Hidden Gems: Meet Laura Wilhelm of LauraWil Intercultural

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Wilhelm.

Laura, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am now a co-author in the internationally bestselling series Cracking the Rich Code that is created by Jim Britt and endorsed by Tony Robbins with forewords by Brian Tracy. My chapter ”Breaking Global Barriers to Success” conveniently describes the many twists and turns my career has taken en route to the founding of my consulting company, LauraWil Intercultural.
Your timing could not be better as the book just came out in August and your readers can get the whole story about me and nineteen other global business leaders there. Here are the online links:

Amazon.com: Cracking the Rich Code volume 18 eBook : Britt, Jim: Kindle Store

Cracking the Rich Code volume 18 by Jim Britt, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

Cracking the Rich Code volume 18, (Paperback) – Walmart.com

Like many particularly successful people, the aptitudes that got me to where I am today at the age of sixty appeared before the age of six. I excelled at foreign languages and the related abilities of mathematics and music from the time I could talk and was always totally obsessed with reading and writing. From the age of ten my teachers were assigning me to write novels and predicting that they would see my work in print, which they now could in this book as well as in outlets such as Hollywood Weekly, Magic Image Hollywood, Indie Entertainment Media, and Close-Up Culture.

Writing is a great medium since the subject matter is limitless. I write about Hollywood since it is here and so am I. Had I landed elsewhere, I would probably be writing about other things.

My Hollywood publishers have always supported the talents that were supposed to have stayed in academia. I actually like being able to see short burn results and mingle with international celebrities rather than fight against time and space in the field of Russian literature where I started off. My international interests are at least as well served this way if not much more so since I work on projects from all over the world.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I t has been quite a bumpy road since I have worked with some untrustworthy people who really took me for a ride. The challenges of repackaging my skills and experience as an entrepreneur have been much more enjoyable. The speaking drills I used to write for ESL students have magically morphed into celebrity interview questions. It all comes out of the communication box.

We’ve been impressed with LauraWil Intercultural, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
”Hollyworld” is the name of our game. We like to explore the connections between the bubble we know as Hollywood and the wider world of international media. We can often be found covering global film festivals, interviewing world-class talents, and meeting directors, producers, and consuls at mansion parties.

Our brand is proud to offer ”reviews from heaven” to international productions of all shapes and sizes. We work with everyone from emerging talents to A-list Hollywood stars, Broadway sensations, and Cannes red carpet style mavens.

Our team spans many world languages, countries, and cultures. What unites us is our passion for exploring the human condition. We have a particular interest in projects that address global crises such as NAWI and SISTERS OF UKRAINE.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I had the ”bad luck” to train for a very restrictive field–Russian language and literature–during the feminist backlash of the eighties and nineties right before the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Doors that had been wide open during the era of glasnost’ and perestroika started to slam shut, especially for women. I was obliged to take several jobs for which I was grossly overqualified just to pay the rent.

Then I had the good luck to move to LA and land in the much more rewarding world of international media. I still encounter emigres from Russia and Eastern Europe quite often and still spend much of my time on writing, research, and mentoring. I honestly feel like this was the career for which I was really preparing unbeknownst even to myself!