Laura Robichaux is an ex-advertising executive who suffered from burnout for many years before deciding that “enough was enough” and pivoting to a career that would allow her to help women unbind themselves from lives that didn’t serve them. She lives in Atlanta, GA, USA, and loves long conversations with friends, the sound of moving water, yoga, being outside in nature, and her little dog Louie.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
My childhood was tough. My mother suffered from mental illness and my father lived in another state, so I did not see him often. I had one little sister that I cared for and loved deeply. In my teenage years, my grandmother stepped in to take care of me – but from a very early age I was left to fend for myself. This ended up serving me well in my schooling and eventually my career, as I did not expect help from anyone to accomplish my goals. This also allowed me to be very vocal about what I needed to succeed, and if it couldn’t be given by someone else, I figured out how to get things done without help. This is a double-edged sword though; I’ve also experienced some of my biggest failures by trying to avoid asking for help. It’s a delicate line to balance.
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business/initiative? What motivated you within to say YES, go for it!”
My idea is small and simple – help women bypass the years and years of suffering that I experienced by not knowing how to start unbinding myself from a life that I had not chosen for myself. There are so many simple ways to start to uncover what will make you happy and how to get there. Women simply don’t slow down long enough to think about themselves and what they need. I want to help women feel more empowered to choose and LIVE the life that will make them happy!
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?
Women are already running the world behind the scenes. However, we still have a tendency to step back and let others (particularly the men) shine. There is no gold medal for suffering in silence anymore. There is no reason to give your life to a role that doesn’t feel like it belongs to you. I would like to see more women take ownership of their stories. Break the mold of what “being a woman” in today’s modern world means. Use our voices!
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
The hard truth is that I still see so many talented, hard-working professional women simply lacking the confidence to ask for (or even demand!) what they deserve. In my professional career, I found that when I went into a room with proof of my efforts – my demands were always met. In some cases, exceeded. I once received a 40% pay increase within 24 hours, simply by getting up the nerve to ask for what I deserved. I want to see more women standing up and having hard conversations. I firmly believe that this is one of the last remaining reasons for the gap between us and our male counterparts.
What’s the most important thing you have learned in your personal life and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?
“You’re only given one little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” – Robin Williams. This quote sums up my life motto, which is – live your life! Be yourself, be wild, be impatient, be the change, be the voice, be everything you want to be. No dream is out of reach.
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
To all of the young women out there deciding what to do with their lives – just remember, you do NOT have to play any roles handed down to you by your family or society. You have permission to break every mold and live your life for yourself.
Your website link
bywayofgrey.com
