By Dr. Julie Ducharme
In the world of high-stakes business, we are often taught that our value is tied to our title, our revenue, and our relentless pace. But what happens when the noise stops? For Stacey Lauren, the former CEO of Southern California’s largest family-owned staffing company, the answer wasn’t
another corporate ladder it was a SHE CEO Podcast, hosted by Julie (founder of She Talks), Stacey shared the raw and inspiring journey of how she transitioned from managing 600 employees to founding Do The Thing, a movement that is now setting its sights on a staggering $1 billion impact.
The Silence After the Exit
For twenty years, Stacey’s life was defined by “putting out fires.” When she finally exited her company, she expected relief. Instead, she met an identity crisis. “For the first time in my life, all the noise stopped,” Stacey recalled. “When your identity is lost, you really feel like you have no purpose anymore.”
It is a sentiment many high-achieving women recognize the “What now?” that follows a major life transition. Stacey’s mentor gave her one piece of advice: Don’t go start another business. Instead, Stacey began interviewing people to understand their stories. She wasn’t even comfortable being on camera yet; she recorded audio-only Zoom calls, simply trying to find the patterns of what makes people take action.
Finding the Formula
Through these interviews, Stacey discovered a universal truth: most people aren’t held back by a lack of talent, but by a “hiccup” in their ability to take action. She developed a formula to bridge that gap and decided to test it.
What started as a simple “Find Your Voice” challenge exploded. Stacey realized her formula didn’t just help individuals; it activated entire communities. From dating challenges to podcasting and audience building, she has now run challenges for over 35 different global communities, helping everyone from stay-at-home moms to hundreds of CEOs move past their comfort zones.
The Billion-Dollar Vision
Today, Stacey is no longer just “doing the thing” she is teaching the world how to do it with purpose. Her latest mission, the Billion Dollar Impact, is a marketplace designed to revolutionize how we think about charity and commerce.
“We don’t have to choose anymore,” Stacey explains. “We don’t have to say, ‘I’m going to give up my life to help nonprofits’ or ‘I’m only going to focus on money.’ We can add giving to our business model in a way that amplifies the business.”
The model is brilliant in its simplicity: an “Impact Marketplace” where entrepreneurs donate their products, services, or “genius” into a live auction. A percentage of the proceeds goes back to the creator, and a percentage goes to a cause. It replaces the traditional, often stagnant donation model with a high-energy, commerce-driven engine for good.
Why It Matters
The synergy between Stacey’s Do The Thing and Julie’s She Talks is rooted in a shared belief: vulnerability is the new power. By encouraging women to be “partner in crime” style leaders taking risks, being messy, and supporting one another they are shifting the cultural paradigm of business.
Stacey’s story is a reminder that you don’t need a million followers or a massive corporation to make an impact. You just need to get in the room, find your voice, and, as Stacey famously says: “Don’t Wait for Opportunity, Create It!”
Want to be part of the movement?
Stacey is currently launching her Impact Marketplace and hosting activations globally. Whether you are an introvert looking for structured connection or a CEO ready to fund a legacy, there is a seat at the table for you.
