MEET YOUR COACH

Lauren McDonnell

MEET YOUR COACH

Lauren McDonnell

I grew up in a small, rural town in Alabama in a traditional home with my parents and younger sister. My mom was raised there herself, which was the norm, to have deep roots in the community. And we did, with my grandparents nearby, wonderful neighbors, and a caring community surrounding me.

My family traveled in the southern US when I was younger, and adventured farther across the US with vacations as I got older. I loved visiting new places. It was a trip in 2017 to San Diego that inspired me to move there after finishing college. (This would become a recurring theme in my life – to move to a new place 5-7 years after visiting it)

I grew up in a small, rural town in Alabama in a traditional home with my parents and younger sister. My mom was raised there herself, which was the norm, to have deep roots in the community. And we did, with my grandparents nearby, wonderful neighbors, and a caring community surrounding me.

My family traveled in the southern US when I was younger, and adventured farther across the US with vacations as I got older. I loved visiting new places. It was a trip in 2017 to San Diego that inspired me to move there after finishing college. (This would become a recurring theme in my life – to move to a new place 5-7 years after visiting it)

After living in San Diego for years, New York City sounded like a great idea, and it was! Broadway, volunteering, regular brunch with my best friend.

Toronto was the next stop, following my heart for a relationship.

This was my first adventure moving abroad, and I learned a ton about what NOT to do when moving abroad.

Imagine a girl from Alabama adapting to driving in the snow during Toronto winters. It was something ;-)

After living in San Diego for years, New York City sounded like a great idea, and it was! Broadway, volunteering, regular brunch with my best friend.

Toronto was the next stop, following my heart for a relationship.

This was my first adventure moving abroad, and I learned a ton about what NOT to do when moving abroad.

Imagine a girl from Alabama adapting to driving in the snow during Toronto winters. It was something ;-)

In my early 30s, I decided I wanted to start a family, so the next stop on my journey was Atlanta, so I could be near my family. I adopted both of my boys as a single mom and years later, found the love of my life, my wife, Elita. Her daughter and cat (who is like her second child) completed our family.


We were literally living the American dream – Married with kids, a brand-new big house in the suburbs, nice cars, family vacations, a big job with a fancy title.

But even with all of that, I still felt unfulfilled, like it still wasn’t what I truly wanted deep down. I was depressed and anxious, relying on medication, and I wasn’t taking care of myself. I felt stuck and was isolating myself.

In my early 30s, I decided I wanted to start a family, so the next stop on my journey was Atlanta, so I could be near my family. I adopted both of my boys as a single mom and years later, found the love of my life, my wife, Elita. Her daughter and cat (who is like her second child) completed our family.


We were literally living the American dream – Married with kids, a brand-new big house in the suburbs, nice cars, family vacations, a big job with a fancy title.

But even with all of that, I still felt unfulfilled, like it still wasn’t what I truly wanted deep down. I was depressed and anxious, relying on medication, and I wasn’t taking care of myself. I felt stuck and was isolating myself.

But even with all of that, I still felt unfulfilled, like it still wasn’t what I truly wanted deep down. I was depressed and anxious, relying on medication, and I wasn’t taking care of myself. I felt stuck and was isolating myself.

And thankfully I was able to find my way out. With a lot of work on myself, prioritizing how I communicated what I wanted and needed out of life, and taking a leap by moving our family from the US to the Netherlands.

We have a wonderful community around us, are learning a new language, are getting to travel all over Europe and experience different cultures, and are becoming global citizens.

And thankfully I was able to find my way out. With a lot of work on myself, prioritizing how I communicated what I wanted and needed out of life, and taking a leap by moving our family from the US to the Netherlands.

We have a wonderful community around us, are learning a new language, are getting to travel all over Europe and experience different cultures, and are becoming global citizens.

Now, I’ve created She Thrives Abroad to guide women (and their families) through the process of moving abroad while overcoming fear, self-doubt, and the challenges that come with creating a thriving life in another country.

Now, I’ve created She Thrives Abroad to guide women (and their families) through the process of moving abroad while overcoming fear, self-doubt, and the challenges that come with creating a thriving life in another country.

I decided to make a big career change after 22 years in marketing for Fortune 500 tech companies. I wanted to use my superpowers from my experience in corporate America – my strategy, planning, and my leadership skills – and marry them with my passions of lifting other women up and using my unique background from making some big leaps of faith and moving abroad.

So here we are now! My goal is to help other women build courage, take bold action, and navigate the ups and downs of expat life so that they can create a life abroad that is fulfilling, joyful, and unapologetically true to who they are. I support them by sharing powerful strategies and tools, providing a understanding community, and offering guidance and resources for every stage of their journey.

I've navigated the ups and downs of moving abroad, and now I'm on a mission to guide you on your own global journey.

In the end, people will judge you anyway, so don’t live your life impressing others. Live your life impressing yourself.

I decided to make a big career change after 22 years in marketing for Fortune 500 tech companies. I wanted to use my superpowers from my experience in corporate America – my strategy, planning, and my leadership skills – and marry them with my passions of lifting other women up and using my unique background from making some big leaps of faith and moving abroad.

So here we are now! My goal is to help other women build courage, take bold action, and navigate the ups and downs of expat life so that they can create a life abroad that is fulfilling, joyful, and unapologetically true to who they are. I support them by sharing powerful strategies and tools, providing a understanding community, and offering guidance and resources for every stage of their journey.

I've navigated the ups and downs of moving abroad, and now I'm on a mission to guide you on your own global journey.

In the end, people will judge you anyway, so don’t live your life impressing others. Live your life impressing yourself