We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lauren Worden . Check out our conversation below.
Lauren , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity, hands down. Intelligence and energy are great, but without integrity, they can be misused. To me, integrity is about being the same person in private as you are in public—living with honesty, consistency, and a heart aligned with God’s truth. It’s the foundation that makes everything else matter.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Lauren Worden, founder and managing partner of Worden Aquatics. After surviving two near-drowning incidents as a child, I made it my life’s mission to teach others how to swim. That personal experience gave me a deep passion for water safety and swim instruction, and it’s something I bring to every lesson.
In 2014, I turned that passion into a business by founding Worden Aquatics, LLC. Since then, we’ve grown into one of Nashville’s top providers of aquatic programs, known for expert instruction, exceptional coaches, and outstanding customer service. We don’t just teach swimming—we create confident, safe swimmers for life. Right now, I’m especially excited about expanding our programs and creating even more opportunities for swimmers to feel supported and challenged in a fun, encouraging environment.
For me, teaching others to swim is not just a passion—it’s a purpose. Every lesson is an opportunity to empower swimmers with confidence, knowledge, and a love for the water. That’s what makes Worden Aquatics unique: we’re not just building skills, we’re building life-changing confidence, one stroke at a time.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I wasn’t capable of much. My 7th grade teacher, Ms. Hamilton, once told me I would never amount to anything because of my learning disability—and for a long time, I carried that with me. It shaped how I lived; I constantly felt the need to prove myself through outward things because deep down, I was still trying to prove that I had amounted to something.
But over time, God began reshaping that belief. When I started Worden Aquatics, I thought it would always just be me—teaching 10 hours a day, 5 days a week. I couldn’t imagine leading a team or building something bigger than myself. Yet the Lord had a different plan. Today, Worden Aquatics is more than I ever dreamed it could be, with incredible instructors who share the mission of creating confident, safe swimmers for life.
What I no longer believe is that my worth is defined by limitations others placed on me. My worth is in Christ, and His plan for my life is so much greater than anything I could have imagined for myself.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back the most in my life has been my speech impediment. Having a speech impediment means you’re always aware of how you sound—wondering if people will judge you, lose patience with you, or underestimate you because of how you speak. For me, that fear made me hesitant to put myself out there, to lead, or even to believe I could be the face of my own business.
Owning Worden Aquatics while having a speech impediment has been both humbling and empowering. There are days when I still struggle with self-consciousness, but I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about having perfect speech—it’s about having a clear vision, a strong purpose, and the courage to move forward despite imperfections. In fact, my speech has taught me to listen more carefully, to be more empathetic, and to value authenticity over polish.
It hasn’t always been easy, but I believe my speech impediment has made me a stronger leader. It reminds me that every obstacle can be turned into a tool for growth, and that people don’t follow you because you’re flawless—they follow you because you’re real.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes—the public version of me is the real me. Authenticity is really important to me. What you see is what you get. I don’t put on a polished version of myself for the sake of appearances; I try to live in a way where my words, actions, and values all line up. Of course, like anyone, I have struggles and imperfections, but I don’t believe in hiding them behind a mask. I think people connect most deeply when they can see the real you—your heart, your purpose, and even your flaws.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think my customers would miss more than just the swim lessons—they’d miss the personal connection and care that I bring to every interaction. At Worden Aquatics, it’s not just about teaching strokes; it’s about building confidence, fostering safety, and creating a welcoming environment where swimmers feel seen and supported. Families often tell me they appreciate how much I genuinely care about their kids, their progress, and their experience in the water. That sense of trust, encouragement, and heart is what I believe people would miss the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wordenaquatics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wordenaquatics/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-worden-62675664/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wordenaquatics
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/worden-aquatics-nashville
