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Say hello to Lauren Schregardus, who describes herself as “a mom and a wife first, but a professional as well.” The Vice President of Strategic Communications at BAR Communications was born and raised in Indiana, then spent a brief stint in Florida before returning to start a family in the Hoosier state. In addition to her full-time gig, Lauren is also a senior contributor for Indianapolis Moms, is on the board for Summer Stock Stage, and is involved with Hoosier PRSA, the Hamilton County Leadership Academy, and the Hamilton County Humane Society. In other words: She’s an expert juggler. Take it away, Lauren!
My Maven Superpower is … The ability to get it done and juggle a lot. As a mom and professional we often burn the candle at both ends. But I think no matter what, I’ve always figured out a way to get the job done, whether it’s a load of laundry or a project for work.
A fun fact about me is … I went skydiving in Interlaken, Switzerland in college. Today, I’m not so sure I would have that kind of courage, but I’m glad I crossed it off my bucket list.
The skill I most want to learn is … How to make laundry disappear.
Self-care habit I swear by is … Working out. Yes, I’m the crazy lady that works out at 6 a.m., but it’s my therapy. I don’t always love doing it, but I love the endorphins. And I try to never apologize for taking that time for me. It’s the best thing I can do for myself, and I know it makes me a happier person that day, too.
I feel most confident when … I’m prepared. It doesn’t matter if it’s for a meeting or a date night. If I go into it prepared (with a new outfit or a clear presentation), I know I am ready. My husband always says the sexiest thing a woman can wear is confidence, so I try to feel that way as much as possible.
My favorite nonprofit to support is … Last year I joined the Summer Stock Stage board and just love their mission to enrich the lives of local youth through theatre! I was a theatre minor in college, so my love of the stage runs deep. If you haven’t heard about this program, I urge you to check it out.
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The best career advice I can offer is … Challenge yourself. Appreciate the good and the bad. Believe in yourself. When I was 25, I suddenly found myself in a job that challenged the hell out of me. My boss was hard, but in a way that made me better. He made me believe I could do it and I did. For that, I am forever grateful.
Favorite purchase lately is … Our French Press. My husband makes us French Press coffee every morning and I am spoiled because of it. We love getting fun local beans to try out, too! There are so many great shops around town. In the summer, we love stopping by Indie Coffee Roasters at the Carmel Farmers Market.
My favorite local restaurant dish is … Right now, the Hamachi at Monterey Coastal is my jam. I love it.
The thing I’ve been binging lately is … We are a bit behind, but we just finished Ted Lasso season two. I love how happy it makes me. I just feel like we are lacking feel-good shows like that, and I can’t wait for season three.
Something I have achieved recently that I’d like to celebrate with the Indy Maven community is … After 2.5 years of infertility, I finally got pregnant via IVF during the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic. Going through fertility treatments during something like this is not for the faint of heart, but we did it and I somehow managed to keep my sanity through it all (even with a 5-year-old at home). We celebrated our little miracle baby’s first birthday in January!
A Maven you should know is … Dr. Kimberly Roop. I’ve been working with Dr. Roop for almost a year now and she is a boss. Not only is she a fantastic person, mother, and wife, she is an OBGYN, veteran, and president of the Indiana Medicaid for Anthem. She is doing some amazing things right now, but I so admire the work she is doing for maternal health in Indiana.
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Stephanie Groves is the Executive Editor of Indy Maven.
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