Laura Hartley
Laura Hartley is an activist, coach, and the Founder of Public Love Enterprises, an online school empowering changemakers to get free, get power & figure out what’s theirs to do in this time.
She sees self-work and world-work as interconnected, and her programs & coaching is centred around helping changemakers dismantle capitalism and oppressive systems from the inside out. Their intention is to radically reimagine the world, and help co-create the conditions for social healing and collective thriving.
She hails from Sydney, Australia but currently lives in Toronto, Canada.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
The environment I grew up in had a huge influence over the work I do now. My mother ran one of the first life coach training schools in Australia, which inspired both my deep interest in our inner worlds, but also my love of business and entrepreneurship. I was 17 when I organised my first fundraiser for the WWF and took my first baby steps into activism & world work. Public Love Enterprises was born over a decade later when I decided to bridge the worlds of personal development & inner work, with activism, and explore what the inner work for system change might look like.
Tell us something about your initiative/business. What is it about and how is it helpful for people?
Through coaching & group programs, we empower changemakers to 1) Get free, dismantling capitalism & oppressive systems from the inside out. 2) Get power to make real change, and 3) Find what is theirs to do in this time.
In short, we help people help the world with less burnout, more impact & greater fulfilment.
While the global pandemic of COVID-19 is associated primarily with adversities, it has also brought about a true boom in startups, with successful entrepreneurship in many countries. The pandemic has impacted all of us in one way or another. Would you like to share your experience on a personal and professional level?
I was incredibly fortunate to be in Australia over the first two years of the pandemic, a country which was largely untouched – at least by the devastating toll of illness and death. With that in mind, the lockdowns I experienced provided a wonderful opportunity for me to pivot attention from direct activism to the birth of Public Love Enterprises. Starting an online school over this time was also incredibly beneficial, as the world switched on its zoom cameras and sought more digital connection. This time was difficult for most of the world, and I really had immense privilege in being in the space I was in.
What has been the response of the users/consumers towards your venture?
We’ve had students & clients in at least 8 countries, from Australia to South Africa, Portugal and the US. It’s been wonderful to connect with changemakers from so many different spheres, across the globe.
How has your life changed because of your initiative/venture?
I run a business that I’m passionate about, and that gets to have a deep impact in the world. Activism is a sacred vocation, and this business is part of my activism now.
Do you have anyone who is the biggest support system in your life? Please let us know.
My partner, Lucy. My life would not be the same without her, and the support she’s provided in our personal life over this time has been absolutely immense. Starting a business – particularly one aimed at impact – takes effort, and she’s been a sounding board, critical thinker, and all kinds of help throughout.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity? OR Share a motivational message for the audience/women who are reading this.
You cannot serve the world when you’re exhausted, burnt out or running low on energy. You cannot suffer enough to save someone else. The strongest tool you can learn if you want to be part of changing the world is recognising that change starts with you, and caring for the world also means caring for self. Your flourishing & that of the world’s are inseparable.
Website: https://www.laurahartley.com/