Spotlight on Success
Featured Interview
Laurie Dougherty
“Spotlight on Success” is an interview series created by David Levine of I Am Your Virtual Professional. Its purpose is to amplify the voices of today’s business leaders. Each interview provides actionable insights that readers can implement immediately. No fluff, just practical wisdom that enables individuals to move forward with clarity and confidence.
Laurie Dougherty
| Company | Dougherty, Inc. Facilitation and Training |
|---|---|
| Role | Trainer and Facilitator |
| LinkedIn Profile | https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriedougherty/ |
| Company Website | https://dougherty-inc.com/ |
Nothing is more rewarding than to help organizations and people achieve greatness. I truly believe that with the right tools, knowledge and reflective practice, groups can achieve more through inclusive participation and profound respect for all.
Building on my 28 years of experience as Executive Director, I have gained the knowledge, skills and certifications that enable me to train and assist others on group facilitation methods. In addition to leading, training and coaching, I have a passion for developing effective training methods using current methods such as Zoom, Canvas, Storyline 360 and Miro, and Mural (plus many others).
I believe that facilitating, training and consultation should be engaging, fun and actionable. Fun is important to me, so when I am not facilitating, coaching, delivering or creating learning opportunities, I can be found on the range with my bow and arrows.
Who Should You Nominate?
- Leaders doing meaningful work
- People with insights others can learn from
- Voices worth elevating
Interview Questions
1. What’s one strategy your business used recently that created meaningful growth?
The strategy that has helped my business grow most recently was getting much clearer about who I serve and what problem I solve. I focus on helping organizations run better meetings, strengthen participation, and build facilitation skills, especially in government and nonprofit settings. By packaging that expertise into webinars, longer courses, and customized training, I’ve made it easier for clients to say yes. That clarity has led to better-fit opportunities, repeat clients, and more word-of-mouth growth.
2. How has AI or technology changed the way you operate or serve clients?
AI and technology have improved both how I design training and what I teach. I use tools like ChatGPT to help develop course materials, exercises, and examples more efficiently. I also incorporate AI into my training programs, showing participants how tools like ChatGPT can help them design meeting agendas, prepare for discussions, and organize ideas. Combined with platforms such as Zoom and collaborative tools, this has allowed me to deliver highly interactive training to organizations across the countr
3. What’s one thing you stopped doing that actually helped your business grow?
One change that helped my business grow was moving away from relying only on in-person training and expanding into virtual delivery. By developing strong interactive online sessions, I was able to work with organizations across the country without the travel limitations that used to restrict my schedule.
4. What’s a customer insight you discovered that changed the way you do business?
One important insight I discovered is that many people responsible for running meetings have never been taught how to facilitate them. Managers and team leaders are often expected to lead productive discussions, manage participation, and guide decisions, but they rarely receive training in those skills. Once I recognized this gap, I began designing courses that teach practical facilitation tools people can apply immediately in their own meetings. That shift toward hands-on methods, examples, and practice has made my training much more useful for participants and more valuable to the organizations that send them.
5. If a business had to improve ONE area to grow faster in the next 90 days, what should it be?
One of the fastest ways a business can improve in the next 90 days is by improving how its teams meet and make decisions. Many organizations spend a significant amount of time in meetings, yet those meetings are often poorly structured and don’t lead to clear outcomes. When leaders learn simple facilitation and agenda design techniques, meetings become shorter, more productive, and more focused on results. Improving how groups communicate and make decisions can quickly increase efficiency across an entire organization.
6. What’s one thing you do consistently that keeps your pipeline healthy?
A key way I keep my pipeline healthy is by focusing on delivering highly practical training that participants immediately use in their work. When people find the tools useful, they often recommend the training to colleagues or invite me back for additional programs. Word-of-mouth referrals from past participants and clients are one of the most reliable sources of new opportunities.
7. What’s a decision you made in the last year that had a bigger impact than you expected, and what led you to make it?:
One decision that had a bigger impact than I expected was spending time developing practical tools and frameworks that people can immediately apply in their own meetings. I made that decision after seeing how often professionals are expected to lead meetings without any training in facilitation. Focusing on practical, usable techniques has made the training more valuable for participants and has led to more referrals and repeat clients.
8. What’s one process you streamlined that made a noticeable difference in efficiency or results?
One process I streamlined was the way I design training materials and course Content. In the past, developing exercises, examples, and participant materials was a very time-consuming process. By using AI tools to help with early drafting and idea generation, I can now develop course outlines, examples, and supporting materials much more quickly. This allows me to spend more time refining the interactive elements of the training and tailoring programs to the specific needs of each client.
9. What book, podcast, or resource has influenced your thinking or business decisions lately and why?
One resource that has influenced my work is The Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making by Sam Kaner. The principles in that book continue to shape how I design facilitation training and help leaders run more productive meetings. I also regularly follow discussions about how AI tools are changing the way people prepare for meetings and organize ideas, which has begun influencing some of the newer training I offer.
Who Should You Nominate?
- Leaders doing meaningful work
- People with insights others can learn from
- Voices worth elevating
I am Your Virtual Professional's
3 Key Takeaways
# 1
Clarity drives conversion and growth. Getting specific about the problem you solve and packaging it into accessible formats like workshops and training makes it easier for clients to say yes and refer others.
# 2
Practical value builds a self-sustaining pipeline. When clients can immediately apply what they learn, it naturally leads to repeat engagements and word-of-mouth referrals without heavy marketing.
# 3
Technology expands reach and sharpens delivery. Using AI and virtual tools to design Content, streamline materials, and deliver interactive sessions increases efficiency while removing geographic limits.
Who Should You Nominate?
- Leaders doing meaningful work
- People with insights others can learn from
- Voices worth elevating
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