Community Highlights: Meet Dr. Cyndi Laurin of Guide to Greatness®

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Cyndi Laurin.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey began at 17 as a student in Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo’s Industrial Technology Dept, an ideal fit for someone endlessly curious about how things work. By 23, I’d become the department’s first female faculty member. Those early years were a whirlwind, from building the program’s first advisory board to teaching a variety of undergrad and graduate courses, often learning just ahead of my students. My results earned me the offer of a tenure-track role if I completed my PhD.

Determined to meet the challenge, I taught full time and commuted 180-miles roundtrip from SLO to UC Santa Barbara to earn my doctorate in Leadership and Organizations in three years. Along the way, I even designed and built my first home at 25, cementing a lifelong love of design and construction.

Testing academic theory in the “real-world” paved the way for my “second act.” A chance conversation on an airplane led me to the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market, and ultimately to write “Catch!”—a business bestseller now in its 20th year. The book’s success launched me from professor to author, speaker, and consultant. In 2005, I moved to Arizona to be closer to an international airport and greater opportunities, founded Guide to Greatness®, and never looked back.

Decades later, my work is still focused on helping \leaders and businesses orchestrate greatness, from the C-suite to the front line. I’ve authored “The Rudolph Factor” and “Be a Frontline H.E.R.O.” and developed the Growth Alignment Framework™—a predictive model guiding organizations through six stages of intentional growth. My newest book, “Orchestrated Randomness” distills the approach and will debut in early 2026.

My clients span from Australia to Arizona and recently designed and built a second home—a barndominium in Gilbert—where my daughter and I enjoy life with our horse, a menagerie of critters, time outdoors, and our 1966 Ford F-100. While my story may look like “luck” or serendipity, it’s really a tapestry of observation, curiosity, and decisive action in the relentless pursuit of positive impact.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Gosh no, it’s never been a smooth road for me—more like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Everything truly worthwhile in my career has come with its share of rejection or slammed doors. Refusing to settle for “what is” pushed me to be resourceful, determined, and strategic—whether that meant dealing with a grad school rejection letter, skepticism from peers, or pushback from deeply rooted traditions. Every meaningful pursuit has brought challenges and setbacks, demanding stubborn persistence, tough decisions at times, and a steady resolve to not leave my life or work to chance.

Behind every achievement, there’s a story most people never see: sleepless nights, thousands of micro-decisions, risks that felt scary, and moments when standing up for what’s right felt much harder than it ought to be. Whenever the road got especially rough, I’d remind myself that life is short, and I want to get my money’s worth. My purpose is clear— I’m here to help others get where they want to go, whether in the classroom, the boardroom, or alongside my clients.

Honestly, I wouldn’t trade the ups and downs for anything—well, maybe one or two things (kidding). The truth is, challenges are a part of the ride. You can’t opt out of life’s obstacles, but you can turn inward to find discipline, curiosity, and the courage to keep moving forward. That’s what helps me create opportunities and stay true to my purpose, fueling me to keep making a difference for the organizations and inspired leaders I’m privileged to serve.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Guide to Greatness® is anchored in connecting the powerful relationship between people, process, product, profit, and proficiency. At the heart of my work is the Growth Alignment Framework™, a proprietary diagnostic and roadmap shaped by thirty years of research and hands-on experience. This framework maps out the predictable stages of organizational maturity, guiding teams from early growth to sustained innovation.

What I hear most that sets me apart as a consultant, coach, and speaker is my down-to-earth, authentic style, plus a dose of quirky humor, and a genuine passion for making things better. Whether in the classroom, executive meeting, or on stage, I have a knack for connecting quickly and putting people at ease. I love digging in to discover what’s really holding leaders or businesses back. Spoiler alert, it’s rarely what’s obvious at first glance.

My approach is introspective and never one-size-fits-all. I become truly invested in understanding each client’s unique context, strengths, and blind spots. My specialty is unearthing root causes—even those experienced leaders may overlook—and paving the way for sustainable, meaningful change.

What I’m most proud of is this work creates improvements that last. Few things are more rewarding than watching client dashboards glow green as new habits and culture take hold. What differentiates my brand is the focus on making real progress practical and success deeply personal, bringing clarity, empathy, and a contagious curiosity to every engagement. That’s what turns every project into an adventure worth taking.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I wasn’t all that different from who I am today…always outdoors, same quirky humor, and a drive to understand how things work. When I was about 9 or 10, I got a green KIA bike that made odd noises, so my instinct was to take it apart—piece by piece—right there in the garage. My parents were less than thrilled to find their new bike scattered in a hundred parts, but I managed to put it back together and fix the problem. Little did I know that was setting the stage for a lifelong habit of building, creating, and fixing things.

I’m grateful my parents encouraged me to explore a variety of interests. I loved art and music, played different sports like tennis, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball, and was happiest camping, backpacking, or just getting outside. My love of horses started early, too. I wasn’t able to have my own as a kid, but after college, I finally made that dream real. Through the years, I’ve had the joy of having horses in my life, most recently welcoming Misty, after saying goodbye to Raz, who was with me for a remarkable thirty years.

Looking back, the best part of my childhood, and still today, has been the wonderful friends I’ve made along the way. They’ve shared adventures, sparked laughter, and always cheered me on, keeping me grounded through every new project or dream. These days, I find great satisfaction watching my own kid grow up with the same love of the outdoors, her passion for dance, and a strong appreciation for lasting friendships. Friends and family inspire me to keep exploring, reflecting, and creating, and their support remains a huge part of who I am and how I take on the world.

Pricing:

• Pricing is based on needs, so please reach out for a discovery call.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cyndilaurin.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cyndi.laurin#
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndilaurin/
• Other: https://www.alignable.com/queen-creek-az/guide-to-greatness-llc-2?user=13285617