Laura Novak-Roesgen shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Laura, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, my greatest joy has come from spending time with my first grandchild, Mackenzie, who’s now nine months old.
Every week, I dedicate a full day to being with her, with no agenda and no rush. I get to see the subtle changes in her each week, which I’m unsure I noticed as often when I was a young working mom and business owner.
It reminds me why I built Novaura Jewelry the way I did. With the freedom to design a life that holds space for both creative work and family moments that matter.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Laura, the jewelry artist behind Novaura Jewelry. I create soulful, minimalist gemstone jewelry handcrafted with a blend of engineering precision and coastal California artistry. I live in Southern California. I’m a mom of three adult children, a grandmother, and married to a wonderful and supportive man, Richard, for 37 years. Also, I lead an active life as a triathlete and endurance runner.
My engineering background plays a big role in my process. I design with precision and comfort in mind, ensuring every piece looks refined and feels effortless to wear every day.
Novaura, which means “new horizons,” became my way of transforming pain into purpose. It’s about honoring where we come from, while creating space for who we’re becoming. Each piece I design is intentionally crafted to reflect that spirit of calm strength, quiet confidence, and beauty that carries meaning.
Right now, I’m most excited about my newest collection, Nature Refined, which represents an evolution in both design and philosophy. It moves beyond the beaded jewelry I was creating a few years ago into more sculptural sterling silver work that honors the textures and tones of nature — hand-hammered surfaces, genuine turquoise, and stones chosen for their energy and natural beauty.
My designs are for women who are stepping into their next chapter. Women who honor where they’ve been, but are always reaching for what’s next.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I’ve released the part of me that tied my worth to being a “businesswoman.”
For nearly four decades, my identity was built around co-owning & operating our family business, Novak Electronics. I was proud of that role — it shaped my work ethic, my discipline, and my sense of purpose. But when the business closed, I felt untethered. Without that title or structure, I struggled to see who I was in my career.
Starting Novaura Jewelry began as a way to fill that void — to build something again. But over time, it became clear that this new chapter wasn’t about recreating what I’d lost. It was about allowing something new to emerge.
Through jewelry, I found the part of myself I’d silenced for years — the creative person who values meaning over metrics. Letting go of that old identity has been freeing. I no longer define success by business titles or achievements, but by the peace and purpose I feel when I’m creating something that resonates deeply with others.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life came during a season of deep transition. It was a time of loss, change, and unexpected transformation.
Our family’s business, Novak Electronics, closed in 2016. It wasn’t just the loss of a company; it was the loss of identity, community, and legacy. That business was an important part of my Novak family, and the majority of my engineering career. It was how I defined success and contribution. When it ended, I felt unsure of where I wanted my career to go.
Not long after, my sister Linda was diagnosed with stage-four cancer. Walking through her illness and eventual passing changed me in ways I’m still uncovering. There was so much grief for her, for our shared life, and for losing my best friend.
During that time, I turned back to something that brought me quiet joy: making jewelry. It started as a way to stay grounded; to use my hands when my heart felt heavy. Over time, it became something more. Each piece I created helped me in ways that words couldn’t express. It became a process of healing, of transformation, of honoring the beauty that can rise from loss.
Novaura was born from that pain, and it reshaped into purpose. The process of creating, of designing something lasting and beautiful, has been my way of healing. And while I don’t think we ever fully stop grieving, I’ve learned that healing isn’t about forgetting what was lost; it’s about finding new ways to carry it forward.
Every piece I make holds a trace of that journey with strength shaped by softness, structure softened by light. It’s a reminder that beauty and resilience can coexist, and that even from endings, something new and meaningful can begin.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One truth I live by is that passion doesn’t fade—it refines. With time and experience, it becomes more intentional, more deeply rooted in who we are. I’ve learned that creativity evolves alongside us, gaining depth as we do. The women I design for embody that same truth—they balance careers, families, and purpose with quiet strength, often without realizing how extraordinary that is. To me, resilience is its own kind of art, and my work is a reflection of that belief.
Also, I want to show my children and grandchildren that joy and purpose aren’t things you outgrow—they’re things you return to, with more wisdom and freedom each time.
These are the values that guide me — to create, to connect, and to live with intention.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope women going through their own life or career transition will say that I showed them it’s never too late to begin again.
In my late 50s, I decided to shift from engineering and a lifetime in our family business into something creative and deeply personal. What began as a way to heal became a new expression of purpose and joy.
While I’m not sure Novaura Jewelry will live as a brand beyond the years I’m creating it, I do hope the spirit behind it continues. That sense of craftsmanship, courage, and entrepreneurship that runs through my family’s story.
More than anything, I hope my story reminds other women that it’s never too late to pursue what brings you joy. That reinvention is always possible, and that beauty can emerge at any stage of life.
And on a personal note, I hope my children and grandchildren remember me as the “cool grandma” who made and wore lots of beautiful jewelry. Who loved having them in the studio and showed them that passion doesn’t retire; it simply evolves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.novaurajewelry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novaurajewelry/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraroesgen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovauraJewelry
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/novaurajewelry
Image Credits
Amanda Anglen of Still Shots
