Conversations with Lauren Tennery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Tennery.

Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My career has been shaped by movement—between countries, industries, and roles—but the common thread has always been building systems, brands, and communities from the ground up.

I moved out of the U.S. at 18 to live in Australia, which sparked a long relationship with travel and independent work. Later, extended time throughout Asia—including studying yoga and meditation in India and teaching in Sri Lanka and Thailand—deepened my understanding of discipline, adaptability, and people. Travel taught me how to step into unfamiliar environments quickly, observe how things function, and contribute meaningfully wherever I land.

Professionally, I’ve built a broad skill set across business development, operations, and design. I’ve worked in hospitality, coworking, real estate development, textile manufacturing, and wellness—often in roles that required wearing multiple hats. From managing day-to-day operations and executive support to developing systems, processes, and growth strategies, I’ve consistently been drawn to the backend work that allows businesses to scale sustainably.

A large part of my work has involved translating ideas into execution—whether that’s structuring internal operations, supporting investment and development projects, or creating visual and written assets that communicate a brand clearly. I have a strong background in graphic design and content creation, which has allowed me to bridge strategy and storytelling—building decks, digital assets, and marketing materials that are both functional and visually intentional.

Alongside my business work, I’m a 500-hour certified yoga teacher, and that training deeply informs how I approach leadership and operations. I value clarity, efficiency, and long-term thinking, and I’m especially interested in creating work environments that support both productivity and wellbeing.

Today, I’m based in Los Angeles, where I consult across multiple ventures in real estate development, coworking, and my own consumer product/event brand. I support growth through operations, overall business development, and brand strategy. My path has been highly intentional. Every role, location, and project has added another layer to my knowledge of how a business should run and operate. I build—thoughtfully, creatively, and with a strong focus on operational foundation.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, and a big part of that has been navigating my career with limited family support. I learned early on how to be self-reliant—financially, emotionally, and professionally—which built resilience, but it also meant learning everything through experience rather than guidance. There wasn’t a built-in safety net, so progress often came with higher stakes and harder lessons.

Along the way, I’ve also had to navigate close relationships affected by addiction and family instability. Being adjacent to those challenges shaped how I approach responsibility, boundaries, and leadership. It forced me to grow up quickly, to stay grounded in chaos, and to separate what I can support from what I can’t control. Those experiences weren’t easy, but they deeply influenced how I build systems, manage stress, and create structure—both in work and in life.

Professionally, one of the biggest struggles was learning how to carry a wide skill set without burning out. I often became the person who filled gaps—operations, design, business development—because I could. Over time, I realized that sustainability isn’t about being capable of everything, but about designing systems that don’t depend on personal sacrifice. Learning to set boundaries, document processes, and step back from constant urgency was a critical turning point.

There were also moments of uncertainty—financial, emotional, and directional—especially while traveling or transitioning between industries. Progress didn’t always look linear, and confidence sometimes had to come before proof. What I’ve learned is that stability isn’t something you wait for; it’s something you build intentionally.

Looking back, the challenges weren’t obstacles to the work—they shaped how I do it. They taught me how to lead with clarity, empathy, and structure, and how to create environments—both professionally and personally—that are steady, thoughtful, and built to last.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a business development consultant specializing in operations, systems, and brand support for growing, community-driven ventures. Alongside my consulting work, I also run and develop a few personal companies across wellness and consumer products. (Yoga Retreats/ Workshops, and wellness consumer products)

My current focus is on real estate development, coworking, & events. One of my core roles has been introducing and shaping the business model for Local Collaborative Hermosa, including membership structure, daily operations, and community programming. I’ve helped build systems that support both smooth day-to-day function and long-term growth.

I’ve also planned and coordinated many large-scale events, including city-partnered and community-focused initiatives. That work has involved concept development, partnerships, budgeting, logistics, permitting, and on-site execution. I regularly work closley with city governments, nonprofits, various vendors, and creative teams to bring complex projects together.

In addition to operations and events, I specialize in brand and visual communication. I have a strong background in graphic design and regularly create decks, marketing assets, and digital materials used for business development, fundraising, and partnerships. Pairing operational knowledge with design allows me to ensure that what a business presents externally matches how it actually functions internally.

A major part of my work is people. I’m very strong at building relationships, reading dynamics, and creating environments where people feel comfortable, aligned, and motivated. That skill is essential to my role—whether I’m working with executive teams, managing communities, collaborating with partners, or coordinating across stakeholders.

Alongside my consulting work, I’m also a certified yoga instructor and continue to teach. Wellness informs how I approach leadership and operations, especially when it comes to sustainability, communication, and long-term decision-making.

I’m known for being adaptable, detail-oriented, and reliable across disciplines. What sets me apart is my ability to connect business development, operations, design, and people skills into a cohesive approach. I focus on building systems and communities that are clear, functional, and built to last.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about Los Angeles is the opportunity. It’s a city where you can build almost anything if you’re proactive and willing to put in the work. There’s a unique mix of industries, creativity, and ambition here, and I appreciate the freedom to move between business, community, wellness, and creative work without having to fit into one narrow box.

What I like least is how spread out everything is. The distance between people, places, and neighborhoods can make connection and collaboration more time-consuming than it needs to be. Traffic and logistics are part of daily life, and you really have to be intentional about how you structure your time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurentennery/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-tennery-884b81226