Lara spent the early part of her career living and working in Latin America, supporting economic development, in particular women entrepreneurs. Her studies at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs led her to a career in building non-profit initiatives focused on supporting women entrepreneurs and their families across the globe from Nicaragua to Kenya to Jordan and Bangladesh. 

After years of listening to these women, a common theme began to resonate with her - beyond money and business skills, they yearned for a sense of belonging. It is this sense of safety and community that allows an individual to push the boundaries of convention, take risks, and soar to new heights.

Inspired to build the connections that help individuals and teams to reach new levels of creativity and growth, Lara co-founded Make Believe Works with her partner, Ben. In Make Believe Works, Lara seeks to contribute to a world where individuals, teams, and leaders deepen their self awareness; where empathy facilitates understanding across cultural, racial, and socioeconomic divides; and where creative, inclusive, and joyful communities support each other to realize their dreams.