Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura George.
Laura, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always loved writing, telling stories, and empowering others – especially young people. My path to starting Laura George Consulting (LGC) involved combining those interests into a means to help students confidently navigate a clear path forward on their journeys to their best-fit colleges.
After attending Duke University and Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and pursuing a career in advertising and marketing through my early 30s, I went on to have four sons and then reinvent myself by embarking on a new journey as an entrepreneur in my mid-40s. Recognizing the lack of easy access to clear information and services relating to the journey to college, I combined past experiences as a marketer, writer, ACT tutor, and MBA admissions committee member at Kellogg and launched LGC as a comprehensive college consulting business in 2016. I started by meeting students in local libraries, and over the next year, my reputation grew. I also harnessed the power of social marketing – a completely different type of marketing than I had studied in business school at Northwestern Kellogg – and launched an informational Facebook group, Parents of College Bound Kids. This platform allowed me to blog, answer questions, and magnify my presence and expertise.
Soon, I realized I would either have to clone myself, add hours to the day, or consider expanding my business. It took a leap of faith to begin to hire additional expert ACT/SAT tutors, college consultants, and essay coaches, and I gradually and thoughtfully built a team of experts, anchored by a core group of women, which has been so rewarding. I now have a fantastic team of 30+ employees who are equally enthusiastic about our shared mission to empower students to gain confidence in their skills, tell their authentic stories, and reach their full potential. Along with my team, I am invigorated and gratified daily to make a meaningful impact in young people’s lives by helping them achieve their full potential and gain admission to their best-fit colleges.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of my favorite things about being an entrepreneur is the fact that new challenges always arise, and with them, new opportunities to learn and grow. I have definitely encountered some growing pains along my journey, such as when I was trying to manage too many roles and tasks during the first year of my business and, therefore, not excelling at any of them. I recognized that the best path forward involved finding trusted colleagues to travel this journey with me. On the best teams, everyone possesses different skill sets that complement one another and make the end result is a stronger one.
Other challenges have involved determining which services to add to our core offerings and which did not fully align with our mission or were those in which we felt we did not possess sufficient expertise. Through some trial and error, we have developed a comprehensive set of services that allow us to serve as a single source of expertise and support to families who are seeking guidance on the journey to college, from 8th-12th grade.
We’ve been impressed with Laura George Consulting, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Laura George Consulting, we believe that families should have consistent, reliable access to information and support throughout the journey to college. Our mission is to partner with parents and students to help them chart a clear path forward to their “best-fit” colleges. Our team of expert high school and college consultants, ACT/SAT tutors, and college essay and application coaches at LGC pursue this mission with passion and conviction every day.
We seek to educate families about all aspects of the college planning and application process, which can often be confusing and overwhelming. Information is essential. Unfortunately, clear, actionable information and insights are often difficult to find during the college search, application, and admissions process. LGC has long sought to change that by serving as a destination for families seeking to cut through the clutter of misinformation and conjecture that often surrounds this process.
At LGC, we are guided by our founding principles that reflect our origins as a small, community-based service business, and we remain the same boutique consulting company that families have come to rely upon as their partner throughout the journey to college. We deliver concierge-level service by providing personalized, individual guidance and support to each unique student and family via Zoom throughout Minnesota, the US, and internationally.
While upholding our personalized approach, we continue to evolve. We constantly strive to improve our existing services as well as anticipate new ways in which we can guide and support families and students by developing new offerings. By staying abreast of changes and trends in college admissions and constantly educating ourselves so that we may provide the most up-to-date information and guidance, our team endeavors to help families avoid confusion, gain confidence, and experience the excitement that should accompany this process.
We recently launched a new LGC website to not only provide clear information about the services we offer but also convey how we will support our clients throughout the college planning and application process. Our updated website is illustrative of our ongoing dedication to partnering with families throughout each student’s unique journey. The website complements our 8,500-member Facebook group, Parents of College Bound Kids, which has provided a safe space in which to gain access to information and conversation about the journey to college for over five years.
At LGC, your child’s success is our success. We welcome you to visit our new website, explore the augmented information and features, and contact us so that we may start the conversation about how we can partner with your family to help your child chart a clear path forward to their best-fit colleges.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Absolutely – don’t give up! Harness what you love and find a way to benefit others with it. Surround yourself with optimistic, creative, honest individuals who will consistently challenge you and make you and your entire organization better. Don’t be afraid to fail – when you do, you will learn so much more than when you easily succeed. I have learned these things by living through them, and I hope that sharing them with others who are in the earlier stages of their entrepreneurial journeys can help them dive in, learn by doing, and succeed as well.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.laurageorgeconsulting.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurageorgeconsulting
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurageorgeconsulting
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/laura-george-consulting-lincolnshire-4
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ParentsofCollegeBoundKids
Image Credits
Robin Subar
