An Inspired Chat with Laura Lee Botsacos

We recently had the chance to connect with Laura Lee Botsacos and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Laura Lee, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I start every morning with coffee — non-negotiable. Then I take a moment to give thanks to God, read my Bible, and ground myself in gratitude before the day gets going. Most mornings, I get a call from my dear friend Kara — she’s usually the first voice I hear, and our conversations set a beautiful and humorous tone for the day. After that, it’s time to move. Whether it’s a workout, a walk, or Hotworx, I need to sweat and shift the energy before diving into business.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Laura Lee Botsacos — actor, entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Built to Close, a sales coaching brand rooted in storytelling, faith, and feminine fire. After years building my clean beauty brand, Apollo & Artemis, and breaking barriers as one of the first female Kia dealers in the country, I realized my real passion was helping women rediscover their voice and sell with soul.

Built to Close isn’t your typical sales training. It’s about confidence. Connection. Clarity. I teach women how to sell without losing themselves — by embracing empathy, owning their story, and letting faith lead the way. Whether I’m on stage, on camera, or inside a sales training room, my mission is the same: to help women rise.

Right now, I’m speaking and writing more, expanding my coaching programs, and preparing to launch my one-woman show, Tuesday. It’s all connected — because I believe storytelling is the most powerful sales tool we’ve got.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
God. Always God. Even in the moments I couldn’t see my own worth, He did. Part of my journey — and honestly, the work I continue to do — is learning to see myself the way He sees me. And to extend that same grace and vision to others. Answering the question “Who am I in God?” is deeply personal, but it’s also foundational. Identity isn’t something we perform; it’s something we reclaim. And when we begin to see ourselves through God’s eyes, everything changes — how we show up, how we lead, how we love, how we serve.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me to be resilient and relentless — not just in business, but in spirit. It exposed the cracks I hadn’t noticed, the patterns I overlooked, and the truths I wasn’t ready to face. Success can be loud and validating, but suffering is quiet and revealing. It forces reflection. It invites refinement. It pushes you to grow in the places you’d rather avoid. Through pain, I’ve uncovered strength, deepened my faith, and made decisions that have shaped me into the woman I am. Suffering taught me how to surrender and rebuild — not in spite of the struggle, but because of it.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
This is such an interesting question. I think they’d say I’m loyal to the core, I care deeply, and I’ll always find a way to make you laugh — even in the heavy moments. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have beautiful friendships in my life, many of them with women from very different backgrounds. What matters most to me is connection — real, honest, soul-level connection. I show up for my people, I root for them hard, and I value the kind of friendship that grows over years, not likes.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m surrounded by family and close friends — people I trust, who know me fully and love me anyway. There’s something sacred about that kind of company. I also feel deeply at peace when I’m creating — whether I’m writing, performing, or building something meaningful. My creativity draws me closer to God, and in that closeness, I feel safe. I think peace comes from that alignment — when I’m connected to purpose, surrounded by love, and in tune with the One who created me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stan.store/lauraleebotsacos
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraleebotsacos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraleebotsacos

Image Credits
Victoria Saperstein
Laura Harstad
Mendy Cole- Walsh