Dr. Lauren O. Wright
Vice President of People Strategy
The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh
amazingkids.org

Dr. Lauren O. Wright describes people strategy as “the career for me.”

A people person by nature, Wright has a knack for getting the ball rolling — two qualities that have helped her hit the ground running when she became the first Vice President of People Strategy at The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh six months ago.

“Even before being a literal component of my role, engaging in people strategy has always been a passion of mine, a passion that continued to evolve through conducting a study and writing a dissertation on management training and the multigenerational workplace,” she says.

The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh provides high-level outpatient rehabilitative and behavioral health therapies to support individuals with disabilities and their families. Wright’s role maintains and develops all aspects of company culture from employee engagement to diversity, equity and inclusion. It’s not uncommon to find her sending out surveys or advocating for company employees – all while stocked with company “swag” to hand out along the way.

“Times have never called for empathy and emotional intelligence more than that of a world plagued by global crisis and pandemic,” Wright says. “Moving forward, I intend to continue to learn about people, and adapt to their expectations and the world around us.”

Wright wants other women in business to trust their judgment and use their voices more, even in situations where they are the only woman in a room.

“We have every right to know we have the right answer, a better solution, a new way of doing things and to express it. If we are in the room, we deserve to be there. By speaking up, we bring ourselves into new spaces, and create opportunities for others to grow more confident in our abilities and contributions,” she says.

The best advice Wright has ever received is simple: “Be yourself.”

“I spend a lot of time in rooms where no one looks like me, sounds like me or thinks like me. It has been tempting to try and fit in, but, anyone who knows me will tell you I am proud to be different and I welcome it from others.”

For more than 10 years, Pittsburgh Magazine has spotlighted exceptional businesswomen within our pages and at quarterly networking events. Join us for a vibrant conversation with our four inspiring honorees and a keynote speaker at our Women & Business Awards.

Our next in-person event:

When: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Where: Alloy 26 located in Nova Place
Ticket Price: $40 with $20 benefitting The Children’s Institute
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