Lauren leads the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia as President and CEO, the 7th in the organization’s more than 70-year history as one of the nation’s leading educational organizations on public and international affairs. Previously, Lauren was Deputy Commerce Director of International Business & Global Strategy for the City of Philadelphia. With a focus on global business attraction, foreign direct investment, and promoting exports, her work created hundreds of jobs and strengthened the local economy. She crafted the global strategy for Philadelphia and hosted delegations, diplomats, business and investors from abroad, and represented the City of Philadelphia worldwide.

Lauren has also served as the Deputy Director at the non-profit trade association, Food Export USA – Northeast, working to promote U.S. exports in over 40 countries around the world. Funded by USDA, this public-private partnership produced over $500 million in export sales annually. Lauren has experience running her own consulting firm specializing in international project management and food marketing. She has lived and worked abroad in Copenhagen and London.

Lauren is a Board Member of Leadership Philadelphia and a 2016 Core Class Fellow. She serves on the Board of Directors for Women Against Abuse and Global Philadelphia Association and on the Advisory Board for the Philadelphia Global Identity Project. She earned a B.A. in Communications at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College with minors in Business Economics, Spanish, and Philosophy.

Lauren is an accomplished speaker at conferences and events around the world. Awards include “40 Under 40” Honoree in 2019 from the Philadelphia Business Journal and Temple University’s Fox School of Business International Business Partner of the Year in 2016-2017. She speaks some Danish and Spanish and has traveled for work and pleasure to over 25 countries.