LAUREN BARNES ON SUCCESS, PHILANTHROPY AND HER ALMA MATER

In March of this year, Tiffin University’s School of Business and Business Club hosted the 10th Annual Summit to Success event. Since its birth, the Summit’s purpose has been to afford TU students a chance to learn from and ask questions of current executives, entrepreneurs and other leaders from varying industries. For a decade, attendees have benefitted from the collective wisdom of such guests, with 2023 being no exception to the trend.

This year’s keynote speaker for the Summit was TU alumna, Lauren Barnes `08, 777X Program Manager for Boeing Defense, Space and Security. For someone who oversees the manufacturing and distribution of commercial and military aircrafts, Lauren is quite the grounded person –able to juggle extensive volunteer and nonprofit work with professional endeavors. She serves on the Board of Directors for Dog Tag Inc., based in Washington, D.C., as well as the Women’s Foundation of Greater Saint Louis. Additionally, she has spent over a decade working with private industries and government entities like NASA, the Pentagon and Congress.

When asked if she would be willing to be interviewed for this edition of Challenge Magazine while visiting campus, she happily agreed, citing the importance of giving back to the community that helped mold her.

“That’s exactly why I wanted to be the keynote speaker for the Summit in the first place,” she noted. “I’m happy to help an organization that did so much to prepare me for my career. It’s a little surreal – being invited back as an alum for something like this. I’ve worked hard for all I’ve achieved, so TU seeing value in what I bring to the table is both flattering and humbling.”

“The Summit to Success provides students the ability to network and gain an understanding of what leaders in their respective industries feel they need to know to be successful. Lauren Barnes did a phenomenal job of using her real-life experiences, coupled with her leadership and authenticity, to connect students to the reality of her position within Boeing. She is passionate about her career, but more importantly, she expressed her passion for giving back to the students at TU. I believe true leaders and alumni like Lauren, who continue to support our students, help us further prepare Tiffin University graduates.”

– Corri Miller, Assistant Professor of Management

After graduating from TU with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing and business management, Lauren went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from Washington University in St. Louis, her current place of residence. She attributes much of her success in graduate school and in the field to the foundation she received as a Dragon.

“TU provided me with a solid set of soft skills that are too often underappreciated in business circles. When you enter the workforce or a graduate program, people assume you already know how to communicate effectively or collaborate as part of a team. This isn’t necessarily the case and such skills are rarely taught to new hires in training. I think the University’s recognition of this, coupled with their experiential learning opportunities, helps prepare students for life beyond the institution more so than they initially realize. Anybody can be taught the ins and outs of a business, but it takes finesse to develop and maintain positive working relationships.”

Lauren also believes that TU was and continues to be a socially engaging place and remembers her time spent as a student fondly.

“It’s been fun to see how campus has changed in the years since I was last here,” she offered. “The nostalgia of it all came back to me the moment I set foot on campus again. The students have such an infectious energy about them, too. It reminded me of my time spent here in the best of ways – all the friends I made while I was in their shoes. I still keep in touch with many of them, even though we’re scattered across the country now.”

When asked what advice she had for anyone looking to achieve success in their particular field, Lauren had this to say:

“Understanding how you as an individual define ‘success’ is just as important as achieving it, because this looks different for everybody,” she began. “Some people have families, side projects and passions outside of what pays the bills, and it’s a valid choice to prioritize those things. Some people value time more than money and vice versa. Neither answer is right or wrong, as no two people are alike. Understanding that and setting boundaries accordingly is important to being happier in the long run.”

Lauren continued the thought and touched on how to find fulfillment in the professional world, as she believes satisfaction and achievement go hand in hand.

“You have to love what you do, first and foremost. You’ll bring the best version of yourself to work every day if you have and follow a passion. Also, don’t always keep your head down and focus only on the day-to-day tasks. Pick your head up from time to time and remind yourself that what you’re doing impacts the world beyond – that others directly benefit from your labor. It’s okay to look at the bigger picture, to take a moment for gratitude and celebration when you have a win. That’s what will fuel your sense of purpose.”

When it came time for Lauren to give her keynote address to the hundreds of Summit attendees, she echoed many similar sentiments to those shared during the interview – her quickwittedness, sense of humor and selfless nature shining through in the presentation.

“I know it’s tempting to work your life away, because you see those quantifiable achievements and feel instant gratification from them. However, I’m forever telling my mentees that the Boeing Company will not tuck them into their beds at night – that they are whole, fully realized people who have purpose outside the office. Avoiding burnout is so important, and it’s paramount that you find ways to recharge so you can continually perform to the best of your ability. For me, a big part of this is my nonprofit work and mentoring young professionals like you. It will always be an honor to lift others up, personally or professionally. This is what fills my cup and keeps me going.”

Another way Lauren chooses to fill her cup is by traveling. A frequent jet setter (which is no surprise given her line of work), she spends much of her free time exploring new cities and destinations. Her most recent excursion was a trip to Oregon’s wine country with a group of close friends.

Lauren Barnes is the 777X Program Manager for Boeing Defense, Space and Security, where she leads program operations for the purposes of designing, manufacturing and assembling the new 777X aircraft composite wings. Prior to her current role, Barnes has held several other positions within Boeing’s tactical aircraft and weapons divisions. She has also spent time in Washington, D.C., where she was the Chief of Staff for Government Operations, having served as a strategic advisor to the Executive Vice President of Government Operations – overseeing a number of legislative and regulatory campaigns. While in D.C., she also served as the Director and Chief of Staff for Boeing Defense, Space and Security within Government Operations and as a liaison between Boeing and the Pentagon, NASA and Department of Homeland Security.

Additionally, Barnes has held various roles across the fields of sales, marketing, strategy and finance. She began her career in the Business Career Foundations Program out of southern California.