Laura Baringer

I love working with purpose-driven entrepreneurs. I believe that anyone can start a business - and that you should love the business you have. With clarity, intention, and an understanding of trade-offs, I know it’s possible to balance profit and purpose.

Before starting Purpose Built by Laura (previously Laura & Sarah Entrepreneurial Coaching), I spent nearly 15 years at the intersection of strategy, gender, tech, and adolescence, working with NGOs, boards, and executives to design sustainable solutions. I’ve been an executive, a strategy advisor, and an organizational development consultant—helping leaders shape impact-driven businesses and nonprofits.

Most recently, I was in Rwanda, where I launched the first African branch of a design-centered NGO, built and led a team of 10+, and managed a multi-million-dollar USAID adolescent health program. I also advise and invest in startups, with a special focus on East Africa.

My work—and my life—are guided by the belief that success should feel aligned, sustainable, and values-driven. I’ve struggled with people-pleasing and finding the confidence to fully own my vision, and I know I’m not alone. That’s why I’m passionate about helping others create businesses that reflect who they are and the life they want to live.

I’m an ICF Certified (ACC) Coach and hold a MPA and a MPH from Columbia University. Half-Italian and having grown up in the U.S., I now live in Utrecht, NL, with my husband, two kids, and our dog. When I’m not working, you can find me running, doing yoga, exploring home design (I have a serious weakness for renovation shows), or figuring out what “living authentically” really means—because it’s always evolving.