A seasoned people-first HR practitioner, Lauren is a barometer for human potential, an innate strength she uses to attract, retain, and coach the best talent the global marketplace has to offer. As the driving force behind Navigate talent management efforts, she is a true believer in willpower and possesses the long-term vision required to see future leaders in today’s operators—hiring based on hunger, grit, and humility, rather than checking off tactical boxes.
In her current position, Lauren is viewed as the bridge between two worlds, connecting recruitment processes back to high-level business objectives to ensure her talent strategies not only align with, but accelerate, company goals and elevate internal culture. When hard decisions must be made, Lauren acts in the best interest of the team around her, always choosing empathy over ego.
Although Lauren now finds herself embedded in the intricate science of human capital management, her experience runs the full gamut of business functions—beginning in a digital consulting role, moving to business development where she first began growing her talent management acumen through HR transformation projects, and then joining a fast-paced startup where she was responsible for crafting and operationalizing a talent acquisition strategy from the ground up.
Ready to connect human capital back to the bottom line and channel her entrepreneurial spirit, Lauren joined Navigate in 2018, determined to make a difference at an intimate organization with a commanding presence. Since joining, Lauren has spearheaded a complete overhaul of the employee experience using design thinking methodology, aligned value scorecards with hiring practices and baselines, and implemented a strength-based approach to performance that identifies and celebrates inherent talents.
On the weekends, Lauren is an avid outdoors enthusiast and can often be found cruising local trails on her mountain bike with her family. Her passion for people extends behind the workplace—manifesting in her personal life through her involvement with the College of Charleston and ongoing membership and certification with SHRM.

Rob Kathol
Founder & CEO
Melissa Dimitri
Managing Partner

Eileen Bartholomew
Partner
Lauren Black
Director of Talent
Amber Chubb
Principal Consultant

Brady Halligan
Principal Consultant

Gabriela Hess
Principal Consultant

Patrick Hoban
Principal Consultant

Brian Lee
Partner
Tatsiana Martynava
Controller
Jeff Summer
Partner

Adam Taicher
Partner

Marc Watrous, PhD
Strategic Advisor
