girl crush: lauren young

on career seasons, betting on yourself, and the unspoken understanding in her two-mom household

What a joy it was to interview Lauren! I first met Lauren and her amazing wife (then girlfriend), Dani, at my best friend’s wedding in Mexico City. Fast forward a couple of years and my husband and I found ourselves doing a brief stint in Portland, OR with no friends in the city. Enter: Lauren and Dani. I’ll never forget the first night they invited me (someone they barely knew) over to their beautiful apartment to just hang and sip wine. I am still so grateful for their kindness during that era when I often felt alone. It’s the kind of gesture you don’t forget and it is just very them.

Lauren is the real deal: smart, dynamic, capable, loving, loyal. I feel lucky that she took the time to do this interview (she’s the President of the experiential marketing arm of Media Bridge and has 3 kids under 4!). I feel even luckier to call her a friend.

Meet Lauren Young:

Where are you from & where do you live now?

I’m originally from Edina, Minnesota. After eight years away, I found my way back home and now live in Excelsior, just a bit west of the city. There’s something really grounding about being home.

Who (&/or what) lives with you?

I live with my wife, Dani, our three sons: Ayo Day (3), and our identical twins Idris Rose and Obi Ellis (17 months), and our sweet but often overlooked 9-year-old Dalmatian, Olive. It’s full, chaotic, and perfect.

How do you spend your days? (ie. “What do you do?”)

In addition to parenting and trying to keep everyone alive and thriving, I’m the President of MB Activate at Media Bridge. We’re the experiential marketing arm of a full-service agency here in Minneapolis, and my team leads everything from brand activations and events to influencer marketing and media relations. It’s a lot, but I love the pace and creativity.

I’m realizing as I get older that careers can have seasons. What seasons have you had in your career?

I’ve had a long and winding road that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I started at Vogue in what I like to call a glorified minion role, before moving on to PR Consulting in New York working with clients like Chateau Marmont and Playboy. At the same time, I was modeling with Wilhelmina as one of their first fitness models, doing work for Nike, Adidas, Athleta, and more. NYC was fun, wild, and full of growing pains.

Then came agency life: Leo Burnett in Chicago on the McDonald’s account. That kicked off a long-term relationship with the agency world. While in Chicago, I also dipped into sports broadcasting with the Big Ten Network, covering basketball and track. That was definitely my hustle season.

Later, I joined Bumble and caught the startup bug. I spent years as a growth marketer for early-stage startups, and it was deeply fulfilling work. I only stepped away when my wife was hospitalized during her pregnancy with our twins. I took seven months off to care for her and our oldest son. It was hard but deeply meaningful, and clarified my priorities.

After that pause, I felt completely intimidated to return to work. But then a role at the Minneapolis Institute of Art came my way. As an art history major, it felt serendipitous. Still, when they offered me the full-time role, something in my gut said it wasn’t the right fit. So I bet on myself. That leap led me to Media Bridge, where I’m now an equity partner. This is my building season and it feels right.

Pretend you’re speaking to your mentee — what’s one piece of career (or life) advice you would have for them?

That inner voice telling you “you can’t” or comparing you to others? That voice is expensive. It will cost you opportunities, money, confidence, everything. Learn to reframe it. That’s where your power is.

Who do you look up to?

I look up to my wife’s kindness and her absolute love for everything on this planet. I look up to my father’s career and all that he’s built, while also knowing that my own definition of success will look different. I deeply admire the people in my life who are living their dreams as artists and athletes, creating on their own terms. A few of those people are Cheryl Pope, Bobby Rogers, and Ana-Maria Crnogorčević. And honestly, I’m in awe of so many mamas out there. There are too many to name, but they know who they are. I see them, and I look up to them every single day.

What do you love about motherhood right now?

My 3-year-old asked me to be his best friend during bath time. The twins light up every time we walk into a room. Watching their personalities unfold and seeing them grow into each other’s lives is magic. I love getting to know them more each day.

What feels hard about motherhood right now?

Everything. The twins are 30 pounds each and eat more than most adults. We’re always sick from daycare germs. Sharing is an ongoing disaster. My wife travels often, so I’m solo parenting a lot while working 60-plus hours a week. And Ayo has discovered the freedom of his “big boy bed,” so we’re rarely alone at night. It’s relentless, but also the most fun I’ve ever had.

You and your wife, Dani, are both such amazing moms and have been through so much together. What’s it like to share the high’s and low’s of motherhood with your partner? How would you say your mothering styles are similar? Different?

We’ve experienced incredible highs and devastating losses together, and there’s no one else I’d want by my side through it all. There’s something uniquely special about being in a two-mom household. There’s an unspoken understanding between us. In so many ways, we just get each other, which makes navigating parenthood together feel more connected.

We’ve also shared the experience of carrying our children. I carried our oldest, and Dani carried the twins. That’s given each of us the chance to be the primary parent at different times, which has deepened our empathy and respect for what the other has gone through physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s a rare and beautiful part of our journey.

Right now, we’re in the thick of it, doing our best to keep up with all the moving pieces of life. We each have our responsibilities, and we’re both giving everything we’ve got to keep things running while staying present and emotionally available for our boys. It’s not easy, but we’re in it together.

What does your parenting “village” or support system look like?

We moved back to Minnesota for the village, and it’s paid off. My aunts just watched the boys for four days so we could get away. We’ve made a few mom friends who’ve become lifelines. I recently had a breakdown in a daycare parking lot, and my friend Laura scooped up my boys, got them dinner with her husband and our sitter, and tucked them in so I could collapse and reset. Our sitter Devin, formerly Ayo’s teacher, is now like family. She teaches us as much about parenting as anyone. She’s a gem.

How do you carve out YOU time and what do you spend it doing?

Honestly, I’m still figuring it out. I try to cook something special twice a week. I’m working on getting back into movement. I was an athlete, and this is the most disconnected from my body I’ve ever felt. I’m trying to give myself grace. Twins are no joke.

Currently reading?

Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson

Re-reading Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

Currently watching?

Four Seasons

Re-watching Suits

The WNBA and NWSL

Three Substacks to recommend?

Studio Noto by Gloria Noto

a newsletter by Alison Roman

just a splash (of course)

One thing in your closet you come back to time and time again?

My Adidas denim pants. If it weren’t gross, I’d wear them every day.

One thing you’re lusting over?

Duality of Relief, I - II by Bobby Rogers

I’ve been collecting work by artist friends since college, and I want this series for my twins.

A favorite place you’ve traveled to?

Mexico City. I’m counting the days until I can go back.

One thing you’re looking forward to?

We’re taking our first trip as a family of five to Chicago in June to watch our friend play in the NWSL. I love when our kids get surrounded by our chosen family. It’s pure joy.

What’s your superpower?

Connection and energy. I’m an introvert, but I read people well and love helping others find their people.

Where can people find you? (plug yourself!)

Substack: laureneyoung

Instagram/TikTok: @laurenellis_y

LinkedIn: Lauren Young