Lauren Fitzgerald | 20 Under 40
Lauren Fitzgerald
Senior Director
Kansas Common Sense Fund
Lauren Fitzgerald is a communications strategist with more than a decade of experience in message development, fundraising and public affairs. She currently serves as senior director of the Kansas Common Sense Fund, leading strategic communications and building a network of trusted messengers across Kansas.
Before that, Lauren served as communications director for Governor Laura Kelly and led communications for her 2022 re-election campaign, helping advance initiatives like eliminating the state food sales tax and fully funding public schools. Earlier still, she worked in the entertainment industry as an assistant to a talent agent at Buchwald in Los Angeles.
A Topeka native, Lauren stays involved locally through organizations including Leadership Greater Topeka and Big Brothers Big Sisters, and remains committed to strengthening Kansas communities through communication, civic engagement and service.
What’s a lesson you’ve carried with you throughout your life? How has it shaped you?
One lesson I’ve carried with me is that who you are isn’t set in stone. Adopting a growth mindset changed the way I think about my abilities, my mistakes, and even the things I’m not particularly good at.
I’ve learned to focus less on judgment and more on improvement. If I fail at something, I ask what did I learn from it? What I can do differently - and where I can improve? It has made me more willing to take on challenges, stick with things when they’re hard, and be comfortable knowing I won’t always get it right the first time.
That mindset has shaped both my career and my personal life. I don’t expect myself to have everything figured out. I expect myself to keep learning, stay curious, put in the work, and get better.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you? Tell us a little more about it.
I used to lug around a 100-pound Burmese python in my tiny 2001 Honda Civic for kids’ birthday parties. I worked at a pet store that offered educational programs designed to teach kids about animals and help them build an appreciation for them at an early age. So, naturally, that sometimes meant loading a giant snake into my car and hitting the road.
What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career so far? Why?
I’m most proud of leading the State of Kansas’ public communications response during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic while serving as Governor Laura Kelly’s Communications Director. At a time of extraordinary uncertainty, millions of Kansans relied on us for clear, accurate, and timely information to make decisions about their families, businesses, schools, and health. The work was incredibly difficult and required constant focus and good decision-making under immense pressure. This was critical to building public trust and keeping Kansans safe.
What advice would you give someone just starting out in your field?
Resilience, grit, and curiosity. Grow these three traits and it will take you far. Learn how to bounce back when you make a mistake, work hard even when no one is watching, and approach challenges with curiosity rather than frustration or fear. You won’t always have the right answer, but being willing to learn, adapt, and keep going will get you where you need to be.
What’s a hobby you wish you had more time for? What do you enjoy about it?
Golfing. I enjoy that it’s an incredibly humbling sport. It constantly reminds you that you’re not that good at it. I enjoy the challenge of trying to get better, even when that's still up in the air. Plus, it gets me outside and gives me an excuse to spend a few hours with some of my best friends.
If you could live anywhere for a year, where would you go? Why?
New Zealand. The scenery is incredible, I’m a huge Lord of the Rings fan, and every Kiwi I’ve met has been unmatched in their hospitality, kindness, and sense of humor. Getting to spend a year exploring the country, meeting more people, and occasionally pretending I’m wandering through Middle-earth is hard to beat.
