Lauri Smith helps change-makers stand in their power and speak their truth – from the bedroom to the Boardroom to the TED Talks Stage. Lauri offers private coaching and group programs to change-makers and leaders around the globe. A leadership presence expert, Lauri is the author of Your Voice Matters: A Guide to Speaking Soulfully When It Counts.
Drawing on her 30 years of experience as a professional speaker, actor, director, educator and coach, she developed The Vocal Presence Path™ to help people live their most authentic, creative and powerful lives. Lauri’s passion is evoking people’s innate, unique charisma, so they can make their mark in the world.
With a master’s degree in theatre, she earned certification as an Associate Instructor of Fitzmaurice Voicework® and co-founded Front Line Theatre Company. A certified professional Co-Active coach (CPCC) through the prestigious Coaches Training Institute, she is also a graduate of CTI’s Co-Active Leader Program and certified as a professional certified coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation. Lauri is as an award-winning actor, playwright, director, and instructor. Her work as an instructor focuses on the importance of the authentic Self and the development of a connected body-voice in actor-training. Lauri’s performance work focuses on creating and embodying strong, diverse female characters. Lauri has performed at many theatres across the country, from Theatre Works in Mountain View to the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Her favorite roles include Gwen in Rapture, Blister, Burn, Wanda in The Waiting Room, Lois in Wonder of the World, Claire in Proof, and Julian of Norwich in Glory Glory. Lauri is a founding company member of Front Line Theatre Company in the San Francisco Bay Area. Gasping for BreaDth, her solo work, won the 2007 Ellen Hansen Memorial prize for demonstrating the bravery and independence of women.
As CEO of Voice Matters she has coached clients individually and in groups around the world. Known as “The Voice Whisperer,” Lauri has been coaching for over 20 years. While initially focused on actors, she eventually integrated co-active coaching and transitioned to working with professionals and speakers. From California to Dubai, Lauri has worked with thousands of individuals and corporate teams to connect to their deeper purpose and empower innovation. Since developing her own method in 2010, she’s coached emerging leaders at a range of levels across organizations including senior executives. She has worked with eBay, Paypal, Electronic Arts, Genentech, and more. Lauri evokes the full creative expression of each and every client she works with – enabling them to speak from their authentically compelling selves when it matters most. She helps Leaders do more than communicate, she helps them move people.
MFA & BA University of California-Davis; CPCC Coaches Training Institute; PCC International Coach Federation.
Languages: English Specializations: Presence,Private Coaching, Public Speaking
