted to work for myself. I went back to school and got my MBA and then started my first business. I loved the idea of building a career that I loved. Now I am 5 years into my business — I offer social media and marketing services to other small businesses. It’s such a joy to be able to help other people in promoting their businesses.
A few years later, I started my podcast. The So Can I podcast is a podcast that explores entrepreneurship from the viewpoint of female founders. Each week, I interview a different female founder about how she started her business. My hope is that my listeners leave each episode thinking “If she can do it, So Can I.” We just celebrated our 3 year anniversary & I am very excited to see where year 4 takes us!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I graduated college in 2019, so I was about 10 months post-grad when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. My view of life after college was vastly different because of the pandemic. However, I also got to see all the good parts of humanity. I’ve interviewed over 160 women for my podcast and so many of them have a “covid” story that was the catalyst for the life they are living now. I’m no exception! For me, it’s the reason I started my business. I realized that I wanted to start a business that I had control over. I started my business in the fall of 2020 and it was such a great decision!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Over the past 5 years I have had a wide array of clients in different industries. Fitness apps, health and wellness companies, medspas, dermatology offices, IV hydration companies, etc. I had a very challenging client for about 3 years and it definitely tested me. I lost all confidence in my ability to help other businesses. Thankfully, I am not in that situation anymore and I have a renewed perspective on what I bring to the table and how I serve my clients — and the results have been incredible!
Deep down, I knew that client wasn’t the right fit, but I stayed because it was comfortable. I learned so much about myself and my business during that experience. Even though it wasn’t fun, it was so helpful in scaling, growing my business, and taking it to the next level!
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My podcast, The So Can I Podcast, is something that I’ve been committed to for the past 3.5 years, despite not directly monetizing it. I am very close to having the amount of downloads needed to start making some significant money, but 3.5 years is a LONG time to do something without being paid. With that being said, I am so glad I have stuck with it and I plan on seeing it through to the end. I love connecting with guests, listeners, and followers.
Consistency is something that very few people have these days, but it is the only way to get the things that you want!
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
This is such a good and powerful question, especially considering we just lost someone in our community this week who was only 43 years old. It was a terribly sad reminder that you never know how much time you have.
If I had 10 years left, I would stop worrying about the outcome and try to enjoy each day. It’s something that I am getting better at doing, but could still work on. I tend to stress when things don’t happen immediately, when I should just be enjoying the process!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://laurencunningham.co
- Instagram: @socanipodcast
Image Credits
McKenzie Thompson Photography
