Women Leaders - Lauren Pronger, President & Founder, Well Inspired Travels
by Marianne Biangardi and Jennifer Bardot
When you began your career did you ever imagine you would have a leadership role like you have now? What advice would you give your younger self?
Not exactly, but in many ways I was always preparing for it. When I first began my career, I could never have fully predicted the path I’m on today as the founder of Well Inspired Travels and now SUPERWELL Living, but I have always followed a deep internal compass guided by curiosity, purpose, and service. My background in history and psychology, combined with my passion for wellness and travel, gave me a unique lens to understand people, transformation, and what truly fuels vitality. Well Inspired Travels was born from a personal calling after watching my father battle colon cancer and choosing to spend his years making meaningful memories through travel. That experience forever shaped the way I view time, health, and how we choose to live. I knew then that I wanted to help others seek healing, adventure, and connection through purposeful travel. Now, with SUPERWELL, I have expanded into building a community and method rooted in mind-body-spirit alignment. It’s about optimizing your health, your habits, and your environment so you don’t just live well, you live fully. I’m proud to lead in this space, blending science-backed wellness with the art of living. To my younger self, I would say this: Don’t be afraid to be different. Your passions no matter how unique will become your power if you stay consistent, curious, and grounded. The clarity comes after the courage. So trust yourself more, pivot when needed, and never underestimate the strength that comes from listening to your intuition. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about being willing to ask better questions, evolve boldly, and serve from a place of authenticity.
Who inspires you and why? What is your most valued attribute in the leaders you respect or mentors you have had?
I’m deeply inspired by those who lead from the heart. Those who turn adversity into purpose and stay rooted in authenticity, no matter how much success they achieve. Two of my greatest inspirations have been right within my own family. My father, who faced colon cancer with grace and an unwavering zest for life, taught me the value of presence, adventure, and creating meaningful memories. His decision to spend his years exploring the world with those he loved laid the foundation for Well Inspired Travels. That experience sparked my belief in the healing power of travel, connection, and intentional living.And then my mother, my best friend, my number one cheerleader, and a two-time breast cancer survivor. Her strength, spirit, and tenacity inspire me daily. She never gives up. She continues to grow, evolve, and live her most SUPERWELL life, showing me that wellness is not just about what you do, but how you choose to show up for life. Her energy reminds me that joy, resilience, and grace are some of the most powerful forms of leadership. When it comes to mentors and leaders I admire, the attribute I value most is humility. True leaders are those who remain teachable, generous with their time and knowledge, and committed to lifting others up. They don’t need to be the loudest in the room, they lead with consistency, empathy, and a deep commitment to growth. That is the kind of leader I strive to be in every aspect of my work and life.
What did it take in order to trust yourself to step into leadership?
It took a mix of life experience, inner work, and learning to quiet the noise so I could actually hear my own voice. I have always been passionate, driven, and intuitive, but like many women I spent years second-guessing myself, seeking external validation, and playing small to keep things “safe.”Trusting myself to step into leadership came from doing the hard, personal work investing in my own healing, education, and self-awareness. I had to unlearn the idea that leadership meant perfection or having it all figured out. For me, leadership meant owning my story, leading with purpose, and being willing to go first, even when the path was unclear. Founding Well Inspired Travels and later SUPERWELL Living were not just career moves they were soul moves. I built these platforms from real-life experiences in watching my father travel through illness, supporting my husband through career-ending injury, and helping my mom fight cancer twice. Those moments taught me to move with urgency, with heart, and with alignment. And the truth is, confidence doesn’t always come before action often, it’s a byproduct of it. Every time I showed up scared but committed, every time I followed that inner nudge and created something that helped others, I strengthened the trust I have in myself. So to any woman wondering if she’s “ready” you don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start, stay curious, and be willing to grow into the leader you already are.
What advice would you give other local women leaders?
My advice to other women leaders is to stop waiting for permission. You don’t need to have it all figured out to get started. The truth is, clarity comes through action. What matters most is staying aligned with your values, trusting your gut, and building something that feels like you, not what the world tells you success should look like.
For more information: Laurenpronger.com
www.wellinspiredtravels.com
Lauren@wellinspiredtravels.com
Join the GRIT Community:
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8987243/
Jennifer Bardot (left) (ownyourgrit@gmail.com, or 314-630-1451) is CEO and Founder of G.R.I.T. Community For Women.
Marianne Biangardi (right)(mbiangardi@uhy-us.com or 314-322-4871) is Sr. Associate, Marketing and Business Development, at UHY LLP.