Lara is a creator at heart. Best known as the founder of LÄRABAR, she sparked a movement toward simplicity, nourishment, and joy. Her story is built around trusting intuition, embracing curiosity, and following the pull of something greater.

A Denver native, Lara earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Southern California. Before launching LÄRABAR, she worked as a social worker with at-risk youth, where she saw firsthand the link between resilience and well-being. After scaling LÄRABAR into a household name, she sold the company to General Mills in 2008. She later earned a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania and became a certified professional coach (ICF).

Lara serves on the board of Kent Denver School and has previously served on the boards of Denver Urban Gardens reinforcing her belief in the power of community, connection, and access to nature and good food. She has been featured in Fortune, Entrepreneur, and People magazines, as well as NPR’s “How I Built This” podcast series, sharing her journey of turning a simple idea into a movement. She has also been recognized for her contributions to health and wellness, including a proclamation from the city of Denver.

Beyond her achievements, she is most proud of bringing lightness into serious conversations and reminding others that success isn’t just about what we build. It’s about how we live.

And, please meet Jon.