We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cindy Evans. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cindy below.
Hi Cindy, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
Early in my career, I worked for family. During that time, I gained an understanding of work-life. I had a bucket for my professional life and a bucket for my family life. I remember during my first week, my father in law asked for a cup of coffee, I replied, I am happy to get you a cup of coffee as your daughter in law, not as your employee.
Recently, I completed the Yoga Teacher Training 200 course and I am a runner. YTT200 reminds me I need to “go to the mat.” Having an hour a few times a week that includes meditation and quite time, gives me what I need to quite my mind and guide myself to limiting stress. In addition, I am a runner. Many people run with someone else as a motivator, I run alone, I am able to be in nature, get some sun and be alone. I get my energy from being alone.
This self care helps to reduce the stress. Everyone has stress, it is being able to find ways to process the stress in a meaningful way.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
ehigh Valley LaunchBox is a small business accelerator operating under the Invent Penn State initiative. What makes this work truly special is that no two days are the same. I have the privilege of supporting small business founders, organizing lunch-and-learn events, collaborating with our advisory board, building community partnerships, and creating a welcoming environment where entrepreneurs can grow and thrive.
This role brings together everything I’ve done throughout my career. My background in HR allows me to apply my interviewing and coaching skills, while my experience in workforce development contributes to our broader mission of driving regional economic growth.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to deepen our focus on supporting underrepresented and veteran founders in the Lehigh Valley. As we evolve our business plan, equity and inclusion will continue to be core to our mission.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Listening Skills – One of the most impactful skills in my journey has been the ability to truly listen. When you take the time to listen with intention, you not only gain deeper insight, but you also earn the respect of others. People often perceive great listeners as intelligent and thoughtful, because they speak with purpose and understand before responding.
Understanding Your Audience – It’s critical to know who you’re talking to. Tailor your message to meet their needs, not yours. When you focus on solving your audience’s problems, you create value—and in turn, they’re more likely to support you and help solve your challenges too.
Intrapreneurship – You don’t have to own a business to think like an entrepreneur. I’ve found that bringing an entrepreneurial mindset into the organizations I work for—taking initiative, thinking strategically, and finding creative solutions—has been a powerful way to grow professionally and make meaningful contributions.
Advice for Others: Practice active listening in every conversation. Take notes, ask follow-up questions, and resist the urge to respond too quickly. Learn to read the room—whether it’s one person or a group—and align your message with what matters to them. Finally, no matter your role, act like an owner: seek opportunities to innovate, lead, and improve systems from within.
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?
Lehigh Valley LaunchBox is always looking for partners and collaborators who are passionate about supporting entrepreneurship.
First and foremost, we want founders to know that there are a wide range of resources available to them — and we’re here to guide and support them along their journey.
We are also looking for mentors and advisory board members — individuals who are eager to give back and help entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of building a business.
Finally, we welcome sponsors who want to make an impact. While we work carefully within our budget, we offer marketing and mentorship opportunities through a variety of events like our Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge, pitch competitions, lunch-and-learn sessions, ongoing programs — and even sponsorship naming opportunities for the LaunchBox itself.
If you’re passionate about building a stronger entrepreneurial community, we’d love to connect and explore how we can work together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lehighvalley.launchbox.psu.edu/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lvlaunchbox/
Image Credits
Mary Kate McGuire
Jonathan Epstein
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
