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

Hi Lauren, how do you think about risk?
The definition of the word “risk” is a situation involving exposure to danger. I don’t really think many things are risks in your career if you believe in your abilities and know you’re on the right path. Living my life as a freelancer and artist without a steady paycheck may seem risky to others but I might view having a steady 9-5 risky because you’re reliant on one employer. Calculating something as a risk before anything has even happened lets in self-doubt and I try to stay confident in every decision I make because I lead by what feels right.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I moved to NYC at 19 years old to pursue a career as a professional make-up artist. I started working on sets, with celebrities, and in the fashion industry. Having exposure to such a wide range of experiences helped my love for creating grow. I was inspired by how things were made, from runway shows to editorial images.

This was definitely the hardest time for me in my career. I was months behind on rent, living on food stamps, and still working 12+ hour days. Regardless of the difficulties of living in New York, the energy of the city pushed me forward.

Through the last 13 years, I’ve been an author, makeup artist, creative director, project manager, social media manager/creator, interior designer, and probably some other things I’m forgetting about!

I always felt shame about saying I did so many things, probably because society tends to not take you seriously unless you’re successful in one career. But now I know that’s just silly and you can do whatever you want.

It’s been most important to me to stay true to who I am and not fall into anything just because of false motivation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorite places in LA are The Huntington Gardens, Angeles National Forest for a hike, my partner’s pizza restaurant Little Coyote in Long Beach, and finally a sunset on the bluff in Long Beach.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am thankful for everyone that has ever believed in me and supported my goals and vision. To my middle school ceramics teacher who made me realize I had an eye for design to my best friend Lex who never fails to hype me up and praises my love of color. Thank you to everyone who has had something positive to say out of pure love and encouragement instead of jealousy and insecurity.

Website: www.laurenurasek.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurenurasek

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