Her Story
About Lauren
Lauren LaShae Owens is a performance marketing and growth strategy leader with more than a decade of experience driving measurable outcomes across agency and enterprise environments. She currently serves as Head of Activation at Aletheia Marketing & Media, where she leads end-to-end activation strategy across paid media, lifecycle marketing, SEO, and conversion optimization. In this role, she is responsible for translating business objectives into scalable execution, guiding cross-channel media strategy, and ensuring campaigns are aligned to clear performance and revenue goals. She partners closely with cross-functional teams to bring structure, clarity, and consistency to complex marketing ecosystems while maintaining a strong focus on outcomes.
Her path into marketing began in an unconventional way. While working as a bartender and studying art, she met the CEO of Standing Dog (later acquired by Wpromote) who recognized her communication skills and offered her an opportunity in digital marketing. With no formal background in the field, she started as an intern and built her expertise from the ground up through curiosity, mentorship, and self-directed learning in SEO, paid media, and digital strategy. That experience shaped a career defined by persistence, adaptability, and a commitment to mastering an industry that is constantly evolving. Over time, she progressed through increasingly senior roles, growing from associate director into executive leadership in just a few years through consistent performance and impact.
Lauren is known for combining hands-on execution with strategic leadership, often working directly in platforms while also leading teams responsible for large-scale media investment and activation. She oversees digital media subject matter experts across buying disciplines and ensures campaign execution is tightly connected to business objectives and client outcomes. She has earned multiple certifications in digital marketing and leadership, reflecting her ongoing commitment to professional development in a field where continuous learning is essential. Her leadership style is rooted in accountability, clarity, and resilience, and she is passionate about building high-performing teams and scalable systems that deliver sustainable growth and meaningful results.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lauren
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the people around me who helped push me past my own limitations. I would have never seen this version of me when I decided to leave home at a young age and be homeless. I was very hard-headed and headstrong, and I believed that I could do it on my own until life kicked me in the face. That's when I realized there are people that help you along the path, and being okay with accepting that help doesn't make you weak - it actually is a strength. I would have never imagined reaching where I am today without the support of those who believed in me and helped me see possibilities beyond my own limitations.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is: Don't let a title stop you. This advice has been instrumental in my journey from intern to Head of Marketing, reminding me that my potential isn't limited by my current position or the labels others might place on me. It's about believing in what you can become and not allowing external limitations to define your trajectory.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the marketing field is: Don't be scared to ask, and feel like you deserve a seat at the table. I know firsthand that there are not a lot of women CMOs, and there are definitely not a lot of women of color in the CMO seat. Rising into the seat at the larger table is definitely a challenge, and the way that you position yourself to do it tactfully and in the right way as a woman matters. We don't have the same luxuries to just say what we want - we can come across as aggressive. But that doesn't mean that you should make yourself small and take a lesser seat at the table because you're a woman. There's a way to do it tactfully and still get to where you want to be without letting the confines of your gender define that for you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
From my perspective, one of the biggest challenges in marketing right now is the lack of women in CMO positions, and especially the scarcity of women of color in the CMO seat. Rising into the seat at the larger table is definitely a challenge. The way that you position yourself to do it tactfully and in the right way as a woman is critical because we don't have the same luxuries to just say what we want - we can come across as aggressive. But that doesn't mean women should make themselves small and take a lesser seat at the table. There's a way to do it tactfully and still get to where you want to be without letting the confines of your gender define that for you. Creating more pathways for women, particularly women of color, to reach executive leadership represents both a significant challenge and an important opportunity for the industry.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are transparency, honesty, loyalty, and agility. These principles guide how I lead my teams, communicate with clients, build relationships, and navigate the challenges that come my way. Agility has been particularly crucial throughout my career, allowing me to adapt to change, overcome obstacles, and continue growing in an industry that is forever evolving. Transparency and honesty build the trust that is essential for strong professional and personal relationships, while loyalty reflects my commitment to the people and organizations I work with.
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