Meet Laura Thorne

We recently connected with Laura Thorne and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, 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.

I don’t think you ever truly get over imposter syndrome, you just learn to manage the little voice that represents your self-doubts. When you constantly push boundaries imposter syndrome follows you. I think what helps me is just understanding that the little voice is just trying to protect you from failing, from embarrassment, form not fitting in. Once you recognize that this is just a deep seated survival mechanism, it’s easier to tell it to hush and take a back seat while you continue to push boundaries and accept the risks that come with that.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My journey to becoming a transmedia entrepreneur started in high school, where I was involved in all things art and tech. At 18, I attempted to write my first book and start my own company. My best friend and I also talked about starting something together. Over the years, I continued developing my skills as a photographer while running a solo company offering graphic and web design services. Along the way, I also learned to code and became an environmental scientist. After 10 years as a successful environmental professional, I hit a glass ceiling so hard that it motivated me to return to my entrepreneurial roots and vow to never work for anyone but myself again.
Wildebeest Publishing Company offers responsible hybrid book publishing services, while Hey Alec Productions partners with artists, musicians, venues, and nonprofits to create video content and manage social media. My work as the Environmental Career Coach keeps me connected to the environmental field, where I continue to make a meaningful impact. Through strategy and leadership consulting, I help companies improve their effectiveness. Finally, I also get to step into the fashion world as the Business Director for the Stylist Fashion Show.
So much excites me about my work, but first and foremost, it’s about pushing boundaries. I’ve been told countless times that I need to choose just one path, but I know I would be bored and always wonder, “What if I hadn’t gone after everything?” The impact my work has—whether it’s empowering someone to elevate their business, publish their book, or land their dream environmental job—is incredibly rewarding. Perhaps one of my favorite things is running Wildebeest with my best friend from high school. It took decades, but we finally started a company together.
Each of my companies is currently in a growth phase, bringing on new team members, expanding programs, and increasing our client base. Some of our most exciting new initiatives include an annual retreat for authors in 2025, and Hey Alec Productions is entering its 4th year of hosting The Art of Movie Making Film Festival, which will expand to LA and Atlanta next year.
The taglines for Wildebeest Publishing and Hey Alec Productions are “Run Wild, Be Yourself, Take Leaps” and “Are We Having Fun?” These statements sum up my personal mottos and the impact I hope to make for my clients, coachees, readers, and mentees.

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?

When looking back at the long and winding road of my career history, the three main areas that standout that were most contributed to where I am today are self-worth, determination, and problem-solving.
The number of terrible bosses I’ve encountered in my career is about 10 to 1 compared to the good ones. Some people have an incredible ability to try to tear you down, but whenever I found myself in a situation that didn’t serve me, I walked away—which ultimately led to my elevation over time.
I wish I could say the same for my personal relationships, but that’s a story for another time.
Determination is a bit more of a trait than a skill, but it can certainly be developed. Determination is about choosing the right motivational anchors. This could be a better future for your kids, setting a positive example for others, making your mother proud, or even showing everyone who doubted you that you can and will succeed. Patrick Bet-David talks about using enemies as drivers for success, and I wholeheartedly agree; this external motivation has played a huge part for me. Whatever the motivation, finding something that fuels your determination is key to sustaining it.
Problem-solving is another trait that comes naturally to some—especially those who are curious or technically inclined—but it’s also something that can be learned and sharpened over time. I’ve even taught workshops on problem-solving methods like Lean Six Sigma and engineering design principles. The ability to break down problems and find creative solutions is a skill that can be developed.
As I reflect on these qualities, I realize they’ve become my superpowers. So, my advice to others is to identify what you’re naturally gifted at through exploration and trial and error, then commit to magnifying those strengths. It’s about recognizing and nurturing the talents you already have, and then turning them into the forces that drive your success.

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?

Collaboration and networking are two of the biggest keys to success and no matter how many things I have going on, I will never close the door to these opportunities. I welcome anyone to contact me even if it’s just to learn a bit more about each other – not every meeting has to lead to a mind-blowing new program. These are, however, I am looking to connect with:
1. People who support the mission to shine the spotlight behind the scenes of film, tv, and games. Hey Alec Productions and The Art of Movie Making Film Fest are looking gorgeous volunteers, sponsors, guest speakers, celebrity endorsements, and submissions!
2. People from the book industry who are willing to share their industry insights with our Authorpreneur Community. Wildebeest Publishing Company is looking for successful authors, trade professionals, distributors, and more.
3. Students and mentees. I love to help young professionals and entrepreneurs get the info no one gave me.
Anyone can connect with me through LinkedIn, my website, or email.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurajeanthorne/
www.laurathorne.com
[email protected]

Contact Info:

Image Credits

none needed

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than

Highlighter Series
What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?

We think this is an essential question because so often there is a disconnect between

Highlighter Series
Is the public version of you the real you?

We all think we’re being real—whether in public or in private—but the deeper challenge is