Lauren Schroth

I attribute my success to my ability to step back and see what isn’t working beneath the surface, and then make it clear enough for other people to understand and act on.

In one of my most defining roles, I worked with a multi-location, investment-backed healthcare organization with over 100 clinics and multiple brands. They were getting significant website traffic, but none of it was translating into measurable outcomes. The messaging was inconsistent, and the marketing efforts weren’t connected in a way that supported real growth.

Instead of focusing on increasing traffic alone, I focused on understanding why the existing growth wasn’t converting. By restructuring how content, local search visibility, and internal systems worked together, we increased local traffic by 45% and lead acquisition by over 30 percent. More importantly, we built a system that could scale across multiple brands, instead of continuing to fix things one page at a time.

That approach came from what I had already seen working directly with small business owners. Many had invested in marketing before, been burned, and didn’t fully understand what they had paid for or why it didn’t work. I realized early on that if people don’t have clarity, they can’t see value, and they can’t make good decisions.

Part of my background also shaped how I think about communication. My experience in modeling made me more aware of how easily perception can override substance. It reinforced the importance of making sure the message itself is strong enough to stand on its own, not just how it’s presented.

That perspective has carried through all of my work. Whether I’m working with a large organization or a small business, I focus on connecting the pieces, simplifying complexity, and making sure people actually understand what’s driving results so they can make informed decisions moving forward.

You can build a meaningful career and still be present in your life.

That wasn’t advice I was given directly. It’s something I had to learn over time.

For a long time, I thought everything had to be a trade-off. But being a parent forced me to become more intentional with my time, my energy, and the kind of work I chose to take on.

Over time, I realized that when your priorities are clear, your decisions become clearer too. You don’t have to separate success from your personal life. You just have to build it in a way that actually supports both. It's not easy (at least it wasn't for me) to get to the point where that became clear.

Build relationships before you build a sales pitch.

Some of the biggest opportunities in my career didn’t come from applying online or trying to “sell” people. They came from showing up in my local community, joining in-person networking groups, meeting business owners face-to-face, and genuinely listening to the problems they were trying to solve.

If you care about people and take the time to understand what they actually need, opportunities naturally start to grow from those conversations. Most good solutions come after listening, not before.

Don’t wait until you feel fully established to start building your own voice, reputation, and presence. Marketing and communications are changing quickly, especially with AI reshaping the industry, so staying adaptable and willing to learn is important. But strong communication skills, real relationships, and the ability to build trust will always matter.

One thing I learned early on is that when you stop focusing so heavily on what solution you’re trying to sell, and instead focus on truly understanding the person in front of you, you become much more resourceful and effective at helping them. A genuine care for people and the ability to listen are still some of the most valuable things you can bring into this industry.

One of the biggest challenges right now is that everything is changing at the same time.

The way people search has changed. The way businesses market themselves has changed. The way companies hire has changed. And AI has accelerated all of it very quickly.

A lot of strategies and career paths that felt stable even a few years ago are being reevaluated in real time. In marketing specifically, there’s a huge shift happening between people who execute tactics and people who understand how the entire system connects. Businesses still need visibility and growth, but the tools, expectations, and workflows around that are evolving constantly.

Personally, I’ve also felt the challenge of navigating that transition into more senior-level work while the industry itself is shifting underneath everyone. Earlier in my career, I focused heavily on SEO because that was where the opportunities were at the time. But over the years, my work naturally expanded into strategy, systems, communication, and business alignment. Sometimes translating that broader experience beyond a specific title can be challenging in today’s hiring environment, especially as requirements continue to change.

At the same time, I think there’s also enormous opportunity right now. There have never been more ways for people to create, connect, build businesses, share ideas, or reach audiences directly. The challenge is no longer access. It’s clarity. When there are endless directions you could go, figuring out where to focus and what actually matters becomes the harder part.

For me, staying grounded through all of that has required resilience, adaptability, faith, and strong relationships. Raising two teenagers while navigating a rapidly changing industry has definitely shaped my perspective on success, priorities, and what kind of work is truly sustainable long term.

Being present is one of the most important values in both my work and personal life.

As a parent, I’ve had moments that forced me to step back and really look at how I was spending my time and what I was prioritizing. That shaped the way I approach my career. I didn’t want to build a career that pulled me away from my life, but one that actually supported it and allowed me to be there for the people closest to me.

My faith has also played a major role in grounding me. What started as a personal search for truth and a desire to understand God and the Bible for myself eventually became much bigger than that. I wanted to be able to teach my children with real conviction and understanding, not just repeat beliefs or ideas that I had never fully questioned myself.

At one point, I accepted a free Bible study with Jehovah’s Witnesses simply because I wanted answers. I wasn’t looking to be converted. I genuinely wanted to understand what the Bible actually teaches and whether the things I had learned growing up were true. Over time, through studying the Bible and asking a lot of questions, I came to realize many of the teachings that had confused me growing up were not actually based on Scripture. That journey eventually led me to become baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

That process completely changed the way I think about faith, purpose, and even the future. One scripture that deeply impacted me is Psalm 37:10-11, which says: *“Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more… But the meek will possess the earth, and they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”* That promise stood out to me because it describes a real and lasting change, not just temporary fixes followed by more problems.

More than anything, it gave me hope. Real hope. The kind that keeps you going when life gets difficult and reminds you that the world is not destined to stay the way it is now. As someone who naturally leans toward research, analysis, and understanding how systems work, it was transformative for me to learn that the Bible doesn’t just make promises. It explains how those changes will happen through God’s Kingdom, which Jesus described as a real government capable of restoring the earth and removing the effects of sin and suffering. Understanding not only *what* the Bible promises, but *how* those promises will be fulfilled, made my faith feel grounded in understanding rather than blind belief.

That mindset carries into my work as well. I value clarity, honesty, and helping people genuinely understand what’s going on instead of overwhelming them with complexity. Whether I’m working with a client or talking with someone in everyday life, I try to approach people the same way: listen first, understand where they’re coming from, and be fully present.

Outside of work, I spend a lot of time outdoors and staying active. I also volunteer on a local farm that supports people from a variety of backgrounds, including those going through difficult transitions. Being around the animals, the land, and people who are rebuilding parts of their lives has reinforced for me how important it is to slow down, connect, and focus on what actually matters.