We recently had the chance to connect with Lauren Poniatowski and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lauren, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I tend to lose track of time when I’m fully engaged in activities that align with my values and the work I’m passionate about. Whether it’s connecting with others through meaningful conversations, developing new initiatives, or reflecting on how to best support my community, I enter a state of focus where everything else fades. In those moments, I’m completely present, working toward making a positive impact and staying fully engaged in the task at hand.
As for finding myself again, it typically happens when I step back from the chaos of my community health worker role and ground myself—whether through meditation, a walk in nature, or simply taking a deep breath and resetting my mindset. It’s all about reconnecting with what’s most important to me and shedding the noise. It’s about presence, not perfection.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My work focuses on working closely with the Baltimore City community members to help them navigate healthcare systems, access services, and improve their overall well-being.
What makes my work special is the deep connection I have with the communities I serve. I don’t just work in a professional capacity—I’m genuinely invested in their stories and their success. Every interaction is a chance to make a tangible difference, whether it’s helping someone access financial, housing, transportation, mental health resources or working with local groups to advocate for better healthcare policies.
Currently, I’m focusing on expanding outreach programs, building partnerships with local organizations such as My Brother’s Keeper and Hungry Harvest, and using data to better understand and meet the needs of the community. I believe in the power of connection, and I’m always looking for ways to innovate, collaborate, and create sustainable change.
What excites me the most is that this work is all about people—real, everyday individuals working to improve their lives—and I get to be a small part of their journey.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that truly shaped how I see the world was when I began working as a lifestyle coach with underserved communities. I had always believed in the power of healthy habits, but it wasn’t until I sat across from people facing real, systemic barriers—lack of access to nutritious food, safe spaces to exercise, affordable healthcare—that I realized health isn’t just about willpower or motivation. It’s about equity, opportunity, and support.
Listening to their stories, walking with them through change, and watching them reclaim their health despite the odds shifted something deep within me. It taught me that compassion has to come before advice, and that small habits—when nurtured with love and consistency—can become powerful tools for transformation.
That experience didn’t just shape how I coach. It changed how I see people, systems, and my role in this world. It gave me a deeper purpose: to be a bridge between knowledge and access, and to advocate for change that reaches beyond the individual and into the community.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
The last time I changed my mind about something important was when I decided to shift my career path from being a lifestyle coach and educator to becoming a community health advocate. For years, I focused on individual wellness—helping patients make sustainable changes to their nutrition, physical activity, and mindset. I love that work, but over time, I realized that true, lasting health goes beyond personal habits. It’s deeply shaped by the environment people live in—their access to care, education, safe spaces, and community support.
This shift in mindset came gradually as I worked with underserved communities and saw the broader barriers they faced. I started to ask myself, How can I make a bigger impact? That question led me to getting certified as a community health worker—where I can still use my coaching skills, but in a way that addresses the root causes of health disparities and empowers entire populations, not just individuals.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was a necessary one. I’ve come to see health not just as a personal journey, but a collective one—and I’m excited to be part of that larger mission.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is the real me; it’s the version of me that chooses to lead with love, empathy, and intention.
I believe in showing up as someone who listens deeply, cares genuinely, and treats others with kindness—because that’s who I am at my core. It’s not a mask I wear in public; it’s a reflection of the values that guide me every day, in both quiet moments and in front of others.
That said, like anyone, I have private struggles, doubts, and moments of growth. But even those are rooted in the same heart—the same desire to serve, connect, and make people feel seen and supported. So yes, what you see publicly is me—just the version of me that’s grounded in purpose and trying to pour light into the world.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I made them feel truly seen, heard, and loved.
That I showed up with my whole heart—whether for one person or a whole community. That I gave more than I took. That I didn’t just talk about kindness, but lived it—in the way I listened, the way I served, the way I forgave, and the way I lifted others up when they forgot their worth.
I hope they say I made people believe in themselves again. That I left spaces better than I found them. That I loved without conditions, led with empathy, and stood for something greater than myself. And that through it all, I stayed rooted in purpose—planting seeds of hope, healing, and joy that could grow long after I was gone.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifestylecoachlauren/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-poniatowski-4367278a/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Laurenlydiafitness/
