Name: Lauren Travis
Age: 28
Title and organization: Founder and Director of Women of the World Exchange; MBA candidate at USF; Intern at Wells Fargo
Connection to YWSE: Former board member
Hobbies: Exploring the beautiful Bay Area, searching for the best wine and cheese pairing, knitting, and of course, traveling!
Where did you grow up? What’s your history?
I
lived in Hong Kong for 5 years when I was little, spent the rest of my
youth in Minneapolis, came to California in 1997 to go to Stanford
University, and then moved to San Francisco. After graduating, I worked
at the World Affairs Council and International Diplomacy Council, where
I worked in membership, development, fundraising and marketing for
each. Later I worked in for-profit marketing at McCann World Group, and
then was a coach with Inside Track for 2 years.
In the midst of that, I founded Women of the World Exchange (WOW). The idea started when I was at the World Affairs Council, one year out of college. I realized there was a need for a place for ambitious young women to discuss their lives — it was designed for women who had so much ambition and talent, and needed a place to channel that. At that point in my life, I didn’t feel my best skills were being applied in my job, and I was frustrated. We have all these challenges, but we have the chance to turn them in to opportunities. For me, I felt a very specific challenge: where can internationally-oriented women find opportunities to get where they want to go in their lives? When looking to networking groups to find this answer, I was often the youngest woman at an event, or the only woman of color — I couldn’t quite find my niche, so I started my own organization.
Young women today can absolutely do anything, and with that knowledge there’s also an overwhelming paralysis about what in the world to do. You can look at this as a high-class problem, or as an actual reality that a lot of women are facing. I wanted to create a forum to talk about that, for people who are globally conscious and aware, people with a future perspective.
How did you turn this need into an organization?
It
started in 2002 in my head. I had been accepted by the Women’s
Technology Cluster social incubator (Social Fusion now), and was there
for a year developing my plan, while still working full time … that was
interesting. In 2004 I launched with a 2-day conference — the
participants paid a conference fee or had scholarships, the space was
donated, the presenters spoke for free, and much of the food was
donated. The twenty women there talked about leadership development,
career development, and how to work in an international environment.
The following two years, we then partnered with the International
Museum of Women’s Imagining Ourselves project, looking at the ways
culture and identity affect leadership. Those were slower years because
I had turned inside after the experience of putting on the conference,
largely working alone. So I needed to think about my own development,
and whether I wanted to continue developing programs, or if I wanted to
go to business school. I ultimately ended up doing both. In 2007
Women of the World Exchange came back with a vengeance, and we’ve had
events every month. We now have a steering committee and put on career
development and social events in alternating months. We’re keeping
momentum going by bringing people together.
What do you see in being an entrepreneur?
I remember when
I was little, my dad subscribed to Entrepreneur Magazine, and I was
obsessed with the word and knew it was a very important word though I
couldn’t spell it. A question I often ponder is, “What does it mean to
be a social entrepreneur?” I’m floored that people ask me to speak as a
social entrepreneur, because I don’t always see it in myself. I think
that if you’re socially conscious and want to make the world a better
place, you can do that from a for-profit or nonprofit, working for
yourself or for another. This year, I was challenged at the prospect
of working at a financial institution for my MBA internship— how does
that qualify me as a social entrepreneur? At the end of the day, I
know that I’m that person who always has a counter example of a
socially conscious situation or a women’s perspective. I’m not afraid
to go corporate because no matter where I go, I get to be that voice.
And often times, it is this commitment that actually lands me the job!
So I recommend wearing the title of “social entrepreneur” proudly, and
incorporating it in conversations. Let people know who you are and
what you stand for.
What do you envision for your career and life in the near future?
For
WOW, I want to continue doing these events, and next year, I hope
tohave a conference again. I also want to integrate coaching into the
model. If I were to dream big, I’d say I want to develop specialty
communities within WOW. We already have a book club, where we read
about women’s lives from different perspectives. I want to perhaps
start a toast masters club, and language and country-focused clubs. I
would love to have delegations go oversees, and bring delegations here.
One day, I want to have a full center with a building, where we’re
facilitating cultural exchanges, so people can immerse themselves. I
want to make it big, including consulting. I believe if you put it out
there, the right thing will show up.
As challenging as it was to be working while doing this, I’ve learned how to work, go to school AND run this organization. I see myself continuing along this path, and developing myself in my career. I’d like to do consulting and coaching. Coaching is what I was put on this planet to do, so that will happen. It was a big step for me to do an MBA, and WOW was at the forefront of the decision.. I want to have the right language to use for leadership development. Up until this point, I’d had nonprofit experience, and I wanted to learn the language of business. I want to bring together my business knowledge, international perspective, and coaching. If I’m doing all those things, I will be fully self-expressed and thus able to make the greatest impact possible.
What are some of your biggest challenges?
In my life in
general having a day job is my biggest challenge. WOW comes out of my
own need and life and skills, so having to do something for somebody
else all day kills me. But I have to be realistic, I’m single, my
family isn’t here. I’m responsible for paying my bills and taking care
of myself. I came to the fact that it’s through working for someone
else that you learn what to do and not to do, and experience situations
that you didn’t know about. By working, I’ve learned a lot. For a long
time I struggled with the question, “Do I quit my job and just do WOW?”
I’m dedicated enough to WOW that I can sacrifice evenings and weekends.
By working, I deepen my connections and leadership skills, and
ultimately that will make WOW stronger.
How do you achieve balance in your life?
My second
challenge was that until recently, I didn’t know how to ask for help. I
needed to do it my way. I didn’t know how to use my words to get help,
and not have it be a burden and pressure on me because I’d asked
someone to help me. I had one person behind me doing that, nudging me.
At our first WOW event in January, the ulterior motive was to ask for a
steering committee. But I couldn’t make the announcement, until the end
when some stayed beyond the end and were waiting to be asked.
That’s a great lesson for women, who are taught not to ask. I was so obsessed with making this perfect that I wasn’t actually doing it — that was ridiculous. I’m so glad I overcame that. You can get in the way of your own success, telling yourself, “Who am I to be doing this? Who am I to change the face of global leadership?” This is honestly on my mind all the time. It’s what I’m here for. If I don’t own and believe in this mission, who else should? I needed to get out of the way of myself, but I still do it all the time.
How did participating in YWSE help you in your growth?
YWSE
was what introduced me to the Women’s Technology Cluster through the
weekly announcements, and with YWSE backing, I was accepted. The woman
who accepted me was a YWSE member, who already knew me from events. She
was the one who coached me through the launch of the conference. I
couldn’t have done it without her. YWSE was also important for me to
get fiscal sponsorship and I ended up having the same fiscal sponsor.
Also looking around the room and seeing women who shared my passion and
were making it happen was inspiring. I saw women who were nervy enough
and that made it possible for me to do the same. Being in the same room
as many of the founders of YWSE — the fact that they would want me on
the board — was a self-esteem raiser. Being on a board at the beginning
stages showed what I could do with my own organization. It makes me
less scared of the fact that I’m small now, because I’ve learned
through experience how an organization can grow.
Looking at inspiration, who do you admire — either famous people or those close to you?
Anybody
who knows me will know my answer. I’m the biggest fan of Oprah. I get
so much from her. I don’t watch the TV show because it comes on when
I’m at work, but it’s the best reason to be sick! I don’t admire every
detail of her life, but what I get the most from is that she is using
her life, and helping others to use their lives. The day the magazine
arrives every month is my favorite day — I go to a café and read it
all, cover to cover. She’s standing up and using her natural gift to
make an impact. She has blessed us all. I don’t worship her, but I
appreciate that someone in her position has done all this.
What books or other resources do you recommend?
Again so many that it’s hard to pick one or two. An Oprah subscription is the best you can do. What Should I Do With My Life
is a book I love. It’s a good book for someone who wants to change up
life, but needs to see success stories first. Also Landmark Forum is so
good. Anyone who is questioning their power or knows they aren’t fully
tapping into it could benefit. Also coaching helps, and it doesn’t have
to be life long, it could be getting help through one situation.
What are your top values in your life and work?
The one
thing that is so important is you have to figure your stuff out — which
means different things to different people. In your life, there are
things that are holding you back, and if you can hit that early or even
acknowledge that it exists, you’ll be so much better off.
What alliances or connections have helped your career?
Finding
specialty niche groups is important for each person. YWSE and WOW fit
this category, and it’s important for me to find other communities. I
was part of Management Leadership for Tomorrow, for people of color who
are looking to go to business school That was a huge help for me. Those
are the networks I’ve created for life.
Switching jobs frequently used to bother me, but no longer because of the people I’ve met in each position. I still know board members from World Affairs Council that I call on because I used to work there. I would not have access if I hadn’t worked there. Use the connections you made. Even at Wells Fargo, I have connections because of boards I’ve worked with in the past.
Do you have advice for young women who are social entrepreneurs?
It
goes back to needing a job. The point is: Do what you need to do to
take care of yourself, be bold, don’t be afraid to think big, but it
doesn’t have to happen tomorrow, because everything is building on
itself, for you to be exactly where you’re supposed to be, but you’re
exactly where you’re supposed to be right now.
Thank you for reaching out to me. It’s a good excuse for me to get involved again. It’s phenomenal to be involved again, but on the other side — mentoring and inspiring others to take this amazing leap into something so important. Social Entrepreneurship absolutely is one way to change the world!
To be added to the Women of the World Exchange mailing list, please email wowexchange@hotmail.com . Our website www.wowexchange.org is under construction. In the meantime, you can learn more about WOW and our upcoming events at wowexchange.wikispaces.com.
Interview on June 20 and updated July 8, 2007 by Adriana Dakin and Tania Hurter, Board Members, YWSE-SF
