Meet Lara Janicello

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

Hi Lara, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from knowing exactly why I started LA Singles in the first place.
I saw a problem, I wanted to fix it, and I wasn’t afraid to build something from the ground up alone. When you’re running a business by yourself, you don’t have the luxury of giving up. You learn to push through every challenge, every setback, every long night of planning and organizing, because you believe in what you’re creating.
I also get my resilience from the people who show up to my events. Every time someone tells me they had a great experience, made a real connection, or finally felt comfortable in a dating space, that gives me fuel. It reminds me that the work matters.
At the end of the day, my resilience comes from passion. From heart. From knowing that LA Singles isn’t some corporate project , it’s mine. I built this with intention, with vision, and with the belief that real connection still matters in a world that’s become so digital and disconnected.
And when something comes from your heart, you don’t quit. You find the strength to keep going. Every time.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I started LA Singles because I kept seeing the same problem over and over: Los Angeles is full of amazing people, yet truly connecting here can feel almost impossible. Everyone’s busy, everyone’s hustling, and dating apps have turned modern dating into an exhausting loop of swiping, ghosting, and surface-level conversations.
I realized I didn’t want to just complain about how disconnected the dating scene had become.
I wanted to do something about it.

And that’s exactly how I started my business.
I began creating intentional, in-person experiences where people could actually meet face-to-face, talk, laugh, and feel comfortable being themselves. What started as a small passion project quickly grew into a real community. Every event reminded me why I started: because when you create the right environment, genuine connections do happen.
Today, LA Singles exists because I believe LA deserves more than swiping and algorithms. It deserves a place where people feel seen, valued, and excited about dating again. And I’m proud to be building that space.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Resilience

Running a business alone forces you to toughen up fast. There are setbacks, slow days, overwhelming days, and moments where you question everything. My resilience came from staying connected to my “why,” creating real, human connections in a city that desperately needs it.

Advice: Build thick skin early. Don’t take every obstacle personally. See challenges as part of the path, not a sign you’re on the wrong one.

2. Intuition

I’ve trusted my gut with LA Singles from day one, from the wristband system I created, to the way I design events, to the energy I allow into the room. Intuition matters, especially when you’re building something that requires heart, not just strategy.

Advice: Listen to your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. If something excites you, explore it. Your intuition is an asset; train it by paying attention and reflecting on the decisions you make.

3. Consistency

This is the one people underestimate the most. Showing up again and again, even when it’s not glamorous, even when you’re tired, even when growth feels slow, that’s what builds a brand. And because I run LA Singles completely on my own, consistency has been everything.

Advice: Create routines that keep you accountable. Don’t chase perfection — chase momentum. You don’t need huge leaps; you need steady steps.

At the end of the day, your journey will demand heart, grit, and patience. Focus on strengthening those qualities, and you’ll be shocked at how far they carry you.

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?

People can work with me in a few different ways and because I run LA Singles completely on my own, every bit of support truly matters.
If you’re a venue, brand, or local business, I’m always open to collaborations that align with creating real, intentional connections. Whether it’s hosting an event, sponsoring a night, offering giveaways, or partnering on unique experiences for singles, I love teaming up with businesses that want to bring something meaningful to the LA community.

If you’re an individual who loves what I’m building, the best ways to support are simple:
show up, spread the word, and share the experience. Share your experiences with friends, repost event updates.
Word-of-mouth is powerful, and because I’m not a big corporation with a huge marketing budget, community support is everything.

I also welcome collaborations with photographers, creators, and influencers who genuinely believe in what LA Singles stands for: authenticity, connection, and real human interaction.

At the end of the day, partnering with me means partnering with a brand built from passion, intention, and heart. I pour myself into every detail, and I’m always excited to work with people who see the value in creating something real for the singles of Los Angeles.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://la.singles
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la.singles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/singlesla/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/la.singles