Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Zabinski.
Hi Laura, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My career began in the non-profit sector, where I worked at a residential drug and alcohol treatment center and led a peer-to-peer storytelling prevention program in middle and high schools across Minnesota. Through that initiative, I launched a pilot program to bring peer support into schools for students and parents impacted by a loved one’s addiction.
Eventually, I pivoted into entrepreneurship and co-founded a marketing agency. While my co-founder and I remain friends, we realized we weren’t the right long-term fit as business partners. Still, that brief experience of building something from the ground up introduced me to the startup ecosystem—and I fell in love with it.
I discovered a passion for being a connector and facilitator of resources for founders when they need it most. Today, I serve as the Executive Director of American Underground, where I’ve found my sweet spot: curating resources, fostering intentional connections, and embedding a people-first mindset into every aspect of our work
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Is it ever a smooth road?! Never in a million years did I think I would land where I am today, but the journey, marked by serious burnout, working alongside people who’ve experienced unimaginable trauma, and launching my own company, has shaped me into who I am today and led me here. Those challenges also gave me one of my greatest assets: empathy. It’s become my superpower and the lens through which I lead and support others.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I currently serve as the Executive Director of American Underground, a shared workspace for innovators, creators, and changemakers. We have a long-standing history of supporting founders—long before coworking spaces and incubators became cool. No two days in this role are the same. One moment I might be providing hands-on support to a founder navigating a challenge, and the next I’m rearranging tables to ensure the space fits our community’s evolving needs.
My strengths lie in building strategic partnerships, developing impactful programs, and creating operational efficiencies that allow mission-driven work to thrive.
What sets me apart is the combination of deep empathy and clear strategic vision. I’m a hardcore empath who can craft a roadmap—and make sure that plan meets people exactly where they are. Whether it’s a founder in the early idea stage or a team scaling their operations, I bring both heart and structure to the work.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
A couple of years ago, I started asking myself a simple but powerful question: “What do I actually want?” Up to that point, I’d had an incredible career, but I often found myself in roles because others saw potential in me—not necessarily because I saw it for myself. I went along with it, and while the work was good, I eventually landed in a role that felt disconnected from people and from the reason I do what I do.
That experience taught me the importance of alignment. I took a risk and advocated for a role change that played to my strengths and reconnected me with my purpose. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
So, my advice: Don’t underestimate yourself. Bet on yourself. We only get one life—and I want to spend mine doing work that fires me up. You deserve the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.americanunderground.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-zabinski/
