My entrepreneurial journey is unconventional.
Since leaving Pfizer in 2007, where I spent some time with my husband—who also left the company during that period—I have transformed my career from an HR leader to a respected author, speaker, and influential voice in workplace culture.
My platform, Punk Rock HR, evolved into a full-time writing, podcasting, and public speaking career. My honest and direct approach earned me a spot as one of America’s top five career advisors by CNN in 2009, and my insights have been featured in major outlets like NPR, The New Yorker, and The Wall Street Journal.
In 2021, I published Betting On You: How to Put Yourself First and (Finally) Take Control of Your Career. This critically acclaimed book champions the idea that your work is not your worth and encourages professionals to take charge of their careers with a focus on well-being and self-leadership.
Beyond writing and speaking, I’ve been an HR consultant for several large organizations and a marketing consultant for tech companies, bringing innovative ideas to improve the employee experience, productivity, and user engagement. I continue to host my podcast, Punk Rock HR, offering candid discussions on crucial workplace issues. I am a committed volunteer in my community, raising money and awareness for issues like human trafficking and animal rescue efforts.
You can learn more about me here.
FWIW Laurie, the Barks Bunch and I thank for your volunteer work in animal rescue.
Thanks for 10 wonderfully funny and insightful years. It’s been a joy to be on this journey with you, your husband, and your cats. I’m in for another 10 or for as long as you still love doing this.
Cheers, Laurie. And here’s to the next 10 years and to getting that dog!
Thanks for your continued openness in your writing!
I continue to admire you, Laurie, and hope for the best for you and your husband and kitties.
I’m “a few” years older than you are, and have survived a lot of recessions, ’73 (and the gas shortages), the gas lines in the late 70s, ’82, ’91, ’01, ’08, plus 3 lay offs for my husband and one for me. Plus 20 years in the staffing industry. I finally gave in and went to work in HR for a state supported university. I figured it could never be relocated to Texas… or overseas. Having always hated bureaucracy, I now find it oddly comforting. Anyway, I Just want to thank you for all of your writing over the last 10 years. I can’t believe it’s been that long. Now I sound like a stalker. =) I wish you all the best, and that your company will be wildly successful.
Hey Laurie, I’m very excited for you and your business… you’re funny! I like funny. And I like smart too. I just quit my 9 to 5 job to start my next startup – and boy oh boy am I having a blast. If we build our businesses with a strong foundation of good people, a diverse client base, and a simple path to success – we can survive any recession. If we don’t survive, we can all go in on buying an oil drum and huddle around it when winter comes, and drink whiskey, and get you that dog.
Well of COURSE you will endure, and you will thrive. Take it one day at a time, and do what your soul tells you. Feed that.