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How to Manage Up (Part 1 with Laurel Engbretson)

Published on: 25th November, 2025

This week, Chris and Lucie interview Laurel Engbretson, a VP of strategy and operations, discussing the complexities of difficult conversations in leadership. Together, they explore Laurel's journey and her journey to building the courage to give feedback to her own manager. Laurel is a big advocate in the role of trust and the gradual process of building confidence in difficult conversations.  Together, they talk about:

-        Building trust is crucial for giving and receiving feedback.

-        Finding your voice takes time and practice.

-        Trust is built over time and through shared experiences.

-        Assuming positive intent can improve difficult conversations.

-        Personal growth can enhance professional effectiveness.

 

About Laurel

Laurel Engbretson is the national Vice President of Strategy & Operations at LISC. In this role she leads LISC’s Strategy & Operations team to facilitate strategy development and drive operational excellence toward LISC’s enterprise-level priorities. Laurel started at LISC as a Program Officer in the Bay Area, where she lived for 30 years before moving to the East Coast to join LISC’s national office. Before LISC, Laurel worked at the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund, JPMorgan Chase, the Oakland Mayor’s office, and in residential real estate. She has an MBA/MPP from Mills College and a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. 

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    The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations
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