We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lauren Golt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the most meaningful projects of my career was designing and creating a restaurant called Bar Reverie. The idea began as a spark of inspiration I shared with a client—someone who not only listened, but believed in my vision enough to hand me the reins completely. From the name to the menu design, music, colors, tiles, chair, and every detail was thoughtfully chosen to reflect the story I wanted the space to tell. What made this project so significant wasn’t just the creative freedom, but the trust placed in me to bring something entirely new to life. That level of belief in my skillset—being given the opportunity to lead with both strategy and style—remains one of the most affirming and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Lauren Golt, and I’m the owner of Social Stylate—a marketing, branding, and design firm that blends strategy with creativity to help businesses grow and stand out. My career began in fashion PR in Manhattan, where I discovered a love for brand storytelling. From there, I shifted to digital advertising. This gave me a comprehensive understanding of both creative messaging and performance-driven strategy. But I realized I was craving more hands-on creativity, so I pitched my services to a well-known local retailer with multiple store locations. I offered to manage everything from website updates and email campaigns to social media, direct mail, and in-store marketing. The goal was to relieve the burden on store managers and associates—letting them focus on customer experience while I handled the behind-the-scenes communication. The fact that I could offer such a wide range of services as one person made an immediate impact, and when they signed a six-month commitment, I officially launched Social Stylate. Today, my team and I provide clients with digital marketing, brand and web design, photography, and even interior design services. With a diverse skill set that spans creative and technical disciplines, we serve as a true one-stop shop—bringing ideas to life through thoughtful execution, strong visuals, and strategic insight.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Referrals/word of mouth. I am incredibly geateful to the clients who have been kind enough to refer Social Stylate. They are the reason I have continued to grow.

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

Before I started my own business, I was working in a high-level marketing role at a major corporate retailer. On paper, it was a great job—competitive salary, solid benefits, and a clear path upward. But in reality, my day-to-day was filled with endless Excel spreadsheets, back-to-back meetings, and very little creative freedom. I spent my days in a cubicle, frustrated by how slowly decisions were made and how rarely new ideas were welcomed. It just didn’t feel like me.

Then, everything changed. My dad passed away unexpectedly, and my world was turned upside down. Grief has a way of clarifying things. As I moved through that intense period of loss, I began to realize how short life is—and how important it is to spend our time doing something meaningful.

That was the wake-up call. I didn’t want to play it safe anymore. I wanted to build something of my own, something that allowed me to use my creativity, trust my instincts, and move at a pace that felt aligned with my ambition. That’s when I made the decision to leave the corporate world and start my own business. It was terrifying—but it was also the best decision I’ve ever made.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://socialstylate.com
• Instagram: lagolt and socialstylate