Camplified’s good friend Lauren Ruotolo was recently a featured speaker at the Appelbaum Forum during the Tri-State Camp Conference.
Lauren is the Director of Entertainment Promotions at Hearst Magazines and author of Unstoppable In Stilettos, an inspiring memoir about her successful career and the hard-earned wisdom she’s acquired from living with the rare disease McCune-Albright syndrome.
We caught up with Lauren to talk about her experiences at camp, being an author, and her favorite celebrities. Check out the Q&A below!
Which camp did you go to?
West Hills and B’nai B’rith.
Your most memorable moment as a camper?
Not sure I have a most memorable, but I’d definitely say the first day of camp. Getting off the bus and knowing that I was going to see my camp friends every day was something that I would look forward to all winter long. Another great moment was when you were picked for color war. That was always a bit nerve racking but super exciting because you would wait to see who was going to be team captain and what color you would be on.
Your most memorable moment as a counselor?
I would have to say that most memorable moment as a counselor would be when the kids would ask you for advice or ask “Lauren, can you make my hair look like yours?” It’s hard to describe but it’s like all of sudden you are their cooler older sister and they want to be like you.
How has being a camper/counselor affected you as an adult/businesswoman?
I think camp and being a counselor definitely helped me learn how to adapt in different environments because in school nothing really changes year to year as you are always in a classroom with basically the same kids that you grew up wit. However, every summer at camp you were constantly thrown in with different kinds of people and different environments. Today, especially working with 20 different brands I have to adjust all the day long.
Was there a moment you knew you wanted to write a book?
Actually, there was not a particular moment but after an article ran about my life in Marie Claire magazine; a woman walked up to when I was in a bar waiting on line for the ladies room and she started flipping out because she met me. I said, “girl, calm down” and she said “you have know idea, Lauren, you’re my inspiration,” and pulled out my article from her wallet. It was that moment that I knew that I could inspire people and 3 months later I finally sat down and began to put my thoughts together on how I wanted to represent myself to the world.
What are some of the charities you’re involved in?
Glamour Gals, Step for Woman, Stomp Out Bullying and Nord.
The best advice you’ve ever received?
Never say no to anything.
The best advice you’ve ever given?
You cannot fall in love or be successful unless you LOVE YOURSELF.
Time travel: where, when, and why?
This is a tough question because I would want to back into the future with Michael J. Fox’s time machine and live one day in each era from the 1920-60’s
Your ideal brain food?
Something inspires me every day; mainly it’s watching a person and or movie that promotes self-love and passion for life. Last week it was Dr. Ben Carson who is going up against congress to help facilitate a new and better health care system and this morning it was Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” campaign that encourages woman of all ages to begin a conversation and not be afraid to fight for what you want in life.
You’re proud of this accomplishment, but why?
I am proud that I fight every day to be a strong woman who can lean on herself for whatever she needs
The one celebrity you have to work with?
Hmmm, well I work in publishing so I tend to work with many different celebrities but teen celebrities who actually have an impact in changing lives are my favorite.
The company/product you are absolutely psyched about?
I am obsessed with Instagram and believe I am now a very cool photographer. Follow me laurenjae
iPhone, Blackberry, or both?
IPhone but have been looking at the Samsung Galaxy lately. Hmmm, will I switch?
In 5 years you want to be…?
Speaking and inspiring teens and adults to love themselves no matter what life throws at them. Plus I hope to be in living in Los Angeles and have my own shoe line.
Buy Lauren’s book Unstoppable in Stilettos HERE!
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