In this inspiring episode of A Founder’s Life, host Leo Gestetner sits down with Lauren Kaplan, founder of GrowthOps Advisory, to explore the truth behind one of her core beliefs: all business problems are people problems.

Lauren shares her journey from operations leader to founder, revealing how a surprising health diagnosis and years in startups shaped her approach to leadership, resilience, and performance through people. She opens up about the challenges of managing teams, the importance of detaching emotions to make better decisions, and how personal health struggles can reshape your business philosophy.

Whether you’re leading a fast-growing startup, managing a small team, or navigating your own health challenges, Lauren’s story offers powerful lessons on building sustainable businesses and lives.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why “all business problems are people problems”
• How to lead with clarity and empathy
• Lessons from a stage-zero breast cancer journey
• Balancing business growth with personal well-being
• Strategies for motivating and supporting your team

⏱ Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome & Introduction

0:35 – Lauren’s founder journey

3:09 – Why all business problems are people problems

5:02 – The meaning of family

6:41 – Health journey & lessons learned

15:12 – Fun, creativity, and joy

18:59 – Defining balance

19:58 – Pivotal career moments

22:45 – Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

24:07 – Where to find Lauren

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Learn more about Growth Ops Advisory:

https://growthopsadvisory.com/

Connect with Lauren:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenakaplan/

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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