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Lauren Ivison
Executive Coach - Facilitator - Founder at Totem Leadership
Professional Background
Lauren Ivison is a highly engaging facilitator, incisive thought partner, and trusted coach with a robust focus on nurturing resilient and authentic leaders, as well as high-performing teams across various sectors. With nearly two decades of substantial experience, she has made significant contributions to high-growth businesses and organizations in her roles as an attorney, advisor, and venture capital investor. Her wide-ranging expertise encompasses industries such as natural foods, outdoor recreation, education, non-profit, technology, and technology-enabled services. Throughout her illustrious career, Lauren has partnered with companies of all sizes, offering her insights and guidance to startups as well as established firms with revenue exceeding $150 million.
As the founder and principal at Totem Leadership, Lauren works collaboratively with founders, senior leaders, and boards of directors to delve into their organizational purpose and to crystalize their strategic vision. This essential process provides leaders with a definitive anchor that guides their decision-making processes. At Totem Leadership, Lauren and her team emphasize the importance of fostering productive conversations, encouraging teams to engage in challenging discussions while equipping leaders with the essential skills necessary to navigate the dynamic landscape of today’s marketplace decisively. Lauren’s unique approach blends her extensive legal background with her coaching and advisory skills, leading her clients towards transformational growth and success.
Education and Achievements
Lauren Ivison holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Spanish from Hamilton College, where she built a strong foundation in critical thinking and cultural awareness that informs her leadership philosophy. She further pursued her legal education at the University of Colorado, earning her Juris Doctor degree. To deepen her legal acumen, Lauren also studied law at the prestigious University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where her comprehensive understanding of law and its application in business settings was solidified.
Throughout her career, Lauren has amassed a wealth of professional experiences in various notable roles. She served as an Executive Coach and Facilitator with Sanitas Advisors, where she concentrated on collaborative coaching strategies that support executive leadership. As the Managing Partner at Ridgeline Ventures, Lauren offered her expertise in venture capital, guiding investments and supporting the success needed in high-growth companies. Her background also includes a tenure as an Associate Banker at JP Morgan, reinforcing her financial acumen, and as an Associate Partner at ClearCreek Partners, where strategic execution was paramount.
Lauren's diverse professional path also includes serving as the Director of Business Development at Liberty Puzzles, where she utilized her keen business insight to drive strategic partnerships and growth initiatives. Her earlier roles as Vice President at LJS Holdings, LLC, Lawyer at Bryan Cave, and various positions in legal and consulting firms have provided her with a comprehensive suite of skills in stakeholder communication, board development, team transformation, and mission articulation.
Achievements
Lauren Ivison has made significant strides in promoting leadership growth and organizational transformation throughout her career. In her current role as the founder of Totem Leadership, she has developed a reputation for guiding organizations through strategic planning processes that elevate their mission, vision, and values. This impact resonates through her commitment to fostering a culture of open dialogue within teams, ultimately cultivating environments conducive to innovation and adaptability.
Through her leadership coaching and facilitation work, Lauren has empowered many leaders and teams to evolve in alignment with their core values, enhance their strategic decision-making capabilities, and embrace the necessary mindset shifts to thrive amidst change. The value she imparts as a coach significantly affects individual and organizational resilience and performance.
Lauren's multifaceted career, with experience across various domains—from legal practice to venture investment and executive coaching—affirms her commitment to empowering individuals and organizations to find purpose-driven solutions that propel them toward success. Her efforts have not only transformed the businesses she has worked with but have also inspired a wave of adaptable leaders ready to navigate the complexities of their industries with authenticity and effectiveness.
To learn more about Lauren and her work, visit Totem Leadership or reach out directly at [email protected].
