Meet April Lauren

We were lucky to catch up with April Lauren recently and have shared our conversation below.

April, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

My confidence and self-esteem developed through a steady progression of real-world experience, responsibility, and leadership over the past 25 years has been what has aided me in my own business. I began my career in the restaurant industry as a teenager, which played a critical role in helping me overcome shyness and assertiveness. Working directly with customers in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment taught me communication skills, adaptability, and confidence in engaging with others. Participating in a variety of varsity level sports as well taught me leadership skill, confidence and a sense of pride in myself and my teammate.

These skills became foundational when I transitioned into teaching college-level outdoor education courses, including kayaking, backpacking, and rock climbing. In these roles, confidence was not optional—it was essential. I learned to assess environments, manage risk, and ensure the safety of others while maintaining calm, clear leadership. Teaching in dynamic outdoor settings strengthened my situational awareness, decision-making abilities, and responsibility for group well-being.

As my confidence grew, so did my leadership skills. Understanding that others relied on my judgment reinforced accountability and self-trust. These qualities translated naturally when I began my own business ventures in the art world. I started with interior painting and costume art, which evolved into my work as a dermagraphic illustrator and eventually as a health and wellness studio owner.

Each phase of my career built upon the last, reinforcing competence, self-esteem, and confidence through hands-on experience. Leading others, ensuring safety, and building a business required self-awareness, adaptability, and trust in my abilities—skills that continue to guide my professional growth today.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

What I do is centered around empowerment, healing, and creative expression. I am the owner of a health and wellness studio designed to support emerging entrepreneurs as they build confidence, grow their clientele, and establish sustainable practices. Creating a space where people feel supported—both personally and professionally—is a core part of my mission.

Alongside this, I collaborate one-on-one with clients through dermagraphic tattoo art. This work is especially meaningful to me because it goes far beyond aesthetics. I create custom, intentional artwork to help individuals reclaim their bodies and sense of self—whether that means covering scars from breast cancer, surgery, or self-harm, or creating expressive pieces that mark growth, survival, and identity. Each piece is deeply personal, and the trust clients place in me is something I hold with great care.

What I find most exciting and special about my work is the intersection of art, healing, and empowerment. Whether I’m mentoring entrepreneurs or creating scar-covering or expressive art, the goal is the same: helping people feel seen, confident, and whole. My brand is rooted in compassion, collaboration, and respect for each individual’s story.

Currently, I am continuing to expand this dual focus—growing the wellness studio as a supportive hub for entrepreneurs while deepening my dermagraphic art practice through more client collaborations and custom work. Both sides of the business inform and strengthen each other, allowing me to create meaningful impact through creativity, leadership, and care.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, these three qualities have been the most impactful in my journey: intentional goal-setting, self-valuation, and integrity.

First, setting clear goals with full intention has been essential. I’ve always worked with both short-term and long-term goals in mind, creating achievable steps that build momentum while keeping sight of larger, aspirational outcomes. This approach provides direction without overwhelm and allows growth to feel sustainable rather than rushed.

Second, understanding my value and being clear about how I want others to value my work has shaped every stage of my career. That clarity influences pricing, boundaries, communication, and confidence. It also helps attract the right clients and collaborators. Not every person needs to be your client and recognizing that early can prevent burnout and misalignment.

Third, setting strong ethics and standards has guided my decision-making. Holding myself and others to those standards builds trust, consistency, and respect over time. Knowing when to say no is just as important as knowing when to say yes, especially in work that involves care, creativity, and vulnerability.

For those early in their journey, my advice is to start by defining your values and goals before chasing growth. Set realistic short-term goals that build confidence, but don’t be afraid to set higher long-term goals that stretch you. Learn your worth early, communicate it clearly, and protect it with boundaries. Growth is not about appealing to everyone—it’s about building something aligned, sustainable, and true to who you are.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

Feeling overwhelmed can and will happen as a business owner. When I feel overwhelmed, I intentionally step away from work and return to grounding practices that restore balance. I’ve learned that maintaining clear boundaries around working hours and time off is essential, not just for mental health, but for long-term creativity and effectiveness. Rest is not a reward; it’s part of the work.

Outside of my business, I stay grounded through activities that reconnect me to my body and environment, including gardening and homesteading, working out, hiking, horseback riding, hands-on crafting, and spending time to connect with my family. These practices help quiet mental noise, reset my nervous system, and bring perspective back into focus.

I’m also a strong advocate for having a support system. No one builds anything meaningful alone. I make space to talk through challenges and brainstorm unexpected problems with trusted mentors, a therapist, fellow artists and business owners, and my family. My husband, in particular, has been my greatest supporter and sounding board throughout this journey.

Over time, I’ve learned the importance of grounding, meditation, and intentionally protecting work–life balance. These strategies allow me to show up with clarity, resilience, and presence for my clients, my community, and myself.

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