by Beth Hester
CoVaBIZ: Lauren, I want to rev up Mr. Peabody’s wayback machine and explore a point in your career trajectory when you were a special education teacher for Chesapeake Public Schools. It’s a role that was undoubtedly fulfilling, and one in which you were in a position to have a positive influence on many children and their families. But it was a role that I’m sure presented unique challenges as well. I’m curious how what you gained from that experience informs how you approach your life today.
Lauren Roberts Carter: My 12 years as a special education teacher shaped the way I approach both life and work every day. Many of the same lessons that I taught and simultaneously learned in the classroom continue to apply in the business world, such as focusing on strengths rather than limitations, embracing accountability, solving problems creatively, and prioritizing strong relationships. These lessons still guide how I connect with our members, approach challenges, and stay focused on making a positive impact.
You obviously love living in Coastal Virginia. What propelled you to make the pivot into the realms of communication, social media, community-building, and storytelling?
I’ve always loved being a community-builder and storyteller. For the past decade, I’ve had one side project or another connected to this industry, which made the transition from education to marketing/communications feel like a natural next step when the opportunity to work at the Chamber came around. I’ve always been driven by the idea of making an impact and when it came time to decide whether to leave teaching, that was the question I weighed the most: Could I still make a meaningful difference in this new space?
Ultimately, I realized that I absolutely could. This new role at the Chamber offered me the opportunity to create a positive impact across our Hampton Roads business community so I took the leap of faith and I’m so very glad that I did.
In your current role with the Hampton Roads’ Chamber, what excites you most about where the region is heading in terms of growth and innovation, and what do you enjoy most about championing our business community?
Our business community is incredible! Every day, we get to witness innovators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community champions pursuing their goals and driving positive change across the region. I believe Hampton Roads is already an amazing place, but what excites me most is our unmatched potential. We’re working together more than ever across industries and localities to move Hampton Roads forward and the momentum behind that collaboration is truly energizing. Big things are on the horizon for Hampton Roads!
For decades there has been open frustration in various sectors that our region has been too fragmented, and that cooperation-oriented difficulties have stymied robust regional economic development. Do you feel that this is starting to change? If so, how?
It is definitely changing and that change has been happening for several years now. I’ve had the privilege of being part of numerous conversations focused solely on regional collaboration and it’s incredible to see the shift that has occurred. Hampton Roads is thinking bigger, working together more than ever and making real efforts to put the region as a whole ahead of any city lines. This is evident in the way our region is approaching opportunities for growth and also in the ways we’re working to attract and retain talent.
Do you think there’s a distinct innovation culture emerging in our region? What defines it?
Hampton Roads is really starting to lean into its potential as a center for innovation. We’re seeing more entrepreneurs take bold steps towards starting innovative new companies and there’s an incredible community rallying behind them to provide support, resources, and opportunities for growth. It’s exciting to see so many organizations come together to help startups and businesses thrive right here in our region, and I think they’re the true catalyst defining innovation in the region.
One of the most recent Chamber led initiatives is the Start in Hampton Roads campaign that debuted during the summer. Talk a little bit about this, and what’s the next step after the pilot program ends? How do we keep the momentum going?
Start in Hampton Roads represents a powerful opportunity for our region to come together and showcase our incredible assets and exceptional quality of life together as one region rather than as individual cities or localities. As the pilot moves into its next stage at the start of 2026, it’s important that we recognize the impact a truly regional marketing initiative can have. By learning from this pilot and leveraging the valuable data we’ve collected, we can maintain momentum and work collaboratively to fund what would become our region’s first-ever comprehensive marketing effort. It will take continued collaboration, stakeholder support, and community buy-in to maintain the momentum behind this initiative and ensure its ongoing success. I’m optimistic that we have this support in place as we edge closer to the next phase.
From your personal perspective, what’s an exciting recent development or success story that you feel showcases regional innovation and the power of partnerships?
I believe that the Chamber’s Leadership Exchanges are a powerful example of the impact of partnership and regional collaboration.
Each year, we bring 80+ leaders from across Hampton Roads to visit a city with strategic initiatives we can learn from. These trips exemplify regional collaboration uniting elected officials, business executives, and community leaders from various sectors around a shared goal: making Hampton Roads an even better place to live, work, and do business. The shared experiences and insights from these trips demonstrate partnership in action, and they’ve inspired initiatives that have had positive and lasting impacts across Hampton Roads.
What’s been one of the toughest communications challenges you’ve faced, and how did you navigate it?
One of my toughest communications challenges at the Chamber is addressing such a broad audience. Serving businesses of all sizes and across industries is incredibly rewarding, but it also means that each group has unique needs and expectations from us as their regional Chamber of Commerce. My goal is to ensure clear, consistent, and effective communication that meets the needs of our entire business community. To navigate the broad audience challenge, I strive to communicate thoughtfully, transparently, and as frequently as possible to keep everyone informed and engaged. This is always a work in progress but work I feel honored to do.
If you could invite any three people, living or dead, to a dinner party with your family and team members, who would they be, and why?
My first invitee would be Coco Chanel, a fashion icon and a woman well ahead of her time. Who could resist having dinner with the woman who invented the little black dress?
Lucile Ball is a must because I grew up watching I Love Lucy reruns with my grandmother and nana, so I feel a deep nostalgia and admiration for Lucile’s wit and creativity, and I respect the barriers she broke.
And, bending the rules a little, I’d also love to dine with the Shark Tank cast. Having so much business expertise in one room, each with their unique skills and experiences would be incredible. Beyond their business acumen, they are mentors and community builders, and people I’d want to learn from.
What’s the most unexpected item on your desk and is there a story behind it?
It would have to be my adorable, fringe-shaded lamp that’s been with me through every stage of my career from teaching to marketing and even during my brief work-from-home days during the pandemic. If that lamp could talk it would have some incredible stories to tell and probably a little tea to spill too!
