Laura is the co-principal and operational leader of a new charter school that educates 81 middle school students in Brooklyn, New York. "My school is located in an existing public school building that is actually being shut down by the city because students' test scores are so low and the school is failing. Charter schools provide better choices to students than they would otherwise receive. The hope is to close the achievement gap that Black, Latino, and poor students face here."

When Laura joined Katzenbach, she knew that she wanted eventually to work for a non-profit. However, "It wasn't enough to just want to help people; I wanted to know how to do that effectively and efficiently. I knew consulting would teach me so much, so quickly. In consulting you're constantly talking one-on-one with clients, sometimes to people three times your age or to people working in factories. I think this is very similar to the challenge I face now when I talk to parents. I'm not 45, not African American, not working two jobs. I need to earn my credibility."

Laura feels very connected to Katzenbach. "I left still loving consulting and loving Katzenbach, and I still have passion for the firm. I left specifically for education. Finding mentors at Katzenbach that I think so highly of has come to influence the way I think about the world. If you find people like that…I would almost do anything for those people. I think coming back to Katzenbach is something I would never write off."