Her Story
About Laura
Laura Folker is the Vice President of Program Development at Consero, where she leads the company’s Customer Experience and Contact Center portfolio of events. She specializes in curating high-impact executive forums that bring together VP, director, and C-suite leaders to explore innovation, operational excellence, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Since joining Consero, Folker has advanced through multiple leadership roles, earning three promotions in under three years. Her ability to build trusted networks, curate meaningful conversations, and deliver exceptional experiences has helped transform Consero’s executive programs into highly engaged communities featuring Fortune 1000 organizations and leading industry innovators. Folker’s career began with a foundation in journalism, public relations, and communications, earning her degree from California State University, Long Beach. She gained experience across sales, media, public relations, hospitality, and event production, including roles with Where Magazine, a PR agency, and the Digital Health Summit at CES. These experiences shaped her passion for connecting people and creating platforms where industry leaders can share ideas and drive change. During a career break focused on raising her family, Folker later returned to the workforce with renewed purpose and quickly reestablished herself as a leader in the executive events space. Folker attributes her success to organization, hard work, and learning from her incredible colleagues. She believes that strong relationships, attention to detail, and understanding the needs of the audience are essential to creating meaningful experiences. Passionate about bringing people together, she continues to build communities where leaders can exchange knowledge, collaborate, and navigate the challenges shaping the future of customer experience and technology.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Laura
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to strong organization, consistent hard work, and my ability to leverage data strategically to drive better outcomes. By improving the way I collect, manage, and analyze data, I have been able to enhance efficiency, strengthen our reputation, and improve the overall quality of the programs I lead. My attention to detail, combined with my commitment to continuous improvement, allows me to create more meaningful experiences for executives and organizations.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to not be afraid to advocate for myself. I’ve struggled with that in the earlier stages of my career, but have grown to have confidence in the dedication and hard work I know I bring to any role I’m fulfilling. I am lucky to have had two influential mentors who helped shape my professional journey. A former manager at Consero recognized my leadership potential and encouraged me to continue developing my skills and embracing new opportunities, along with teaching me everything she knows. She truly took me under her wing, and as a result, changed the trajectory of my career and professional aspirations. My aunt has also been a constant source of inspiration, providing encouragement, wisdom, and unwavering support since college. Their guidance has reminded me of the importance of believing in myself, learning from others, and building meaningful relationships along the way.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to believe in yourself! Be persistent, work hard, and keep your eyes focused on your goals. Continue fighting for the opportunities you want. As women, and especially as working mothers, we often experience moments of imposter syndrome, but it is important to recognize your own abilities and trust that you are capable of accomplishing what you set out to do. Confidence, determination, and perseverance can help you overcome challenges and create the career path you envision.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is standing out in a saturated market. There are so many executive-level events covering similar content, and a big part of my role includes selling the value of Consero. I truly believe in our format and that we curate world-class events—while I confidently believe we have an edge over our competition, we have to constantly evolve our strategy and outreach to achieve our optimal end results. The industry is constantly changing, and it requires staying ahead of trends, understanding what leaders need, and creating experiences that provide real value. I see tremendous opportunity in bringing industry leaders together where they can exchange ideas, build meaningful relationships, and collaborate on solutions that drive innovation within their organizations. There’s nothing more rewarding than the conclusion of our forums, when we’re flooded with feedback that it’s the best event they’ve ever attended.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are faith, family, positivity, perseverance, and striving for continuous growth. My children and husband are my reason for everything, and my motivation for success in my career. Maintaining balance between my professional responsibilities and my role as a mother is incredibly important to me (and incredibly challenging!). As a mother of three young children, I cherish creating meaningful moments with them, but also want to serve as a positive example of determination, resilience, and commitment. I want my children to see that it is possible to pursue your goals while also prioritizing the people and relationships that matter most.
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