--- title: "Episode #41 - Scaling Success: Overcoming Challenges and Empowering Your Team with Kwedar & Co's Lauren Cockerell" description: Laura Johns, CEO of Business Growers, exemplifies exceptional leadership in her journey to achieving $1 million in annual recurring revenue within 13 months image: https://pod.allies4me.com/hubfs/Podcast/Episodes/LL%20Lauren%20Cockerell%20-%20wide.png --- [![Allies4me](https://pod.allies4me.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Allies4me_May2022/images/logo.svg "Allies4me")](https://allies4me.com/) Menu - [Home](https://allies4me.com/) - [Grow](https://allies4me.com/grow/) - [Financial Advisors](https://allies4me.com/grow/financial-advisors/) - [Foundations Courses](https://hub.allies4me.com/courses/course-signup/) - [Podcast](https://allies4me.com/podcast/) - [Have Craig Speak at Your Event](https://hub.allies4me.com/lp/speak/) - [Be a Guest](https://pod.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/) - [Get Started](https://allies4me.com/get-started/) - [Have Craig Speak at Your Event](https://hub.allies4me.com/lp/speak/) - [Community](https://allies4me.com/about/community/) - [Downloads](https://allies4me.com/downloads/) ## Episode #41 - Scaling Success: Overcoming Challenges and Empowering Your Team with Kwedar & Co's Lauren Cockerell November 28, 2023 by [Craig Andrews](https://pod.allies4me.com/podcast/author/craig-andrews) Lauren Cockerell, Kwedar Company's founder, emphasized the value of embracing change and making brave choices in leadership. Her decision to quit golf at Rhodes College showcases a crucial leadership lesson: knowing when to step away from what no longer benefits you. This choice illustrates effective leadership’s necessity to recognize and act upon change for the greater good. Lauren's transition from an unexpected job loss during pregnancy to founding her own company, Kwedar, exemplifies turning adversity into opportunity. This move demonstrates resilience and adaptability, key traits of effective leadership. Her experience highlights how challenges can become pivotal moments for professional and personal growth. Kwedar's growth under Lauren’s leadership underscores the importance of trust and empowerment. Facing her partner's departure, Lauren prioritized her team, demonstrating a people-first leadership approach. Her team's trust and encouragement, especially in projects like "The Impatient Entrepreneur" podcast, reflect strong leader-team relationships. This approach highlights leadership’s role in creating a collaborative environment for mutual growth. To learn more about Lauren's work, check out their website at [https://www.kwedarco.com/](https://www.kwedarco.com/). Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn at [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenkwedar/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenkwedar/).     **Key Points** • Lauren Cockrell is the founder and president of Kwedar Company, a public relations, communications, and marketing executive, and a story brand certified guide ([0:07](https://grain.com/share/recording/98c083a5-f94f-4eae-aa99-59ae01557997/7cn8CfOmOlYbSxn0E5NMX92Kbs7wQLW1FGuhWQQq?t=7000)) • Lauren was let go from her job while eight months pregnant, which led her to start her own business, Queer PR ([6:17](https://grain.com/share/recording/98c083a5-f94f-4eae-aa99-59ae01557997/7cn8CfOmOlYbSxn0E5NMX92Kbs7wQLW1FGuhWQQq?t=377000)) • Craig asks about the process of starting a business after being laid off while pregnant ([8:42](https://grain.com/share/recording/98c083a5-f94f-4eae-aa99-59ae01557997/7cn8CfOmOlYbSxn0E5NMX92Kbs7wQLW1FGuhWQQq?t=522000)) • Craig congratulates Speaker 2 on her success and asks about challenges in the next twelve months, including building the business to scale and finding new clients beyond referrals ([13:51](https://grain.com/share/recording/98c083a5-f94f-4eae-aa99-59ae01557997/7cn8CfOmOlYbSxn0E5NMX92Kbs7wQLW1FGuhWQQq?t=831000)) • Lauren discusses the challenges of building a sustainable business, empowering her team, and staying on top of trends and channels in order to create great content for clients. She also talks about the importance of leadership in her business. ([15:08](https://grain.com/share/recording/98c083a5-f94f-4eae-aa99-59ae01557997/7cn8CfOmOlYbSxn0E5NMX92Kbs7wQLW1FGuhWQQq?t=908000)) • Lauren talks about being the sole leader of their venture and earning the trust of their team, including taking on shared team members after a partner left and being recognized by them for their leadership through awards and starting a podcast ([17:26](https://grain.com/share/recording/98c083a5-f94f-4eae-aa99-59ae01557997/7cn8CfOmOlYbSxn0E5NMX92Kbs7wQLW1FGuhWQQq?t=1046000)) • Craig comments on the impact leaders have on their employees' lives and how Lauren's employees wanted to recognize her for it, and they discuss Speaker 2's podcast, The Impatient Entrepreneur ([20:29](https://grain.com/share/recording/98c083a5-f94f-4eae-aa99-59ae01557997/7cn8CfOmOlYbSxn0E5NMX92Kbs7wQLW1FGuhWQQq?t=1229000)) • Lauren describes The Impatient Entrepreneur as being for entrepreneurs who are visionaries and passionate about their business, and they share their website and free resources available for crisis communication and news releases. ([22:17](https://grain.com/share/recording/98c083a5-f94f-4eae-aa99-59ae01557997/7cn8CfOmOlYbSxn0E5NMX92Kbs7wQLW1FGuhWQQq?t=1337000))   ## Listen [![](https://pod.allies4me.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Allies4me_May2022/images/podcast/podcast.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-legacies/id1696297530) [![](https://pod.allies4me.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Allies4me_May2022/images/podcast/spotify.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/0auloXIhebk9wF5qAQUUdU?si=85faf016e6e54fc4&nd=1) [![](https://pod.allies4me.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Allies4me_May2022/images/podcast/iHeart-Radio.png)](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-leaders-legacies-118603498/) [![](https://pod.allies4me.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Allies4me_May2022/images/podcast/google-podcasts.png)](https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vbGVhZGVycy1hbmQtbGVnYWNpZXM) [![](https://pod.allies4me.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Allies4me_May2022/images/podcast/amazon-music.png)](https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/45df905a-5690-4c40-a887-d4a2e742d0d5/leaders-legacies) [![](https://pod.allies4me.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Allies4me_May2022/images/podcast/rss.svg)](https://feeds.captivate.fm/leaders-and-legacies/) --- ## Be a Guest on Leaders & Legacies [![](https://pod.allies4me.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Allies4me_May2022/images/podcast/guest-microphone.svg) Apply Here](https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest) ### Recent Episodes #### Allies Blog --- [View All Blog Posts](https://allies2.wpengine.com/blogroll/) #### Analytics Tips #### allies4me 12400 HWY 71W #350-109 Austin, TX 78738 +1.512.410.4204 [Privacy Policy](https://allies4me.com/privacy-policy/) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/allies4me) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/allies4me) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/3559775/) [YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIeVA1wQbkil841BBy6J1Q) © Copyright 2009-2026 allies4me · All Rights Reserved © Copyright 2009-2026 allies4me · All Rights Reserved - [Call](tel:+15124104204) - [Navigate](https://maps.google.com/?daddr=30.309940,-97.917470) Menu ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Craig Andrews", "url" : "https://pod.allies4me.com/podcast/author/craig-andrews" }, "dateModified" : "2023-11-28T12:48:41.300Z", "datePublished" : "2023-11-27T22:55:14.000Z", "headline" : "Episode #41 - Scaling Success: Overcoming Challenges and Empowering Your Team with Kwedar & Co's Lauren Cockerell", "image" : [ "https://pod.allies4me.com/hubfs/Podcast/Episodes/LL%20Lauren%20Cockerell%20-%20wide.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://pod.allies4me.com/podcast/episode-41-lauren-cockerell", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://pod.allies4me.com/hubfs/allies4me-jan2016/1000x964-allies-logo.jpg" }, "name" : "allies4me" } } ```