Meet Laurena White

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Laurena White a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Laurena, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Overcome? I’ve never been an imposter and therefore I have had nothing to overcome. I’ve worked consistently and diligently at my craft and have deserved to sit at EVERY table to which I have been invited (including the table I created). Imposter syndrome is an “experience of intellectual phoniness” among high-achieving women, who, “despite outstanding academic and professional accomplishments,” believe they are “not bright”. Not only am I bright, but I also work smartly… savvily.

As an ambitious woman and capable Black integrative reproductive medicine and women’s health provider, “imposter syndrome” never fit my narrative because it was never part of my story. Words matter. The subliminal message that “imposter syndrome” holds implies that I have internalized some degree of lack regarding my merit based on my inherent value and worth… That couldn’t be further from the truth.

It’s time we examine the systems that we’re in and the positions that we hold. The syndrome is not within me or us. It is the system that needs healing.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Simply put… I facilitate the healing of complex women’s health challenges. Together with our team, we do this work without unnecessary pharmaceutical drugs (including painkillers and synthetic hormones) and fruitlessly invasive surgical interventions.

The most exciting aspect of my work is the transformation. We get to bear witness to the caterpillars turning into butterflies. We get to tend the gardens that our clients don’t even know they have until they can tend them for themselves. I get to bring newborns into this world to mothers who were told they would never have children. I get to watch fibroids shrink, pain be relieved, and hormones become balanced using the gifts of nature, healing touch, and energetic womb attunement.

I’ve been blessed to be able to do the right work, WITH the right people, FOR the right people, in a time such as this when Black maternal health, reproductive rights, and reproductive rights are under attack.

And soon, these positive vibrations will expand to our new location in Arlington, VA… the new home of The Eudaimonia Center.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
In this journey, doing things that matter to me, dreaming wildly, and loving recklessly have been the three areas of my life that have framed my personal and professional career. These three skills have enabled me to live differently than my peers and colleagues while simultaneously undergirding my leadership style.

Early in my professional journey, I had these skills and they were underdeveloped. I wanted to be perfect on day 1. While recovering from perfectionism is an ongoing task even today, I have always believed in my knowledge, skills, abilities, and gifts (even on the days that it is challenging to do so). Developing this mindset was about affirming myself (even when nobody else would or did). Developing these beliefs about me and my overall being was about having grace for myself on the bad days while learning how to encourage myself and being my loudest, fiercest, cheerleader, coach, and friend.

Whether you have a religious practice or not, we all have a spirit which needs tending. Being attuned to your spiritual needs is an often-overlooked practice that requires way more attention. Start there. #nourishyourflourish

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
“In partnership,”…

This is how I sign off in every email, memo, and letter.

One of the best parts of my career is being able to do it in the company of wonderful people. During the pandemic, I started the Women’s Health, Wisdom, and… WINE! podcast to stay connected with dope people who were doing wonderful work in their respective spheres of influence.

So, I would love to be in partnership (or collaborate) with other folks who just “get it”. Folks who are excited about their work and the possibility/opportunity for synergy IN the work… Folks who are positive disruptors and are ready to take “it” to the next level… Folks who want to work collaboratively utilizing a womanist ethic of care… Folks who enjoy working in community FOR our communities… Folks who understand the importance of being “outside the box”… Folks who are aware that the system is not broken… it’s operating exactly how it was designed to work AND are ready, willing, and able to create a different system to benefit our people.

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention funders. I am always interested in people who are willing to partner with The Center as it continues to grow, develop, and scale to new heights.

Contact Info:

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