2024 Business Women Awards
WOMAN TO WATCH | CREATIVE SERVICES: Lauren Greene
New Harbor Group managing director
LAUREN GREENE GREW UP watching and reading the news. With a journalism degree in hand, she readied herself to live out a dream.
And yet, Greene found herself working on the other side, sharing important information that would become the news.
Naturally drawn to local government, her path led her to become the deputy chief of staff for the Mass. Department of Education, where she developed the first agencywide communication and content calendar. Greene later joined the city of Pawtucket as its communications director.
Greene’s ability to affect significant change early in her career drew notice from New Harbor Group, where she is now the Providence-based public relations agency’s managing director and uses her skills to share her clients’ stories with the world.
“Local news has an immense impact on people and builds a common understanding and sense of community,” Greene said. “Now … I am working to cut through the noise to get to the compelling or relevant material that can inspire people, ignite positive change, or inform the public.”
Greene says change starts with clear communication that builds trust. Employees, customers or the general public need to hear from you directly, she says, which becomes even more important when there is a crisis.
“Many people hesitate or want every last detail sorted out, but there is no such thing as perfect. Silence is deafening and erodes trust that you can’t get back,” Greene said. “Meanwhile, other people are filling the vacuum you are leaving with your silence.”
Greene recently worked on the campaign for a $100 million bond for the University of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay campus. She now provides communication services for the Rhode Island College’s new Institute for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies and the quasi-state Rhode Island Life Sciences R.I. Hub.
Greene also serves as a board member for One Neighborhood Builders and provides communications support for ReFocus, a nonprofit that supports adults with disabilities. She received a volunteer of the year award in 2023 for her work promoting Dream Grants fundraising with a multimedia campaign.
“The Ocean State will always be home,” she said. “There are benefits to being small – one person, organization or program can make an impact here.”
