Meet Lauryn Hreben | Founder

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

Hi Lauryn, what do you want people to remember about you?
I want to make sure that I leave an imprint of making a difference and helping others. My entrepreneurial journey started early, from growing a garden and running a front yard Farmer’s Market (complete with promotions!) at the age of 10 to competing in national DECA advertising campaigns at 17. Raised by two psychologists, a high school architecture/photography teacher, and an accountant, I grew up in an environment where serving and helping people was always second nature. So, why not have a business built on advocacy, inclusion, data-driven results, and a little tongue + cheek humor?

Unexpected tragedy is something very familiar to me and has driven my advocacy for equality for all, mental health, addiction, inclusion, and ethical practices. The feeling of inciting positive emotions on others, whether it be happiness, soulfulness, or entertainment, is one that can never be replaced. I’m always asking myself, how can we help and coexist with one another, especially in today’s world? Authenticity is a pillar I hold extremely close to my heart because, without it, you can forget helping others. At DZL, I am all for mentoring, as you are only as good as your team. I hope to leave behind a path that attracts other genuine, opinionated, and conscious individuals to create something for themselves, live their lives the way they want, and ultimately find their own happiness.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
For me, it’s always been about connecting with and understanding people on a human level, and if there’s anything I want people to remember about DZL, it’s that we’re more than a brand; we’re trailblazers paving the way for genuine, opinionated, and conscious individuals + teams who want to make a difference helping others.

Although I gained many insights through my experiences in the workplace, I realized one very important thing: I wanted something of my own. Tired of constantly hearing ‘No’, never being heard, and having my innovation limited, I decided to start following my intuition, building my own platform, and treating people the way I knew they deserved. In January 2016, I got my first client, a Vietnamese-French restaurant in Marina Del Rey, and the rest is history.

Here at DZL, we partner with brands to elevate business practices and effectively reach both general and niche audiences through the implementation of the highest levels of digital optimization, result-driven marketing, and operational solutions. Our purpose and responsibility are to connect companies with their authentic drive to genuinely reach diverse & underrepresented audiences. We create personalized and innovative strategies surrounding cross-cultural integration and communication as well as incorporate initiatives tailored to your brand using unique, compelling creative. We are prepared to help you meet and form meaningful connections with all kinds of audiences on a global scale, all while keeping brand consistency. We strive to look at everything through a socially conscious lens and act with integrity, both internally and externally. Our inclusive clients and diverse team come together to work towards a more progressive future in the world of entertainment and service-based industries.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Of course, at this point, we have to look at exploring LA during a pandemic! Luckily, I live in the best place in the world and LA still has so much to offer.

After a nice sweat at Runyon Canyon or the Hollywood Reservoir, we would stop by my favorite Hollywood cafe, Tiago, for some espresso and breakfast. From there we would walk to the Hollywood Farmers Market for some fresh pickings for dinner. The afternoon would consist of a stroll around Beverly Hills with aperitivo at Cafe Roma (and maybe some limoncello!). We would come back home to cook dinner with some B.B. King on vinyl and the sun setting in the background. Of course, we’d dine al fresco on the balcony.

Then we’d go on to lots of exploring! Ideally, we’d hop on a motorcycle, but if that’s not an option we’d opt for a convertible ride up the PCH. Stops include Venice Beach and a drink at Hotel Erwin Rooftop, The Getty Villa, Point Dume for a little swim, and lunch at Duke’s before hitting the Santa Monica Mountains.

So much food to try in LA, but I always have to take visitors to get my favorite burger at Stouts (the Goombah!) and late-night cocktails + pizza at Jones Hollywood. No LA trip is complete without catching the latest release at Disney’s El Capitan, and most importantly, catching whoever is playing at Hotel Cafe – there is never a bad night – and yes, they are doing virtual live streams!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people have contributed to my success in big and small ways. I definitely would not have made it without having a Mother who instilled in me the importance of being a strong, independent woman. My Father, who taught me how to be tough, take risks and be competitive. My brother, Kyle Hreben, who has always pushed me to go further, even when I didn’t think I could. Along with the rest of my core family who have undoubtedly been my #1 fans – looking at you Ty Hreben + Diane Hill!!

I absolutely have to thank Kristin Juel of Juel Concepts for the long-time mentorship and friendship over the last 11 years, as well as Gillian Driscoll of Sound Dessert, who truly taught me how to value myself as a businesswoman and learn boundaries – two of the most important aspects of running your own business!

As DZL expands, I continue to emphasize that I am only as good as my team. I seriously lucked out. The relentless DZL Team – Inna Yang, Alberto Alejandro, Ariell Fletcher, and Alexis Baines – are just as passionate as I am about what we do. They even laugh at my jokes sometimes!

Of course, my partner Ali Danesh who makes me smile even on the worst days and continues to be my everyday support. He is one of the most talented (and busy!) artists I know, yet he still pushes me through my moments of self-doubt and second-guessing, always helping me find the answers.

And lastly, everyone who doubted this, really, it pushed me even harder 

Website: https://www.dzlconsulting.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dzlconsulting/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dzlconsulting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DZLconsulting/
Other: DZL Beats Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/60sMB80uQT1ryCxzGizb77?si=VK7zOn5DQx6Iva9J5FL6Bg

Image Credits
DZL Consulting