Lauren Eastman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Lauren, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What battle are you avoiding?
I am avoiding the battle of questioning myself. A recent example: I’ve been on the verge of completing my memoir for some time now, and have been writing it for literal decades. I have come to the realization that writing into my future is becoming much more important than rectifying my past. Therefore, I am taking this opportunity to revisit the outline and continue writing into what feels relevant to me now, and not worry about the finished product just yet.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a storyteller, strategist, and founder of Atelier Attaché, a Charleston-based communications and brand architecture studio built on one simple belief: your story comes first. With over two decades leading communications and brand strategy across hospitality, lifestyle, luxury, and tech, I’ve shaped the narratives of global icons and local originals alike: from Michelin-starred restaurants to emerging purpose-driven founders. My approach is rooted in clarity, authenticity, and editorial precision, helping leaders and brands uncover the essence of who they are and communicate it with impact.
My career began at the intersection of storytelling and service, with my first job involving passing international legislation, and moved into managing crisis communications for the War on Terrorism. That early foundation of creating impactful messages evolved into a career dedicated to building brands that not only look beautiful but feel true. Through Atelier Attaché, I’ve merged my strategic communications with narrative design, offering services that range from executive thought leadership and brand narrative systems to media coaching and ghostwriting. Every engagement is a collaboration, guided by curiosity and anchored in culture.
Currently, I am expanding my work as an author and ghostwriter, co-creating several leadership books that lead with heart, passion, and resilience. Alongside my creative clients, I’m building an ecosystem where storytelling meets strategy. My goal is to help individuals and organizations communicate with purpose, build culture through clarity, and create lasting legacies for future leaders to pursue.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My most defining story isn’t professional. It’s personal.
My relationship with my son has reshaped how I see myself. Not as someone balancing two worlds, but as someone building one honest, intentional life. Motherhood has taught me the rhythm of resilience, the beauty of imperfection, and the power of humor in the midst of uncertainty. Co-writing children’s books together with my son reminds me that storytelling, at its best, is an act of love and a way to see the world through the lens of wonder. It brings me great joy to observe my child in the process of becoming himself, and aware that the stories we create in our minds are far more powerful than we imagine. We have the power to choose the next chapter.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Success taught me how to move forward. Suffering taught me how to be still.
Success showed me the rewards of effort, whether in applause, a title, or a moment long-awaited, arrives. Suffering left me with the raw, unedited version of myself, who had to decide whether I was still worthy without the validation. In that quiet space, I found the kind of strength that doesn’t need to prove itself.
Suffering also taught me empathy and the ability to hold space for others. It taught me humility. Not every season is about growth or winning; sometimes it’s about staying put while putting one foot in front of the other, even when you don’t know where the path will lead. It also taught me to discern that not all doors are meant to open, and not every “yes” is progress.
But maybe most of all, it taught me presence. When everything felt uncertain, what remained was the choice to stay open, to keep showing up, to find beauty in the cracks. Success builds your confidence, yet suffering builds your character. One teaches you how to win. The other teaches you why it matters. Resilience is the repeatable skill that is developed by overcoming hardships in suffering. Never be afraid to walk (or run) away from the things that do not serve you. Just keep working toward the best future version of yourself. When you find yourself second-guessing your decisions, find the next right thing that you can do to move forward.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that if I worked hard enough, cared deeply enough, or perfected every detail, things would fall into place, as if effort guaranteed outcome. That belief drove me for years. It’s what built my business, opened doors, and earned respect. But it also left me exhausted, chasing proof of worth in each success and looking for the next.
As I’ve grown through life’s challenges, I’ve learned that life doesn’t always reward intensity. It rewards alignment. You can’t force timing, chemistry, or peace. Sometimes, the harder you grip, the faster something slips through your fingers. The goal isn’t to be in control; it is to trust.
I’ve stopped believing that resilience means powering through. Real resilience is the grace to pause, recalibrate, and allow things to break. It’s knowing that strength and flexibility go hand in hand and that balance is a practice.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
At the center of everything I do — as a storyteller, strategist, and mother — is presence. True communication begins not with speaking, but with listening. It’s in the pause between ideas, the moment before the message, where truth lives.
I believe that excellence is not a performance but a practice built through consistency, curiosity, and care. The world often equates success with speed, but I’ve learned that the most powerful brands and the most authentic leaders are born from moments of stillness and introspection. Taking the time to truly listen and understand before deciding what to say.
Atelier Attaché was built on that belief. I help people and companies articulate who they are at their core. Not just through messaging, but through meaning. Every narrative begins with intention and unfolds with integrity. My work isn’t about amplification for its own sake; it’s about alignment. When your story is true, your voice carries farther.
Ultimately, storytelling is an act of connection. It is the bridge between what you know and what someone else feels. My role is to help you cross that bridge with clarity, compassion, and conviction. Because when your story comes first, everything else, whether visibility, growth, culture, or legacy, naturally follows.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.atelierattache.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laureneastman/
Image Credits
Aly Greer, Wild Cotton Photography
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