Lauren Elizabeth Wright

I attribute my success to resilience and the belief that challenges can become catalysts for growth. Throughout my life, I’ve had moments that required courage, focus, and a willingness to keep moving forward even when the path wasn’t clear. Those experiences taught me how to rise to the moment rather than shrink from it.

Becoming a mother (and later navigating that responsibility on my own) deepened that strength in ways I never expected. It taught me how to lead with empathy, make grounded decisions under pressure, and stay centered on what truly matters. Those lessons didn’t define my career, but they sharpened the determination and perspective I bring to every role I step into.

Ultimately, my success has been shaped by a commitment to growth, a belief in possibility, and the conviction that even in hard seasons, we can build something meaningful.

The best career advice I’ve ever received was to lead with curiosity, not certainty. Early in my career, I felt a lot of pressure to have every answer, every detail, and every scenario prepared. A mentor once told me, “Certainty closes doors, curiosity opens them.”

That shifted everything for me.

Curiosity invites collaboration. It encourages you to listen more deeply, ask better questions, and see possibilities that certainty sometimes blinds you to. It keeps you humble enough to learn and confident enough to admit when you don’t know something yet. And it transforms complex situations into opportunities for discovery instead of obstacles.

When I started leading with curiosity, I became a better partner, a better strategist, and ultimately a better leader. It allowed me to guide teams through ambiguous, high-pressure environments with calmness and openness. It softened the fear of the unknown and replaced it with a mindset of exploration and growth.

To this day, that advice stays with me: you don’t have to know everything to lead well. You just have to stay willing to learn, stay present, and stay curious.

I would tell young women entering this industry to lead with understanding. Take the time to listen, learn, and genuinely appreciate the perspectives of the people around you. Strong relationships (and the trust that comes with them) are built through empathy and patience, not speed or perfection.

This industry moves quickly, and it can be tempting to jump straight into proving yourself. But your most significant strength will come from how well you connect with others, how thoughtfully you approach challenges, and how willing you are to understand the “why” behind the work. When you lead with curiosity and compassion, people open up, collaboration becomes easier, and opportunities naturally find their way to you.

Most importantly, remember that your voice belongs in every room you enter. Ask questions, take up space, and let your perspective shape the conversation. You don’t have to know everything on day one to make a meaningful impact. Lead with understanding, and the confidence will follow.

One of the biggest challenges, and equally one of the most significant opportunities, in my field is finding the confidence to be a strong voice in a predominantly male environment. Data, analytics, and transformation spaces are still often shaped by male perspectives, and it can be intimidating to take up space, speak with conviction, and assert your expertise.

But that challenge creates an incredible opportunity. Every time a woman steps forward with clarity and confidence, it shifts the dynamic. It opens the door a little wider for those who will come after her. It changes how decisions are made, how collaboration looks, and how leadership is defined.

For me, the opportunity lies in owning my voice, contributing thoughtfully, challenging assumptions, and approaching conversations with both strength and empathy. When women show up fully, it elevates the work and creates a more diverse, inclusive, and forward-thinking environment. And in a field that is evolving as quickly as data and analytics, those qualities are essential for innovation and long-term success.

The values that matter most to me, both professionally and personally, are compassion, empathy, and genuine connection. I’m naturally a people person, and I care deeply about creating environments where others feel seen, supported, and understood. In my work, that often means bridging the gap between technology and the people who rely on it, bringing tech to people and people to tech in a way that feels accessible and human-centered.

One of the guiding principles I live by is that clear is kind. Whether I’m leading a complex program or navigating a personal conversation, I believe clarity paired with empathy creates trust, reduces friction, and allows people to do their best work. When we communicate with openness and compassion, relationships strengthen, teams grow more confident, and challenges become easier to face.

At the heart of everything I do is a commitment to connection, seeing people for who they are, and supporting them in a way that helps them thrive.