Meet Jillian Lapedus

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jillian Lapedus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jillian, how does your business help the community?
The Guru Experience impacts the world and helps the community by addressing a critical need—creating meaningful opportunities for talent to flourish. We’re not short on creativity or talented people; they’re everywhere, abundant and incredible. What we truly lack are opportunities for these talented individuals to be seen, supported, and uplifted.

At its core, The Guru Experience is dedicated to elevating artists, healers, creators, and visionaries by providing spaces and opportunities that genuinely support their growth. We believe deeply in the transformative power of allowing talent to fully shine and be celebrated, recognizing their immense value to society and our collective well-being.

When you lift creative voices, giving them a platform and visibility, the impact ripples outward. Those artists, healers, and creators then inspire and uplift others. It’s a cycle of empowerment and inspiration that ultimately enriches our communities and helps create meaningful, lasting social impact.

Our mission is to shift the narrative from scarcity to abundance—because talent isn’t rare, but meaningful opportunities often are. Through every event, every connection, and every collaboration, we seek to highlight and amplify the incredible individuals who bring beauty, healing, and inspiration into our lives, strengthening our community as a whole.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career journey has been incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, shaped profoundly by meaningful relationships, deep connections, and an openness to seizing opportunities as they arise. From the very beginning, I’ve had a heartfelt passion for creating life-changing experiences, whether through healing, hospitality, art, or luxury. Building genuine relationships and intuitively understanding people’s needs have always been at the heart of what I do, and I believe this empathetic approach is truly what sets me apart professionally.
Spending over a decade as Director of Events for Equinox Sports Club provided me with invaluable experience. During my career in hospitality, I’ve learned that talent is everywhere. I’ve worked with literally thousands of incredible people. It’s not talent we are lacking—it’s opportunities for talent to seize and grow in environments that support and uplift them, rather than exploit them. This belief has shaped the way I approach my work, always striving to create spaces where people feel empowered to thrive.
I also learned that success is never a solo effort. The most powerful moments of my career have happened through collaboration, working alongside talented individuals who inspire me, challenge me, and support my growth.
When I launched The Guru Experience, it wasn’t just about building a business—it was about building a community. One of my proudest achievements is undoubtedly the Guru Experience Topanga Retreat. It was more than just a successful event—it was a defining moment that confirmed what I had envisioned was exactly what people were seeking. The overwhelming response, the feedback, and the energy of the participants made it clear that my idea was not only legitimate but truly resonated with people. It validated my belief in the powerful synergy created by combining luxury with meaningful wellness practices. Most importantly, it reinforced my belief that success flourishes when people come together to support one another.
However, stepping into entrepreneurship wasn’t without challenges. Navigating uncertainties, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, required courage, adaptability, and resilience. Rather than letting these challenges overwhelm me, I saw them as opportunities to innovate and grow. I leaned heavily on my incredible network of friends, mentors, and supporters who believed in me and encouraged me every step of the way. Their belief gave me the strength to keep going, even when things felt overwhelming.
Through this journey, I’ve learned that success doesn’t happen overnight; it demands patience, perseverance, and an openness to continuous growth and learning. But more than anything, I’ve learned that the people you surround yourself with matter most. Relationships are everything—they inspire you, they push you, and they create the opportunities that lead to growth.
I firmly believe that success is deeply intertwined with the power of human connection, and this has been central to my personal and professional growth. My passion is genuine—I want to help people heal, grow, and maximize their potential. I’m excited about what’s next for The Guru Experience, and now it’s my turn to pay it forward for all of the support I’ve received.
This is just the beginning, and I’m thrilled to see where this journey takes me next.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh, hands down, one of the best weeks ever was when my best friend came to visit me here in LA. Because I plan events for a living, I actually deeply enjoy spontaneity—and there’s no better place for that than LA. The thing about LA is—you don’t find LA, LA finds you. We didn’t have a plan, just a few places I thought we might hit, but if we ended up there, great, and if we didn’t, that was fine too. The beauty of LA is in the randomness—you let the city pull you in, and somehow it all just works out perfectly.
One of the few places I knew I wanted to take her was the Sunset Marquis. It’s my happy place. Even though I live here now, it still feels like a little vacation every time I go. The staff there is like family—they know your name, they remember what you love, and they always make you feel right at home. We spent hours at Bar 1200 laughing and catching up, and brunch at Cavatina? Unreal. We practically had to roll ourselves out of there.
The rest of the week was just this perfect mix of unexpected moments. One afternoon, we wandered down Abbot Kinney in Venice, popping into random boutiques and discovering shops we’d never even heard of. Another day, we somehow ended up hiking Runyon Canyon—sweaty, out of breath, and laughing the whole way up—but those views? Worth it.
We stumbled into Elephante in Santa Monica one evening, just in time for cocktails as the sunset painted the sky pink and gold. Another night, we overdid it at Sugarfish because there’s no such thing as ‘just one more piece of sushi.’
Of course, we couldn’t resist a little pampering. We got massages at The Now (which felt like heaven) and spent an entire afternoon at The Beverly Hills Hotel spa—a perfect reminder that a little indulgence never hurts.
It was one of those weeks where everything just clicked—great food, lots of laughs, and all those little moments that make you stop and think, ‘This is exactly what life’s about.’ I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Without a doubt, I have to dedicate this shoutout to Chantelle Hartshorne, my dear friend, CEO of StyleBee Inc., who has been one of my key vendors and partners since my days as Senior Director of Events for Equinox Sports Club. Having collaborated with Chantelle for decades, she was naturally the first person I thought of when I decided to embark on my own venture. I knew she would offer guidance, but I truly had no idea how transformative her involvement would become and I will be forever grateful.
We often joke about our initial call —“Remember when I called you saying I wanted to start a business, and three days later you literally presented me with a fully built brand?” Her approach and tireless effort have literally turned my vision into reality in record time—we often joke about how, within three short days, I went from having just an idea to running a fully operational business.
When I first called Chantelle with the idea of starting a business, she let out a loud laugh because I was what she’s been waiting for, the perfect example of the transformative pivot she’s passionately been advocating for and developing through Stylebee. Without hesitation, she immediately began strategizing and building, creating my brand entirely from the ground up.
Chantelle is undeniably one of the smartest people I’ve ever met a strategic genius, the best creative problem solver you could ever encounter and has dedicated her entire life and career to helping entrepreneurs like myself succeed and has developed a strategy with tangible, actionable items that have the potential to substantially shift the economy.
The countless hours and unwavering passion Chantelle has poured into The Guru Experience are unmatched. Her only request was the opportunity to use my business as a case study to further support her groundbreaking theory, company pivot and initiatives and to dedicate 1% of my proceeds towards her venture. Her contribution and vision are genuinely extraordinary, making her the singular person who truly deserves this special recognition.

Website: https://www.theguruexperience.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexperiencegurus/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillianlapedus/

Twitter: https://x.com/theexperienceGs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Guru-Experience

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-guru-experience-los-angeles

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Theexperiencegurus

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@theguruexperience

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Image Credits
Chantelle Hartshorne – https://www.instagram.com/chantellestudio/
Samantha Jacoby – https://www.instagram.com/sjphotostudio/