Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren Donahue. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lauren, appreciate you joining us today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

Who is your hero and why?
My hero is my grandfather, Raleigh E. Lackey—affectionately known as “Lucky Luke.” He was more than just my grandfather; he was my mentor, coach, teacher, friend, father figure, and the most impactful person I’ve ever known. His wisdom shaped my life in every way, and I attribute much of my success to his guidance, love, and unwavering belief in me. Raleigh had a gift for pouring into people, always offering wisdom, humor, and encouragement. Whether he was at Cowtown, in a classroom, on a basketball court, or simply sitting at the kitchen table, he was sharing lessons that made people better.

What lessons have you learned from them, and how have they influenced your journey?
Raleigh taught me that success is directly tied to the challenges we’re willing to face. He instilled in me the belief that obstacles aren’t roadblocks but stepping stones to growth. Because of him, I don’t back down from challenges—I embrace them, knowing they are opportunities to level up. He often reminded me that “The cream will always rise to the top,” a mantra that has guided me through both personal and professional pursuits. His influence is why I’ve built my life and businesses around connection, resilience, and integrity.

Any relevant stories or anecdotes?
Some of my favorite memories with Raleigh revolve around sports. As my coach, he made every practice an adventure, mixing storytelling with skill-building and teaching life lessons through the game. Winning was fun, but what made it special was how he made every moment feel like a celebration. He had a way of making everyone feel like they belonged, and that’s something I’ve carried with me into my work today—creating spaces where people feel safe, supported, and empowered.

To honor his legacy, I started Laleigh Coffee (a blend of our names, Lauren + Raleigh). Our first roast, The Raleigh Roast, was named after him, and a portion of proceeds is donated to the Parkinson’s Foundation in his memory. This was my way of continuing his tradition of pouring into others, just as he always did.

Raleigh was the kind of person who would have been sharing his favorite podcasts and Instagram posts if he were here today, always learning, always teaching. His spirit lives on in everything I do—from my retreats at Rise Wellness to the way I navigate life’s challenges with resilience and heart. He showed me how to lead with love, serve others, and embrace every challenge as a chance to grow. I am the woman I am today because of him.

Lauren, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Lauren, a small-town girl from Valley Center, Kansas, who grew up playing sports, mainly because, let’s be honest, there wasn’t much else to do in Kansas! But beyond the fields and courts, the real foundation of who I am today was built by my grandfather, Raleigh. He was my mentor, coach, teacher, friend, father figure, and hero. If anything I say sounds like wisdom, it’s probably something he taught me. He had an incredible gift for pouring into people and helping them become the best versions of themselves. Whether at Cowtown, in classrooms, at churches, or on basketball courts, he shared life lessons through quotes, newspaper clippings, and storytelling. If he were alive today, I have no doubt he’d be sharing his favorite podcasts and Instagram posts with anyone who would listen!

Because of him, I’ve always believed that challenges are not roadblocks—they’re opportunities to grow. I get excited when challenges arise because I know they mean I’m leveling up. That mindset has shaped my entire life and led me to where I am today.

I’m the founder of Rise Wellness, where we help people unplug from the noise of the world and reconnect with themselves through wellness retreats and transformational experiences. Our retreats create safe spaces for people to come together, connect, and transform their lives. I believe that to truly thrive, we must feel good—to do good. Our retreats provide the environment, tools, and support for people to reset, realign, and rise into the next best version of themselves.

One of our most unique offerings is our walking retreat along the Camino de Santiago. This legendary pilgrimage is not just a journey through Spain—it’s a journey inward. Every step tells a story, and every mile walked leads to a deeper sense of self-discovery. Our next Camino retreat is happening May 28th – June 3, 2025.

In addition to our retreats, I also run Retreat Launch Formula, where I mentor and coach aspiring retreat leaders on how to successfully plan, market, and sell out their first retreat. I know firsthand how life-changing retreats can be, and I love helping other coaches, wellness practitioners, and leaders create experiences that change lives while growing their businesses.

On the product side, I recently launched Laleigh Coffee, a company I created in honor of my grandfather. The name blends “Lauren” and “Raleigh,” and our first roast, The Raleigh Roast, pays tribute to his legacy. A portion of proceeds from Laleigh Coffee goes to the Parkinson’s Foundation, a cause close to my heart after losing Raleigh to the disease in 2021.

At the core of everything I do—Rise Wellness, Retreat Launch Formula, and Laleigh Coffee—is connection. My mission is to facilitate relationships and create spaces where people feel like they truly belong. Whether through a retreat, a mentorship call, or even a cup of coffee, I want people to feel seen, valued, and inspired to step into their highest potential.

I am most proud of the way I have stayed true to my core values—faith, adventure, integrity, and impact. I’ve built my businesses and my brand on a foundation of helping people rise above challenges, reconnect with themselves, and live in alignment with who they truly are.

If someone is looking for a transformational experience—whether it’s joining a wellness retreat, launching their own retreat business, or even just needing an inspiring morning ritual with a great cup of coffee—I’m here to help make that happen. My biggest goal is to continue creating spaces and experiences that help people rise.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Pivoting in the Face of Uncertainty: How 2020 Transformed My Business

In early 2020, my business was thriving. I had 28 new retreat coaching clients, six of my own retreats planned, and was gearing up for a live event for 500 people. Everything I had built revolved around in-person connection, retreats, and live experiences—and then, overnight, the world shut down.

Suddenly, my entire business model was in jeopardy. Not only were my own retreats canceled, but all my coaching clients—who had been planning their first retreats—were left scrambling. The uncertainty was overwhelming. I had a choice: let this take me out or pivot fast.

I chose to pivot.

I launched my first online event, The Recalibrate Summit, focused on helping people get back on track after a major plot twist in life or business—something we were all experiencing in real-time. I didn’t just want to do another standard Zoom event. My mission was to make these online experiences feel as much like in-person retreats as possible—to bring the same energy, transformation, and connection that people would feel at an in-person event.

From there, I kept going. I began hosting weekly online events, creating safe spaces for people to connect and grow, even from behind a screen. I also launched The Mental Health Matters Summit, a virtual gathering dedicated to supporting mental health during such a challenging time.

As I mastered virtual events, I started coaching others on how to do the same. Just like I had helped leaders launch in-person retreats, I now guided them in creating impactful virtual events, workshops, and online summits.

This was one of the biggest pivots of my career—and it happened fast. But it taught me a powerful lesson: we don’t get to control the plot twists in life, but we do get to control how we respond. When the world shut down, I didn’t shut down with it. I adapted, evolved, and found new ways to serve, connect, and create impact.

Now, even though in-person retreats are back in full swing, that pivot has had a lasting effect on my business. I still incorporate virtual events into my coaching, and I’ve learned that flexibility and innovation are key to longevity as an entrepreneur.

The lesson? Roll with the punches, stay open to change, and remember that every obstacle is just a new opportunity in disguise.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Books That Have Shaped My Entrepreneurial Mindset

Throughout my journey as an entrepreneur, a few books have truly transformed the way I think about business, productivity, and success. Three that have had a lasting impact on me are:

The One Thing by Gary Keller – This book completely shifted how I approach my goals and daily tasks. It teaches the power of focusing on the ONE thing that will make the biggest impact instead of getting caught up in multitasking or busy work. As a business owner, there are always a million things pulling for your attention, but this book helped me prioritize what actually moves the needle—whether in my retreats, coaching, or personal life.

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker – Mindset is everything in business, and this book dives deep into the money mindset that separates successful entrepreneurs from those who stay stuck. It helped me recognize and rewire limiting beliefs around money, success, and abundance. One of the biggest takeaways? Your external results are a reflection of your internal beliefs. If you want to grow financially, you have to work on your mindset first.

Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg – This book reinforced the idea that small, consistent actions lead to massive change. Whether in business or personal growth, success isn’t about huge overnight transformations—it’s about stacking small habits that compound over time. It’s a concept I apply in everything from fitness to leadership to how I structure my coaching programs.

Each of these books has helped shape my entrepreneurial philosophy, time management, and leadership approach, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking to elevate their business and mindset.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laleighcoffee.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenldonahue
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenschwab
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenldonahue

Image Credits

Theo Yang
Greg Folks
Char Becks
Ricki Santos