TRANSFORM speaker series: Lauren Gibbs

Lauren Gibbs wanted to be an attorney when she grew up because she liked the idea of fighting for what you believed in.

It’s a completely different picture compared to where life has led her today: she’s an Olympian who travels around the world competing in bobsled and sharing her story with anyone who will listen.

On Sept. 22, Lauren will share her journey from corporate America to Olympic Silver medalist at the age of 34.

“When I graduated college, I charted a path that I thought was right for me. I was bored and unhappy,” she said.

Lauren is an alumna of Westridge School for Girls in Pasadena. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Brown University and an executive MBA from Pepperdine University. She had been an athlete for the majority of her life, having played many sports growing up. At Brown, she played volleyball and was team captain in her senior year.

But she never thought she could play a sport after college until she found bobsled.

While she was ascending the ladder in corporate America, Lauren was given the opportunity to try out for the U.S. National Bobsled Team. She was chosen shortly after to join Team USA’s 2015 Women’s National Bobsled Team as a rookie member.

Lauren decided to leave corporate America – including a six-figure salary – after seeing how differently her life could play out. She went on to become an Olympian who, along with her teammate Elana Meyers Taylor, brought home a silver medal in bobsled from the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

“At the age of 30 I made some big decisions and took some risks that have given me opportunities and experiences that are far beyond my wildest dreams,” she said. “Working through the process of cultivating a life style that better suit my interest and goals has inspired me to share my story with whoever will listen in hopes that others will take risks to find what it is they are meant to be and do.”

After sharing her story on Sept. 22 at the Huntington Library, Lauren hopes audience members will take away that it is never too late to be who you are meant to be.

“I truly believe that we have to cultivate the life we want because life is short and happiness is a choice!” she said.