Q: Tell us about yourself and the catalyst for starting Ivy League Sisters?
LB: As an undergraduate at Dartmouth, I never quite found my place or felt like I fit in. The Ivy League environment can be overwhelmingly intimidating—the wealth, intellectual prowess, and established social circles created a persistent feeling that I didn't measure up.

I envisioned graduating into a supportive network of mentors and "big sisters" who would illuminate my path forward, similar to what I witnessed happening for my male peers. Instead, I discovered the journey for women diverged dramatically. When seeking career guidance, I was directed to an impersonal database populated mostly by men twice my age, resulting in awkward, transactional conversations rather than meaningful connections.

Meanwhile, I watched my then-boyfriend (also a Dartmouth graduate) receive VIP treatment that allowed him to bypass standard application processes for interviews. The contrast was striking—there existed an unspoken alumni "bro code" from which women were systematically excluded.

This inequity nagged at me throughout my early career. Mentorship programs for women were scarce, as female professionals were too consumed with breaking through their own barriers and navigating the corporate jungle to extend a helping hand to others.

By my mid-30s, I faced an unexpected crisis—divorce shortly after welcoming my fourth child. As the first among my peers to experience such a profound life change, I was terrified. Suddenly, I needed to hire legal representation, manage finances as a sole parent, and navigate unfamiliar territory. Once again, I felt isolated, desperately wishing for a trusted network to provide advice, referrals, and guidance.

Ivy League Sisters emerged as that crucial intersection between professional ambitions and personal challenges—a community where women can find both career support and life navigation assistance when they need it most. What I'm most proud of is the diversity across races and socioeconomic backgrounds. There are numerous first-gen women who were the first in their families to attend college and they are really setting the stage for the future of women. The women in the community range from 24 years old to 70+ years old.

Q: What is 'Ivy League Sisters' and why should the general public care about a community that is narrowly focused on catering to Ivy League women?
LB: When I say, "Ivy League woman," what image forms in your mind? Perhaps a preppy, highly educated New England elitist? This perception stems from these institutions' 300+ year legacies, and I acknowledge the inherent tension in our work: we're using our shared educational background as a starting point while simultaneously examining how these institutions perpetuate inequality.

Ivy League Sisters exists at this intersection. We're creating a community for women with elite educational backgrounds while challenging them to question the very systems that granted them access and privilege. The name "Ivy League Sisters" reflects our common experience, but our work extends beyond supporting each other—we're actively examining how we can transform rather than simply benefit from these institutions.

Our goal isn't to create another exclusive network but to harness the collective power of women who've navigated these spaces to create meaningful change. We represent women from diverse backgrounds including Cuba, Thailand, Canada, Italy, Mexico, and the UK. Yet I'm keenly aware that even our diversity exists within a framework of privilege. We constantly ask ourselves: How do we leverage our positions without perpetuating the savior dynamics that have characterized so many elite-led initiatives?

The general public should care because we're actively working to redirect the resources, networks, and influence of Ivy League institutions toward more equitable ends. By focusing on transformation from within these institutions rather than simply criticizing from outside, we're creating pathways for change that might otherwise remain closed.

Q: What are some lies no one talks about when earning an Ivy League education?
LB: The most pervasive unspoken lie is the individualization of systemic problems. When women in our community say, "I'm not enough," they're identifying something real, but what's often labeled as "imposter syndrome" is actually a rational response to systems that weren't designed for their success.

This feeling isn't just personal insecurity—it's what happens when institutions historically designed for privileged men grudgingly admit others without fundamentally changing their cultures. The insecurity many women feel isn't a personal failing but evidence of navigating spaces that send subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) messages that they don't fully belong.

What's particularly challenging is how these feelings get reframed as individual psychological problems rather than structural issues. We're told to "overcome imposter syndrome" instead of questioning the environments that produce these feelings in the first place. In Ivy League Sisters, we're trying to shift from "how can I feel more confident?" to "how can we change institutions that undermine confidence?"

Another significant deception is the assumption that an Ivy League degree automatically translates to success and wealth—a myth that creates shame for graduates who find themselves underpaid and overworked. This isn't just about demanding better compensation (though that matters); it's about questioning the metrics of success we've internalized.

Many of us have accepted definitions of achievement that value prestige and income over purpose and wellbeing. We're working to untangle worth from credentials and to build identities not dependent on institutional validation—while simultaneously acknowledging that these same credentials continue to open doors for us in ways they don't for others.

Q: What are some challenges you see among conventionally successful, highly educated women?
LB: The most prevalent challenge I observe among conventionally successful, highly educated women is burnout. For many, there exists a profound disconnect between brain and body—a trap I fell into myself.

We're conditioned to think critically, analyze problems, and apply logic and reason to find solutions, often at the expense of trusting our intuition. We've lost the ability to listen to our bodies for guidance and wisdom. We've over indexed on intellectual prowess to achieve success while undervaluing the power of intuition and deeper self-knowledge.

This manifests as women excelling in consulting firms, law practices, and financial institutions while feeling fundamentally unfulfilled. They experience the cognitive dissonance of knowing "I'm exceptionally good at what I do, and my team relies on me," while simultaneously feeling exhausted and profoundly unhappy. This mind-body disconnect ultimately leads to burnout, as we push beyond our limits without heeding the warning signals our bodies desperately try to send.

I see this challenge not just as individual struggles but as evidence of broader systems that reward constant productivity at the expense of wellbeing. Addressing burnout requires both personal practices and collective action to create environments where achievement doesn't demand the sacrifice of health and wholeness.

Q: As the founder and leader of a community exclusively for Ivy League women, how do you view the privilege gap in America?
LB: The privilege gap in America is not only real but widening at an alarming rate, and I recognize that Ivy League institutions themselves play a significant role in this disparity. These schools, despite diversity initiatives, continue to disproportionately serve the affluent and well-connected. Creating a community based on this identity comes with a responsibility to confront this reality.

As a mother of four young children, I witness how youth sports, academic tutoring, and extracurricular activities have become commercialized systems that inherently advantage the wealthy. The "pay to play" model creates insurmountable barriers for many families. But I recognize that highlighting this problem without addressing how elite educational institutions perpetuate these same dynamics would be hypocritical.

This is where our work gets concrete: one member founded Voices for All, which focuses on a nonpartisan, intergenerational grassroots advocacy organizations made up of ordinary individuals who want to be heard by elected officials.

Another member is a founding board member of the Ukrainian Humanity Center, where she applies her organizational expertise while ensuring leadership remains with Ukrainian women.

The uncomfortable truth is that communities like ours risk becoming just another exclusive network that perpetuates inequality under the guise of "doing good." This is why we measure our impact not by good intentions but by tangible results: how many barriers to access have been removed, how many leadership positions have been transferred, and how effectively we've used our platforms to challenge rather than reinforce existing power structures.

Q: What advice do you have for high-achieving women who have checked all the boxes and still feel empty inside?
LB: If you're experiencing emptiness despite having ticked every conventional success box, recognize that this isn't just your personal psychological state—it's a reflection of broader cultural values that have disconnected achievement from meaning.

This emptiness isn't a failure on your part. It's evidence that the system is working exactly as designed: keeping us perpetually striving, consuming, and achieving without ever feeling sufficient. The problem isn't you—it's that we've collectively bought into metrics of success that don't actually correlate with human fulfillment.

Rather than turning this into another self-improvement project, I encourage you to approach this emptiness as an invitation to reexamine your relationship with success itself. Ask yourself: "Whose definition of achievement have I been pursuing, and at what cost?"

At Ivy League Sisters, we've found that addressing this emptiness requires both personal reflection and collective action. Individually, we practice reconnecting with our bodies and intuition through regular check-ins that ask: "What feels aligned with my deepest values?" Collectively, we're creating alternative models of success that prioritize impact, connection, and wellbeing over status and recognition.

This isn't easy work, and we don't have it all figured out. But we've found that approaching emptiness as an opportunity for transformation rather than a problem to be solved opens up new possibilities for living and working with greater purpose and authenticity. The most powerful shift happens when we stop trying to fill the emptiness and instead allow it to guide us toward what truly matters.

Q: What are the biggest criticisms of Ivy League Sisters, and how do you respond to them?
LB: The most significant criticism we face is that we're attempting to address problems of exclusivity while using exclusivity as our organizing principle. Critics rightfully ask: Can a community defined by elite credentials truly work to dismantle the systems that make those credentials valuable?

This is a fundamental tension in our work that we grapple with daily. 

Another valid criticism is that our emphasis on personal growth might overshadow the structural changes needed to address systemic inequalities. We're addressing this by paying attention to concrete outcomes: How many members have transitioned from corporate roles to social impact work? How many educational access initiatives have we supported? How are we measuring actual changes in the systems we aim to influence?

We won't resolve these contradictions perfectly, but we're committed to navigating them honestly. The question isn't whether we can eliminate all tensions in our approach, but whether we can harness our collective power to create meaningful change while constantly examining and adjusting our methods.

Perhaps most importantly, we see Ivy League Sisters not as an end in itself but as a transitional space—one that uses a common identity as a starting point for transformation while working toward a future where such exclusive credentials matter less, not more. Our success will ultimately be measured not by how many Ivy League women we support, but by how effectively we've contributed to creating a world where elite credentials are no longer the primary gateway to opportunity.

Q: What is one word of advice you can offer to young women who want to reach your level of success?
LB: Let go of any beliefs that there is a "right way" to succeed and start experimenting. Try different jobs, interests, and opportunities without fear. If you find yourself in a job you hate, remember—you can always quit and find a new one. My biggest career leaps came from switching jobs annually during my first three years, teaching me invaluable lessons about different work environments and management styles. Stop waiting for the perfect job, opportunity, partner, or situation before taking action. Treat your life as a laboratory where you're the lead scientist—collecting data, drawing conclusions, and constantly evolving your approach.

Q: Can you tell our audience one of your most memorable moments of your career?
LB: Six months pregnant and traveling to Las Vegas for my final work trip before maternity leave, I faced a pivotal moment. While rehearsing a demo my team would present to hundreds at a major tradeshow, I discovered I'd forgotten to secure copyright approval from Dreamworks for a character we'd included. The CEO, the late Dr. Mike Lynch, publicly berated me for my "incompetence and ignorance" in front of my colleagues. I maintained composure, resolved the issue, and obtained the necessary approvals—but the moment I reached my hotel room, I broke down. I called my manager in tears and spent the evening with room service, processing what had happened.

This experience taught me profound self-compassion. Here I was, six months pregnant, giving my absolute best until the very end of my pregnancy, genuinely doing all I could. Rather than internalizing the CEO's criticism, I chose to recognize and extend grace to myself. This moment revealed both my resilience and the importance of leadership styles—how we can address mistakes and implement solutions without humiliating others in the process.

Q: Which woman inspires you and why?
LB: I'm inspired by Marie Forleo, author of "Everything is Figureoutable." She masterfully blends fun with storytelling, infusing joy into everything she creates while offering practical, tangible advice without being preachy, pushy, or inauthentic. Her approach to business and life combines accessibility with depth, making complex concepts feel manageable. She embodies the rare combination of being both aspirational and approachable—the kind of woman I could imagine having an engaging coffee chat with or enjoying a spontaneous night out on the town.

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue their dream and start a business?
LB: Surround yourself with a strategic support system. First, connect with peers who share your entrepreneurial spirit and big dreams; they'll understand your day-to-day challenges in ways others can't. Second, seek mentors (a diverse mix, not exclusively women) who are a few years ahead on your desired path and can help you avoid common pitfalls. Finally, invest in a coach with whom you feel safe being vulnerable and who will hold you accountable when momentum slows.

Starting a business requires tremendous courage, and you'll face inevitable moments of doubt and difficulty. With the right support network, you'll navigate these challenges with greater resilience and perspective, making the entrepreneurial journey not just more successful but significantly more enjoyable along the way.

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work-life balance?
LB: Managing work-life balance remains the one constant in my otherwise beautifully chaotic life. I'm deeply grateful for the flexibility of being my own boss, which allows for an unconventional balance that would be challenging in a traditional corporate setting. My personal life revolves around a household with four young children (ages 7-12), a deeply involved husband, and one cat. I'm also a stepmom to three nearly launched young adults (17-21), who require less day-to-day support. Professionally, I lead both a small team and a global community of over one hundred women.

Three key practices anchor my work-life balance:

#1: Screen-free boundaries frame my days. I'm in bed with lights out by 10 PM and typically awake by 5 AM. With four active children, this sacred morning quiet time is essential for mental preparation and centering myself before the day's demands begin.

#2: Intentional prioritization through my morning brain dump ritual. I set a 5-minute timer and capture all my to-dos on a single page. Next to each item, I note the estimated time required, then select the three most important tasks based on time-sensitivity, effort required, and potential impact on moving my priorities forward.

#3: Strategic use of timers to maintain presence and boundaries. When I'm with my children during designated family time, I set a timer and remain fully present—no email checking or task-switching. This practice helps ensure I'm truly engaged while also preventing any single task from consuming disproportionate time or energy.

Even bedtime follows this structured approach. With minimal energy remaining at day's end, each child receives a dedicated 3-minute cuddle before saying goodnight. While this might sound overly structured, it actually creates clear expectations for everyone and prioritizes quality connection over endless negotiations for "one more story" or "one more hug." Any parent will instantly recognize this bedtime dynamic!

Six Things About Lauren Balukjian 

1. If you could share a meal with any 4 individuals, living or dead, who would they be?
Mary Magdalene, Princess Diana, my maternal great-great-grandmother, and my paternal great-great-grandmother.

2. What's your favorite family tradition?
Spending summer vacations with my husband and our children at my childhood home in Rhode Island—connecting generations through shared experiences in a place filled with my own childhood memories.

3. What's the most amazing adventure you've ever been on?
During the challenging period of my divorce at age 36, the man who would become my husband designed an elaborate 15-clue scavenger hunt throughout San Francisco. The day unfolded with incredible surprises: limited-edition Lenny Kravitz champagne served by a personal chauffeur, the most delicious grilled cheese sandwiches I've ever tasted, electric scooter rides through picturesque neighborhoods, explorations of botanical gardens, digging four feet into Ocean Beach sand to unearth a buried David Yurman bracelet, and discovering a secret restaurant disguised as a pawn shop. It wasn't just my best birthday—it ranks among the most extraordinary days of my life.

4. What TV shows did you watch when you were a kid?
Saved by The Bell and Full House—quintessential 90s shows that shaped a generation's understanding of friendship, family dynamics, and those awkward coming-of-age moments.

5. What's your favorite quote or saying?
"Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction." This mantra has liberated me from the paralysis of perfectionism and empowered me to embrace progress over perfection.

6. Do you read reviews, or just go with your gut?
I go with my gut—trusting my intuition has consistently led me to the most authentic decisions in both business and life.