Awarepreneurs #1050 Awarepreneurs interview - Lauren Howard

🔖 Titles

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1. Vetting Investors and Building Mission-Aligned Mental Health Ventures with Lauren Howard 2. How Isolation Lies and What Social Entrepreneurs Can Do About It 3. Lauren Howard on Values-Based Investing for Mental Health Startups 4. Scaling with Integrity: LB Health’s Journey to Investor Backing 5. Creating Accessible Mental Health Care While Protecting Your Mission 6. From Burnout to Bold Leadership: Lauren Howard’s Origin Story 7. Navigating Investment While Staying True to Your Social Impact Values 8. Building Sustainable Care Models for Neurodivergent Adults with Lauren Howard 9. The Power of Community: Breaking Isolation in Business and Mental Health 10. Balancing Growth and Mission in Social Impact Startups with Lauren Howard

💬 Keywords

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Sure thing! Here are 30 topical keywords that were covered in this transcript: social entrepreneurship, mental health, neurodivergence, women's leadership, burnout, toxic work environments, telehealth, virtual mental health care, accessibility, lower cost healthcare, isolation, workplace culture, professional development, innovative care models, insurance reimbursement, occupational therapy, startup funding, bootstrapping, impact investing, venture capital, consulting for organizations, community building, behavioral health, mission-driven business, healthcare equity, capitalism crisis, pay equity, employee ownership, group support programs, insurance challenges

💡 Speaker bios

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Certainly! Here’s a short, story-style bio for Paul Zelizer, based on your text: --- Paul Zelizer is the founder and host of AwarePreneurs, the world’s longest-running podcast for social entrepreneurs. Passionate about making a positive impact, Paul uses his platform to connect listeners with inspiring leaders and actionable wisdom in the field of socially conscious business. With each episode, he encourages his audience to support the show and its guests, amplifying the reach of innovative voices in social entrepreneurship. Through his engaging interviews and deep commitment to meaningful work, Paul helps trailblazers—like Lauren Howard of LB Health—share their experience and support fellow changemakers on their journey.

ℹ️ Introduction

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Welcome back to Awarepreneurs, the world's longest running social entrepreneur podcast, hosted by [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A). In this powerful episode, [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A) sits down with [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B)—also known as L2—an innovative telehealth program operator, passionate mental health advocate, and dynamic women's champion. Together, they dig deep into a topic every impact-driven founder needs to consider: "Vetting Investors As Much As They Vet You." [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) shares her compelling origin story, from working alongside her psychiatrist father to launching LB Health—a groundbreaking, accessible virtual mental health program for people recovering from burnout, trauma, and toxic work cultures. She talks candidly about the importance of authenticity, community, and challenging outdated workplace norms, especially for women and neurodivergent professionals. [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) also opens up about the unique intersection of mental health, workplace culture, and the crucial decisions entrepreneurs face around growth and funding. With transparency and hard-earned wisdom, she discusses the realities of building values-driven enterprises like LB Health and L2, scaling impact while fiercely protecting mission alignment, and navigating the intimidating world of outside investment. If you’re passionate about mental health innovation, building more human-centered businesses, or figuring out how to pursue external funding without losing your soul, this conversation is for you. Tune in for raw insights, honest storytelling, and actionable lessons for anyone working to make a difference in today’s challenging entrepreneurial landscape.

❇️ Key topics and bullets

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Certainly! Here is a comprehensive sequence of topics covered in this episode of the Awarepreneurs podcast featuring [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A) and [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B), with corresponding sub-topic bullets under each primary topic: --- ### 1. Introduction and Guest Overview - Host introduction and podcast background - Introduction of [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) and her roles (CEO of LB Health and L2) - The episode’s central theme: “Vetting investors as much as they vet you” ### 2. [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B)’s Origin Story - Early experience in behavioral health administration and family business - Lessons learned from managing her father’s psychiatric practice - Encountering and responding to industry “red tape” and outdated practices - Impact of burnout and toxic work environments on her career ### 3. Journey to Entrepreneurship and Community Building - Personal experience with burnout and career transitions - Sharing openly about workplace trauma and mental health on LinkedIn - Unexpected community resonance—finding that others had similar experiences - The concept of “Isolation Lies”—breaking the stigma of isolation in workplace struggles ### 4. Societal and Workplace Contexts for Mental Health - Challenges specific to women and neurodivergent individuals in the workplace - Workplace structures not built for neurodivergent brains - Socioeconomic realities and their impact on mental health (capitalism vs. mental health crisis) - Role of clinicians and limitations in addressing systemic workplace problems ### 5. Creation and Purpose of LB Health - Reasons for starting LB Health: addressing unmet needs at the intersection of mental health and workplace issues - Programmatic innovations: evidence-based, accessible, and affordable mental healthcare - Group programs and support groups at low cost - Focus on accessibility for insured individuals with high deductibles ### 6. Overview of L2 - L2 as a digital platform and consulting/community entity - Distinction between clinical (LB Health) and non-clinical (L2) services - Commitment to sharing innovations and advocating for healthier workspaces elsewhere - Advocacy, education, and consulting for other organizations ### 7. Growth, Funding, and the Realities of Bootstrapping - Both LB Health and L2’s history as bootstrapped entities - Current challenges and considerations around seeking outside investment to scale impact - Potential and fears associated with bringing in investors ### 8. Intentionality in Seeking Values-Aligned Investment - Importance of vetting investors for mission and values alignment - Risks of losing company direction or impact due to misaligned investment - Transparency about company culture, story, and the need for “ugly, messy” advocacy ### 9. Educating Investors and Stakeholder Alignment - Ensuring investors understand the realities of mental health care and insurance (e.g., denial rates, bureaucracy) - Balancing financial objectives with impact and care outcomes - Employee ownership and safeguarding the mission when considering equity and ownership distribution ### 10. Personal and Organizational Growth as Founders - [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B)’s journey from resistance to openness regarding external funding - Reflection on growth, adaptation, and balancing convictions with operational realities ### 11. Vision for the Future of LB Health - Aspirations to reshape perceptions of occupational therapy in behavioral health - Establishing innovative, integrated care models for neurodivergent adults - Long-term support and intervention beyond diagnosis ### 12. Final Reflections and Advice for Social Entrepreneurs - Encouragement to those fighting for mission over finance in challenging systems - Necessity and value of continuing to do hard, impact-driven work despite external negativity ### 13. Ways to Connect and Closing Remarks - How to connect with [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) and find out more about L2 and LB Health - Podcast plug and thank you --- This sequence gives a complete roadmap of the conversation, highlighting both the personal journey of [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) and the practical realities of building, scaling, and protecting a mission-driven mental health business.

📚 Timestamped overview

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00:00 "Challenging the Status Quo"

04:20 Neurodivergence and Workplace Challenges

08:09 "Isolation Breeds More Isolation"

11:37 Mental Health or Capitalism Crisis?

15:01 "Addressing Workplace Mental Health"

17:40 "Accessible Support for Everyone"

21:22 "Deciding on Funding for Growth"

23:53 "Support for Impact-Driven Founders"

27:02 "Embracing Self-Selection in Business"

30:32 "Navigating Complexities in Tough Times"

35:58 Employee Ownership vs. Investor Trade-offs

37:43 Embracing Investment: An Entrepreneur's Journey

40:48 "Navigating Leadership and Uncertainty"

46:32 "Mission Over Money Perseverance"

48:23 "Share, Grow, and Create Impact"

🎞️ Clipfinder: Quotes, Hooks, & Timestamps

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Lauren Howard

Challenging the Status Quo: "Just because that's the way it's always been done doesn't mean that's the way we should always do it."

Lauren Howard

Viral Topic: Neurodivergence in the Workplace: "We were really talking about people who do not fit a neurotypical mold and who get penalized for it, despite being high achievers, despite being really good at their jobs."

Lauren Howard

Mental Health vs. Capitalism Crisis: "Do we have a mental health crisis or do we have a capitalism crisis? Do we have a world that is just impossible to live in?"

Lauren Howard

Accessible Mental Health Support: "And so if they have $20 at some point, they can come to a session, they can sit with people who understand them, they can get the support that they need or the support that will help them through whatever this rough patch is."

Lauren Howard

Viral Topic: Balancing Employee Ownership and Investor Demands: "the reality of being heavily focused on making sure our employees have, seek in what we're building, that they know that this is their company, that if they continue to do exemplary work, which they already do, that, that they are building something that will be of benefit to them and that we're not going to give away the house to the deep pockets."

Lauren Howard

Shifting Challenges for Leaders: "If you had told me 18 months ago that I was going to spend the majority of my time protecting my Patients from their insurance companies. I would have been like, why? That's never been an issue that we have before, but now I don't know what people are going to do with records. I don't know. Like, I don't know who's up to what. I don't know. There's so much, I don't know."

Lauren Howard

Reimagining Occupational Therapy: "I think LB Health has created a world where we have changed how people perceive occupational therapy and how it is integrated into care models, behavioral health care models nationwide."

Lauren Howard

Viral Topic: Rethinking Support for Autistic Adults: "your neurodivergence path or your, your understanding of your own neurodiversions should come with more than a high five and we want to do them more than a high five."

Lauren Howard

Viral Topic Title: Coping with Overwhelm in a Difficult World

Quote: "We need people who can compartmentalize. We need people who can understand that what's going on out there is awful and that it's making things harder and process that while still doing the work to create the world that we need on the other side of that."

Lauren Howard

Viral Topic: Why Mission-Driven People Matter
Quote: "the world is really negative toward people who care more about the mission than the finances. And we still need people like you in this world and people, you know, people who will still focus on the mission despite the fact that the world outside is terrifying are the reason that our, the people who we live amongst are going to have programs when all of this, when we're on the other side of this."

🎬 Reel script

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On today’s episode of Awarepreneurs, I sat down with Lauren Howard, the dynamic CEO of LB Health and L2. We dove into her journey from burnout to building groundbreaking mental health programs for neurodivergent adults and women navigating toxic work cultures. Lauren shared why “isolation lies,” how innovation comes from challenging outdated norms, and her transparent approach to scaling a mission-driven company while protecting core values—even as they consider outside investment. If you're passionate about building impact-first ventures and daring to do work differently, this is an episode you can’t miss!

👩‍💻 LinkedIn post

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Absolutely! Here’s a LinkedIn post inspired by the Awarepreneurs interview with Lauren Howard: --- Many thanks to [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A) for having me on the Awarepreneurs podcast, where we explored what it *really* means to disrupt mental health care and create inclusive, sustainable workplaces. Building LB Health and L2 has been fueled by real stories: confronting burnout, challenging toxic systems for women and neurodivergent professionals, and learning that “isolation lies”—because it’s almost *never* just you. **3 key takeaways for anyone building meaningful ventures or championing workplace change:** - **Transparency about your challenges is part of the mission.** Talking openly about burnout and toxic norms doesn’t make you weak—it starts movements and builds communities. - **Vetting investors is as critical as vetting hires.** Stay true to your story and values—funding partners should align with your mission, not steer you off course. - **Accessible, innovative care models ARE possible.** By putting community first and making support affordable, you create lasting impact—even in a climate full of barriers. If you’re navigating founder uncertainty or scaling an impact-driven business, you’re not alone. Let’s keep building spaces where people (including ourselves) can do work that’s human, sustainable, and honest. #MentalHealth #WomenInLeadership #Startups #WorkCulture #Neurodiversity #SocialImpact #Awarepreneurs --- Feel free to tag me or share your thoughts if this resonates!

🗞️ Newsletter

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**Subject:** Breaking the Cycle of Isolation: Insights from Lauren Howard on Awarepreneurs --- Hi Awarepreneurs Community, We just dropped a brand new, deeply resonant episode that I can’t wait for you to hear. This week, [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A) sits down with [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B)—also known as L2—CEO of LB Health and the transformative force behind the L2 digital community. **Why This Conversation Matters** Lauren is on a mission to call “BS” on outdated workplace norms, especially for women and neurodivergent professionals. If you’ve ever felt isolated, burned out, or like you don’t “fit the mold” at work—you are not alone. In fact, as Lauren says, "isolation lies." She learned this firsthand and is now shining a light for others. **What’s Inside the Episode:** - **Origin Story with Heart and Grit:** Lauren reflects on her “villain” origin story—how supporting her psychiatrist father’s practice led her to innovate beyond red tape, and how personal burnout launched a new career helping others find connection and healing. - **From Burnout to Community:** Lauren shares the surprising response to her vulnerability on LinkedIn (95,000+ people strong!), and how it uncovered a collective experience of isolation, especially among women and neurodivergent workers. - **Scaling Impact & Staying Mission-Aligned:** Learn how LB Health operates in all 50 states, providing innovative, affordable, insurance-backed mental health care. Hear Lauren’s candid journey from bootstrapping to considering aligned investors—how to vet potential partners *as thoroughly as they vet you*. - **Advice for Impact Founders:** Lauren offers wisdom for anyone feeling like they’re “screaming into a void”—why the world desperately needs people who center mission over money, even when it’s hard. **Favorite Quote From Lauren Howard:** > “If you think you can’t reach out, if you think you can’t ask for help because you’re the only one—Isolation lies. It tells you it’s just you, and it is almost never just you.” **Take Action & Connect:** - Want to learn more about LB Health? Interested in consulting, partnering, or bringing Lauren to your organization? Find her daily on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/l2elle/), visit [ellewo.com](https://ellewo.com), or tune into her podcast [Different Not Broken](https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com). - If this episode struck a chord, please share it with someone who needs to hear it—and leave us a review! Together, let’s build workplaces where humanity, transparency, and support aren’t just slogans—they’re reality. With appreciation, The Awarepreneurs Team P.S. Are you an impact founder seeking guidance on growth, raising capital, or building a value-driven team? Explore [Paul’s resources and consulting](https://paulzelizer.com). --- Thank you for being part of this journey toward positive impact. Let your values lead the way!

🧵 Tweet thread

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🧵 How do you scale a mental health business while staying true to your values—even as you face the “investor dilemma”? Meet Lauren Howard (aka L2), CEO of LB Health & L2. The latest episode of AwarePreneurs with [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A) is jam-packed with hard truths, real hope, & lessons for social entrepreneurs.👇 1/ [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B)’s journey started in behavioral health… working for her father (a gifted psychiatrist, not-so-gifted biz owner). That behind-the-scenes crash course taught her what NOT to do—and sparked her passion for innovation in mental health care. 2/ Burnout, toxic workplaces, and feeling “stuck”? [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) has been there. When she left her old job, she didn’t have a plan. She just knew the way things were being done didn’t work—for her or for others. 3/ [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) started sharing her story online, expecting judgment. Instead? A flood of messages from women saying, “Wait, that happened to you too?” The lesson: **Isolation lies.** If you’re struggling, it’s almost never just you. 4/ Out of these conversations, [LB Health] was born: a virtual mental health practice with programs you literally can’t get anywhere else. Accessible. Affordable. Insurance reimbursed. Group sessions are just $20, so cost isn’t a barrier. 5/ Here’s the kicker: [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) & team built LB Health across **all 50 states** in just 18 months. 30 clinicians. Over 1,800 patients. Focused on helping folks for whom the traditional system just… isn’t working. 6/ And then there’s L2—the “run my mouth” arm. A consulting & advocacy hub pushing back against outdated ideas of professionalism (especially for women). If you’ve ever been called “difficult” at work, you’ll want to check this out. 7/ Now for the plot twist: To scale, they may need outside investors. But how do you accept capital without selling out your mission or your people? [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) is adamant: “We have to vet investors as hard as they vet us.” 8/ Key takeaways for founders: - Don’t sanitize your story for investors—let them self-select out - The right investor will get your impact-first mindset, not resent it - Protect your employees and your clients **first** 9/ [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B)’s growth advice: “Don’t be the no.” Stay open. The perfect partner might surprise you. But never compromise your mission, or the care that people deserve. 10/ If you’re a social impact founder struggling with burnout, access, or the pressure to “go big” (without going off-mission!), this interview is for you. Full of candor, wisdom, & grit. Isolation lies—find your people. 🔗 Want more? Listen in, connect with [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) (L2) on LinkedIn, & follow the AwarePreneurs podcast by [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A). ❤️ RT to remind fellow founders: *You can scale without selling your soul.* #MentalHealth #SocialImpact #WomenInBusiness #StartupLife #AwarePreneurs

❓ Questions

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Absolutely! Here are 10 discussion questions inspired by the themes and insights shared in this episode of Awarepreneurs with [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B): 1. **Lauren mentions the phrase “isolation lies” as a cornerstone of her work. What does this mean to you, and in what ways have you seen isolation act as a barrier to personal or professional growth?** 2. **How has the traditional narrative around professionalism impacted women and neurodivergent individuals in the workplace, according to [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B)’s experiences and perspective?** 3. **[Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) discusses the challenges of burnout and toxic work environments. What are some signs of these issues, and why do you think they’re so prevalent in corporate culture?** 4. **LB Health was created to serve people struggling with mental health, especially those with high-deductible insurance plans. How does this approach fill the gaps in the current healthcare system?** 5. **Why do you think sharing personal stories publicly (like on LinkedIn) can resonate with so many people, as it did for [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B)? Have you experienced the power of vulnerability or storytelling in your own life or work?** 6. **The episode touches on the intersection of mental health, work, and women’s experiences. Why is it vital for mental health interventions to acknowledge and address workplace cultures?** 7. **LB Health and L2 are intentionally designed to break traditional molds and prioritize mission over profit. How do you think investors can be truly aligned with mission-driven organizations—and what might be red flags for founders?** 8. **[Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) talks about the importance of creating safe spaces for people to “scream” and share their truths. What do you think are the non-clinical benefits of community spaces like these?** 9. **The transition from bootstrapping to seeking outside investment is described as both necessary and scary. What are the pros and cons of seeking investor capital for impact-focused ventures?** 10. **Looking five years ahead, [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) envisions occupational therapy being fully integrated within behavioral health. What changes would you like to see in mental health care delivery, especially for neurodivergent adults?** These questions should spark some meaningful dialogue around the themes of innovation in care, social impact entrepreneurship, workplace culture, and the power of community and storytelling in the mental health space.

🪡 Threads by Instagram

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1. “Isolation lies.” [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) reminds us that believing we’re alone in our struggles isn’t the truth. Real connection starts by sharing our stories—community breaks the spell of isolation. 2. Burnout isn’t a personal failure; it’s often a product of toxic systems. [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) built LB Health to create spaces where people can access care, heal, and feel seen in their workplaces and lives. 3. “Running a good practice often looks like running a bad business on paper,” says [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B). When impact is the goal, prioritize people and meaningful outcomes over just bottom-line numbers. 4. [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) challenges investors: If you’re not truly aligned with our mission, it’s better for both of us to walk away. Authentic culture means inviting the right partners to the table—values first, always. 5. Change takes courage. [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) shows us that breaking the mold in mental health and leadership means being outspoken, a little “difficult,” and relentlessly dedicated to building something better, together.

SEO Description Summary

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In this episode of Awarepreneurs, host [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A) interviews [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B), CEO of LB Health and L2, about creating accessible mental health care, supporting neurodivergent women, combatting isolation, and the challenges and values-driven decisions involved in scaling a social impact business while seeking mission-aligned investment. Empowering leadership and community are key themes.

LinkedIn Thought Leader post

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Certainly! Here are two LinkedIn posts featuring [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A) as a thought leader, in the style, tone, and format of your example: --- **1.** Is mental health the next big challenge for organizational innovation? How can socially-minded entrepreneurs design ventures that support wellbeing and inclusivity at work? What if building communities that heal IS the greatest impact strategy? In a recent episode of the Awarepreneurs podcast, [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A) sat down with Lauren Howard, CEO of LB Health and L2, to discuss reimagining workplace wellness and leadership—especially for women and neurodivergent professionals. Lauren shared, “Isolation lies. It tells you it's just you, and it is almost never just you.” We unpacked how busting isolation and building supportive spaces is at the core of driving positive social change within organizations. A core takeaway: Treat your organizational culture as your most valuable asset. Move beyond numbers and traditional professionalism to create human-centered ecosystems where people can thrive—and where outcomes follow culture. How are you addressing mental health and belonging in your company or community? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and catch the full conversation for strategies on building workplaces where no one is left behind. --- **2.** What does it really take to scale an impact-driven venture—without losing your values along the way? How do you vet investors as much as they vet you? Could centering mission and transparency actually be your venture’s superpower? On the latest Awarepreneurs episode, [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A) explored these questions with Lauren Howard, a founder who’s scaled LB Health to all 50 states—entirely bootstrapped. As [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A) highlighted: scaling conscious ventures is as much about safeguarding purpose as securing capital. Lauren echoed this: “There is this aspect of vetting our investors as hard as they're vetting us… If we take outside money from people who are not invested in protecting those [we serve], what we do is not going to work.” Key strategy: Be radically transparent about your mission, methods, and culture. Let investors self-select. The right partnership builds not just financial growth, but impact at scale. How are you approaching funding while holding true to your values? Share your stories or questions below—and listen to the full episode for actionable insights on mission-first fundraising. ---

Key takeaways

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1. Isolation Lies: Building Community is Essential for Mental Health and Work Culture [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) emphasizes that one of the core insights from her personal and professional journey is that isolation is not only painful, but designed to keep people silent, disconnected, and believing their struggles are unique. Breaking isolation and building community is foundational for healing and cultural change in workplaces, especially for women and neurodivergent individuals. > "If you think you can't reach out, if you think you can't ask for help because you're the only one, isolation lies. It tells you it's just you, and it is almost never just you." 2. Innovating in Mental Health: Accessibility, Affordability, and Addressing Workplace Trauma LB Health was created to fill a gap in mental health care by directly addressing the intersection of burnout, toxic work environments, neurodivergence, and accessible care. Their approach prioritizes affordable, insurance-reimbursable services and support groups, serving people who are often under-supported by both the healthcare system and traditional work structures. > “We have programs that literally only exist within our practice because we built them using incredible, really exceptional clinicians who built innovative programs that work within the evidence space, but still kind of push the boundaries of what we traditionally see... And we try to do it as affordably as possible, because people who can afford to pay $400 an hour to talk to a psychiatrist are not looking for somebody like me. They're good. They have care.” 3. Values-Driven Scaling: Vetting Investors as Much as They Vet You As [Lauren Howard](/speakers/B) considers scaling LB Health and L2 with outside investment, she highlights the importance of staying true to core values and mission, refusing to dilute the organization’s purpose for capital, and making sure potential investors are as aligned with the mission as the founding team and employees. > "We can't be someone we're not in order to secure funding... There is this aspect of vetting our investors as hard as they're vetting us and not just taking every dollar that's offered to us across the board... Our company doesn't exist without our story. And we have to be able to tell it. And if we can't tell it, then there's no value to the money."

Leading question

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What if the key to building a thriving, mission-driven company was not just finding the right investors—but learning to vet them as thoroughly as they vet you? These are just a few of the provocative questions we explored with Lauren Howard on the latest Awarepreneurs podcast episode, hosted by our very own [Paul Zelizer](/speakers/A).

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