We recently connected with Lauren and have shared our conversation below.
Lauren, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity comes from the way I was raised and the people who poured into me long before I ever had anything to give. I grew up with a grandfather who showed me every single day that the real measure of a person is how they treat people who can’t do anything for them in return. He used to say, “The cream will always rise to the top,” and he lived that. He gave his time, his attention, his stories… even his last piece of pizza if it made someone smile. Watching him serve others with so much joy was my first real definition of wealth.
And then there’s my own life. I’ve had seasons where I felt completely held up by the generosity of friends, mentors, even strangers. Moments where someone’s kindness was the exact thing that kept me going. Those experiences stay with you. They shape you. They make you want to be that for someone else.
I think generosity, for me, isn’t about money or big gestures. It’s more about presence. It’s showing up. It’s checking in on people when there’s nothing to “gain.” It’s pouring into my retreat guests and my community because I genuinely want them to feel seen and supported. It’s giving my time, my heart, my energy… because that’s what I would’ve needed at different points in my own journey.
And honestly, I just think life tastes sweeter when we share it. When we give freely. When we love unconditionally. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave, one that looks a whole lot like my grandfather’s.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve always believed that we’re here to make people feel a little more seen, a little more hopeful, and a little more connected—and that’s really the heartbeat behind everything I do. I run Rise Wellness, where I lead transformational retreats all around the world, from the mountains to the Camino de Santiago in Spain. My retreats aren’t just trips… they’re sacred containers where people unplug, heal, laugh, cry, walk, breathe, and remember who they were before the noise of life got loud.
What makes my work special is that it blends the mind, body, and soul in a way that feels simple and human. We hike, we pray, we move our bodies, we share meals, we cry around campfires, we watch sunrises, and we show up for each other. I always say I don’t just host retreats, I hold space. I love creating environments where people feel safe enough to let their truth come up, and brave enough to follow it.
Beyond retreats, I also run Retreat Launch Formula, where I teach aspiring leaders how to design, launch, and fill their first retreat. I’ve sold two fitness studios, coached thousands of clients, led online workouts that have reached hundreds of thousands, and now I get to help others create the same kind of life-changing experiences that changed mine. Watching my clients step into their power and build something heart-centered lights me up in the best way.
I also recently launched Laleigh Coffee, a brand I created in honor of my grandfather. It’s more than coffee…it’s a legacy project. A portion of the proceeds go to the Parkinson’s Foundation, and every bag is meant to feel like a warm morning hug, the kind of slow-start moment he always encouraged.
What’s new? A lot! I’m expanding my international retreats, opening up more mentorship opportunities, and growing the coffee brand. And personally, I’m leaning more into speaking…sharing stories about resilience, faith, and finding yourself again.
At the end of the day, everything I do revolves around one mission: help people rise. Rise in their health, their faith, their purpose, their relationships, and their confidence. I want people to walk away from my work feeling lighter, clearer, and more connected to who they were created to be.
And if even one person feels more hopeful because of something I’ve built… then it’s all worth it.
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?
When I look back on my journey…from opening fitness studios, to leading retreats around the world, to building an online brand, to launching a coffee company…three qualities have shaped everything:
1. Integrity
My grandfather instilled this in me before I ever knew I’d become an entrepreneur. He taught me that your character is your currency. How you treat people matters. How you show up when nobody’s watching matters even more.
In business, integrity has been my compass…doing the right thing even when it’s inconvenient, keeping promises, being the same person on-camera and off, and leading with honesty.
Advice:
Decide who you want to be long before the world hands you any spotlight. Build a reputation your future self will be proud of.
2. Resilience (and a whole lot of grit)
I’ve learned that the path of building anything meaningful is never linear. I’ve had doors slam, plans fall apart, luggage get lost mid-retreat, curveballs from life and business… and yet every challenge has turned into the exact lesson I needed to level up.
Walking the Camino de Santiago really reinforced this for me…one step at a time, surrender, trust, keep going.
Advice:
Don’t fear the challenges; expect them. Let them refine you, not define you. And surround yourself with people who remind you who you are when the journey feels heavy.
3. Holding Space for People
This is something I didn’t realize was a “skill” until I was deep into hosting retreats. Holding space means creating an environment where people feel safe, seen, and supported…without trying to fix or change them. It’s presence. It’s compassion. It’s noticing the small things.
I’ve found that when people feel held, they transform. And honestly, this is what sets my retreats and coaching apart from anything else I do.
Advice:
Slow down. Listen more than you speak. Ask better questions. And always lead with empath because people won’t remember your program outline, but they will remember how you made them feel.
Final Thought
If you’re early in your journey, focus less on being perfect and more on being rooted. Your values, your habits, your faith, your community…those are the things that carry you through the highs and lows.
The skills will come. The confidence will grow. But who you are at your core… that’s the foundation of everything you’ll build.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, the first thing I do is slow down. My instinct used to be to push harder, hustle more, stack another task on top of the chaos… and that never actually helped. Now, I’ve learned that overwhelm is usually just my body’s way of saying, “Hey, I need you to come back home to yourself.”
My go-to strategy is what I call a pattern interrupt. I physically step out of the space where the overwhelm is happening…go outside, take a walk, put my bare feet on the ground, breathe fresh air. Nature resets me in a way nothing else does.
I also practice my own version of an Unplugged Moment…no phone, no noise, no input. I’ll sit, breathe, pray, or journal for even five minutes. It helps me hear my own voice again instead of the swirl in my head.
Another thing that helps is getting brutally honest with myself:
What actually needs my attention right now?
What can wait?
What’s not even mine to carry?
Overwhelm often comes from trying to hold everything at once, so I break it down into the next right step. Not the next ten…just one.
And honestly, my last strategy is connection. I’ll call a friend, go for a walk with someone I trust, or talk it out. Sometimes you just need someone to remind you that you’re human and you’re doing your best.
My advice:
Get quiet, get grounded, get honest. Move your body. Step outside. Pray. Breathe. Ask for help when you need it. Remember that overwhelm isn’t a sign you’re failing, it’s a sign you need a pause, not a push.
When you learn to listen to those signals early, your whole life starts to feel more spacious and aligned.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laleigh.com & www.unpluggedwithlauren.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenldonahue/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenschwab
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-donahue-382475397
- Other: TIK TOK : https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenldonahue
Image Credits
Greg Fulks
Char Becks
Jenny Latta
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
