Laura Best

Laura Best is the force behind Passion Collective, a global movement shaking up the way we think about work and life. Originally from England, Best built an accomplished marketing career in the UK and the Twin Cities, working with some of the world’s largest brands including Land Rover, American Express and Target.

Best kicked off a revolution in 2014 with the launch of Passion Collective, which gave professional women a space to have real, no-holds-barred conversations about passion, identity, and fulfillment at a time when many didn’t feel they had the permission to support each other or talk openly about their hopes and needs. Now, a decade later, Passion Collective includes more than 17,000 fierce "Passionados" of all genders, has hosted hundreds of events, and has “walked the walk” by awarding microgrants to “Passion Seekers” in Europe, US and Africa.

Best resonates deeply with audiences, because she knows their journey – she’s experienced burnout (and risen from it), she’s been the “only” at decision making tables, and has felt the loneliness of being an ambitious working parent, thousands of miles from “home”, questioning her path ahead. What distinguishes Best is her relatability, her directness and humor, and her belief in “Practical Inspiration” that gives clarity and motivation for the next steps to take.

Purpose-driven organizations such as NextUp, Insperity, Old National Bank, Meritas, Auer Steel, Atomic Data, and Mentormate have all welcomed Best as a speaker, workshop leader and panel facilitator in recent years. Best's signature keynote, "Supercharge Your Work and Life by Rediscovering Your Passions," gives practical inspiration to audiences, inspiring them to level up their commitment to living passion-fuelled lives.

Best’s new book, due in 2024, will fire up "Passion Seekers" everywhere, and her fast-growing podcast, Passion Chats, shares bite-sized conversations to inspire. (Find it here: http://bit.ly/passion-chats). Living in Minneapolis, MN, with her family, Best's passions extend from the fun of tennis to the delight of layer cakes, the curiosity of genealogy, the adventure of solo travel, and connecting with history in all its forms.