Nice to Meet You. We're CoSpero.

Harold founded CoSpero Consulting in 2017 with the aim of addressing systemic inequities by centering community voice in organizational strategy. At CoSpero, Harold has had the privilege of working with more than a dozen school districts to develop a community engagement strategy that incorporates family perspective. Harold launched his career as a Dallas ISD teacher and football coach across West and South Dallas. His love for improving educational outcomes for young people led him to complete his Master's of Education Leadership from the University of North Texas. Harold’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion stems from his desire to see all people treated with justice and dignity. Harold resides with his wife and his three children in Dallas' Red Bird neighborhood.

Lauren leans on her wealth of experience working and leading in the social sector to help clients achieve stakeholder-centric purpose and clarity in their strategy, programs, and communication. A former teacher, district administrator, director of programs and strategy, and nonprofit founder, she understands the challenges and opportunities facing social innovators. She is passionate about creating opportunities for diverse voices to be heard and honored by influencing critical decisions. In addition to her role as a Partner at CoSpero, Lauren is a Dallas-based wife, mom to three young kids, and Founding Board Chair of Take Heart an organization equipping teen moms and dads and their children.

What led you to CoSpero?

At my core, I’m driven by work that calls for collaboration. I was drawn to CoSpero because of its mission to help organizations magnify their impact. My professional commitment to social impact started as a bilingual teacher in an under-resourced school. Today, I get to drive integrated strategy and operations across CoSpero in partnership with an incredibly passionate team!

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What aspects of your work do you find most inspiring and motivating? 

I love building relationships with others, and it’s especially energizing to do so with people committed to doing good. My colleagues approach their work with a fire to uphold justice; I enjoy creating our firm’s systems so that they can focus on serving our clients even better.

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Any fun stories from an adventure you’ve taken? 

I had the opportunity to study abroad in Europe, in an era where finding WiFi in a foreign country was not so easy. Due to language barriers (+ naivety) I got lost making my way from Rome, Italy’s city center to the airport. Along the way, a nun saw the panic in my face, called a cab, and escorted me to the airport. She held my hand the whole ride, which I gratefully accepted!

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What are you up to outside of work? 

Exploring playgrounds with my parent-friends, dropping pins on Google Maps to plan future adventures, or photographing everyday moments with family and friends.

What led you to CoSpero?

Every day as a teacher during the pandemic, I observed how my students’ learning was impacted by the situations they each experienced at home. I left teaching to pursue an opportunity to take on some of the challenges that impacted my students outside of my classroom. From working to provide equitable internet access to building community resource hubs at the time, CoSpero stood out as a unique place to work with individuals who had strong values and a passion for serving their community. I was led to the right place at the right time. 

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What aspects of your work do you find most inspiring and motivating? 

Community engagement is my favorite part of our work. Throughout my time at CoSpero, I have been lucky to meet so many people and learn about their lived experiences, struggles, and hopes for the future. I’m most inspired and motivated by the community members I meet and the impact our work has on them and their families. I value the proximity my role offers. 

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Any fun stories from an adventure you’ve taken? 

I recently got engaged in Iceland! That was the best surprise and the entire trip was an adventure I'll always remember. 

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What are you up to outside of work? 

I'm learning to play the guitar! Still very much in the beginner phase, but it's been fun to learn songs my friends and family enjoy.

What led you to CoSpero?

I was deeply drawn to CoSpero's mission, vision and inclusive workplace. The opportunity to contribute to meaningful social change while also being part of a supportive and forward-thinking team was a compelling factor. CoSpero's commitment to innovation, empowerment, and fostering a sense of purpose resonated with me, and I am excited to be a part of this transformative journey to make a difference in the lives of others and in our society as a whole. 

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What aspects of your work do you find most inspiring and motivating?

When I witness my team cohesively collaborating to strategize and execute projects, it instills in me a profound sense of purpose and an unwavering drive to excel. Observing this collective effort not only fuels my aspiration to maximize my own potential but also kindles my motivation to witness the successful implementation of these projects. 

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Any fun hobbies or passions outside of work?

Staying active is my passion and it lights a fire in me to stay healthy! Weight Training, Kickboxing, Running are hobbies I engage in to keep me stress free. Shopping and admiring sunrises and sunsets fulfill me with all the fun! 

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If you could give a TED Talk on anything, what would it be?

Mental resilience. Our mind is an extremely powerful tool and when you learn how to navigate it along with the combination of discipline, your potential in anything you desire is limitless. 

What led you to CoSpero?

I was searching for opportunities with small consulting firms and came across this Together for Tomorrow article. After, I did a deep dive into CoSpero’s website and instantly knew that I wanted in. CoSpero’s ‘personality’ came across well, the team was diverse, and their work aligned with how I desired to serve my community. 

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What aspects of your work do you find most inspiring and motivating?

We are able to give clients a refined vision that is reflective of the heartbeat of their organization and takes into account what their community wants and needs. The journey is not always easy, but clients are left with renewed hope and excitement for what can be. 

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What are you up to when you’re not at work?

You can find me somewhere near a lake taking in the outdoors, at a game cheering on my nieces and nephews, sipping a latte in the Target aisles, or laughing with friends. 

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Got any guilty pleasures when it comes to books, movies, or tunes?

I’m currently into books that show the impact of relationships in a character’s life; psychology is fascinating to me! I’m also a Marvel stan who loves neosoul vibes. I enjoy curating my own playlists and am known by my friends for a dope playlist!

What led you to CoSpero?

I chose CoSpero because I wanted to do work that mattered. Before joining the firm, I was at a professional crossroads, and I spent a lot of time thinking about the direction of my career. After stumbling into the world of CoSpero through mutual connections, I found values, work-culture characteristics, and a unique client focus that intrinsically aligned with where I saw myself taking my next steps—professionally and personally. I get to show up at work as my whole self and contribute to organizations seeking uncommon results for the common good. It does not get any better than that!

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What aspects of your work do you find most inspiring and motivating?

The more I learn about the client work we contribute to, the more inspired and motivated I feel. As a firm, we get to interact with many organizations of impact who care about their stakeholders, work, and being a part of a solution. Our boutique consulting firm gets to fill strategic gaps for our clients, making their work go further and continuing widespread community investments. Being a self-proclaimed "problem solver," I get to bring my creative, strategic thinking to CoSpero and implement it into the work. 

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If you could give a TED Talk on anything, what would it be?

I am passionate about justice and education, so I would love to teach a course or a TED Talk about the origin of the prison industrial complex and its current impact on individuals involved in the American criminal legal system. 

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What are you up to when you’re not at work?

I always love to spend time with my friends and family. I am as extroverted as they come but also very easy-going, so it does not matter where I am or what I am doing as long as I am in the company of the people I care the most about. In addition to quality time with my loved ones, I am always putting a new outfit together. I have always used clothes as a form of self-expression and think the most creatively when I am shopping or styling myself in my closet.

What led you to CoSpero?

While working at a professional networking organization for educators, Lauren and Harold reached out to ask if I’d consider working for them. I knew anything these two did was bound to have ripples of impact for years to come and wanted to be a part of it from the moment I learned about the opportunity. I jumped in and haven’t regretted it for a second! 

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What aspects of your work do you find most inspiring and motivating?

Anytime I am able to be in the room with the people most affected by a problem, I find it a true honor - to participate in hearing someone’s story or inviting them into their God-given right to co-develop a solution. It feels simple—to address the very people who are personally experiencing inequities and tap into their expertise about their community or the social issue at hand—but it’s unfortunately a practice that is lacking in many spaces. I’m grateful to work for a company that believes in elevating these voices above all else.

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What’s in your bag right now?

My coworkers call my work bag “the mom bag” because I stay prepared! I have anything from Tylenol, snacks, band aids, lotion and gum to a random kid’s sock, a dinosaur toy or some kind of Taylor Swift paraphernalia my daughter left behind. As a mom of 3, you never know what you’re going to find but half the time it’s something helpful to have on hand! 

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Tell us about how you roll in your community?

The relationships I get to build and maintain—specifically through Younglives, an outreach ministry for pregnant and parenting teens—are very important to me. This cause is near and dear to my heart because my brother became a teen father and our family collectively raised my 2 nephews. I’ve been a mentor with Younglives for 6 years and have never known braver women. Walking with them through their day-to-day life is one of my greatest honors and passions.

What led you to CoSpero?

I have always been attracted to impact driven work, especially in the social sector. CoSpero provided an opportunity to create a larger impact through organizations we support and serve, and that was very exciting to me.

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What aspects of your work do you find most inspiring and motivating?

Our work requires us to be agile and adaptable, which can be challenging at times. However, there is a certain joy I experience when our clients share how our support has propelled their work forward. That feeling inspires me each and every day!

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What are you up to when you’re not at work?

I'm a sucker for trying new restaurants. When I'm not at work, you'll find me bopping around new restaurants across Dallas, working out, or playing with my two dogs Indy and Oso.

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What lights your fire?

When I was a middle school teacher, I remember telling my students, "our choices build the world around us". It's unbelievable how self-reflective and intentional our youth can be - and that is what lights a fire under me. I hope that my daily actions, both personally and professionally, will contribute to a world that my students are proud of!