Meet Lauren Corugedo | Head of Marketing, Chef Merito

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

Hi Lauren, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking risks for Chef Merito has led to some of the company’s greatest achievements like our first-ever and now ongoing partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers. As a small brand, the risk with partnering with such a large entity was the investment that we had to make when batting up against some of the other major players in the space. We didn’t have the same dollar or ability to participate in such a big partnership previously, and it was our first major investment outside of traditional marketing and advertising channels. Now, we see the fruits of our labor as we often have other brands coming to us with an interest in partnering due to the visibility we’ve received through the Dodgers. When taking risks it’s important to be cautious and to weigh the varying factors, but it’s also vital to keep an open mind because you never know what kind of cool opportunities will come your way. The way I look at it, things will work out. Either you’ll get your desired outcome or you’ll learn from your mistakes, pivot, and move onto the next opportunity. There’s not always a wrong answer. Staying nimble is one of the most important qualities you can have when taking risks.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
1. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about.

One of the things that sets me apart from others is my determination. When I feel that something is right for the brand, I’m going to go for it as best as I can. Even when there is a level of uncertainty or risk associated with a goal, I’m able to rise above it and follow my instincts. I’d also say I have a level of tenacity that has allowed me to achieve some pretty cool things for the brand. For example, a lot of people were surprised that I was able to secure our partnership as the official seasoning of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Little do they know I picked up the phone and called the Dodgers office to initiate our relationship. When combined, my determination and tenacity allows me the ability to go after what’s best for Chef Merito. As for the brand, Chef Merito sets itself apart from others by ensuring that the flavors we’re providing are up to par with what the community wants. Being at the top of our flavor game and so well-connected with our community is our secret ingredient.

I’m most excited about our work with the Dodgers this upcoming season. We’ll be launching limited menu items at various home games throughout the season, each of which celebrate a specific cultural group or moment in time. More to come on that soon!

2. How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

Reflecting on my college experience, I studied entrepreneurship and was always participating in what were called “startup weekends.” I excelled in the branding aspect of building a startup and ended up winning “Best Branding” at a few of the events. However, come graduation, the doors into entrepreneurship weren’t opening in the way that I had hoped. Although I wanted to pave my own path, I ultimately ended up deciding to come back to the family business. And, as it turns out, the job that I was offered at Chef Merito was entrepreneurial at its core. I got to help build the marketing team from scratch, relying on my passion for and strength in branding to head up this department.

Although rewarding, this definitely wasn’t an easy journey. It took a lot of learning on the fly, getting comfortable with pivoting, and building everything from the ground up. I had to be very mindful and try to think ten steps ahead at any given moment. I made a lot of risk assessments before making any executive decisions.

As for lessons learned, the biggest one is to always be open to pivoting. You may think you have a plan, but you should remain nimble and quick, having the ability to pivot if things don’t go as planned. And, of course, kindness is such an undervalued quality. It goes a long way. Be kind, have fun networking, put your fears aside, and focus on authentically connecting with people. These are all lessons that have served me throughout my career.

3. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

Chef Merito was created to not only flavor your favorite authentic dishes, but also to bring families around the dinner table for high quality meals and to create long lasting memories with those that you love.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If it’s Dodgers season, I would take them to a game and have them try our carne asada nacho helmet. If they want to get outside, I’d recommend the Hollywood Hills and the Runyon Canyon hike there. Malibu is great too — do the Malibu Solstice Hike and then hit Malibu Farm off of the Pacific Coast Highway afterwards. Lastly, if you’re in Van Nuys be sure to check out Tres Hermanos. You’ll get Chef Merito-flavored dishes and maybe even a Danny Trejo sighting while you’re there!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out the iHeartMedia team and the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Without their guidance and belief in Chef Merito, the growth of our brand would not be the same.

Website: https://www.chefmerito.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcorugedo/?hl=en

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chefmerito

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChefMerito/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/chefmerito

Other: https://www.instagram.com/chef_merito/?hl=en

Image Credits
Eddie Sanchez