Her Story
About Lauri
I'm the founder and owner of Waffle Chicks of Atlanta, a breakfast and brunch pop-up catering business that makes everything freshly on-site. Before this became my main focus, I spent over 15 years as an IT project manager, and I started Waffle Chicks as a side hustle during that time. When my IT contract ended last May, I was able to turn my full attention to growing the business. I've recently hired 3 full-time staff members and launched the Waffle Chicks Future Leaders program, where young people learn the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur and running a successful pop-up food business. Beyond Waffle Chicks, I also run a mobile notary business and train people every month to become Georgia State notaries and public notaries. My main expertise is in building businesses and working with aspiring entrepreneurs, helping them grow based on my years of experience. A big part of what we do is Waffle Chicks Cares, where we partner with a different nonprofit in the Atlanta area each month to give back to the community. Our motto is spreading joy one waffle at a time, and we provide free dessert waffles to organizations like senior citizen centers, homeless youth shelters, and grief support groups. I also founded my own nonprofit called United Circle of Love, which provides grief support for people ages [AGE] to [AGE]. Everything I do is rooted in honoring my mother, who we lost 3 years ago, and chicken and waffles was one of our favorite dishes together.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lauri
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my great-grandfather and the family legacy of entrepreneurship. My mother would tell me stories about how my great-grandfather was an entrepreneur to the heart and sold ice, of all things. That entrepreneurial spirit has always been in me since I was a kid. Just knowing my family legacy of entrepreneurship and of just being very strong individuals, resilient, that's always resonated with me. Knowing that I stand on the shoulders of some very strong and hard family members, ancestors, is what drives me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to keep it to yourself. Don't share too much, too soon. I think it's important not to get everybody else's opinion before you're ready, and to protect your ideas and plans until the right time.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say surround yourself around like-minded people. It's very important to not be the smartest one in the room. It's very important to see how other people are owning the craft that you also are working on. Just being in a room with the right people is very important, and you need to guard your time carefully.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say funding has always been a challenge. I self-funded Waffle Chicks and I don't have any loans, which I'm proud of, but I don't think we should use our own money to fund a business. The biggest hurdle now is just making sure that I secure enough funding for working capital, scaling the business, and equipment. I'm looking to turn that around and get proper funding in place.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is extremely important to me. I need people to be who they say they are, and be comfortable in that. I'm also really big on psychological safety. I think everybody should feel comfortable performing their job. They should be seen, and they should be heard. That, to me, produces psychological safety, and when you create that environment, you get the best out of your employees.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Georgia
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.