Imagine leaving a job you love to move across the country and start fresh. That’s exactly what Lauren Ronan did in 2015 when she and her husband decided to relocate from Long Island, New York, to California. Having spent her entire life on Long Island, Lauren and her husband, Steve, made the leap when their first child was eight months old. Steve would pursue a business opportunity, and Lauren would stay home to raise their daughter. Even without the move, it was a major life shift for Lauren, who was working at the time as a special education teacher in inclusion classrooms. She had earned her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Long Island University, establishing herself as an expert in the field. “It was so rewarding,” Lauren recalls. Leaving the profession wasn’t a decision she made lightly—she had felt deeply fulfilled in her role—but the chance to stay home with her daughter was one she couldn’t pass up.

Lauren and her family settled in Morgan Hill and loved it from the start. “Morgan Hill has been so good to me,” she says. After a couple of years at home with her daughter—enjoying life, playing, and settling into their new community—both Lauren and her daughter were ready for a new chapter as school began. Having always been interested in real estate back in New York, Lauren decided to pursue her license and give it a shot in California. She quickly connected with a local broker who allowed her the freedom to market herself in her own way, and she began to get her feet wet in the industry. What started as a few deals here and there—generated entirely through word of mouth in her mom groups and among new friends—soon grew into something much bigger. Real estate quickly became a passion, and her business began to snowball. “I really pride myself on our well-oiled machine of a squad that I have created, and I also get to spend time with my kids,” Lauren says. Being able to go on field trips and pick her kids up from school has been a top priority. “Success is being able to pick up your kids at school at 2:30 in the afternoon.”

One of the most rewarding parts of Lauren’s job is helping people—especially women—navigate major life transitions. Having made a cross-country move herself, she understands how overwhelming those moments can feel and is well-equipped to guide her clients through the challenges. Whether someone is going through a divorce, relocating to be closer to family, moving out of state, or helping aging parents downsize, Lauren is ready to walk alongside them every step of the way. “Let me take this off your plate—I’ll handle the burden and the worry so you don’t have to. You won’t be caught off guard,” Lauren says.

At the end of the day, Lauren credits her success to working with truly great people—many of whom become friends through the process. She’s also incredibly proud of her team, stating, “I and my team go above and beyond.” Building a strong foundation of trust is essential to Lauren, both with her clients and her team. Her clients know she always has their best interests at heart and that they’ll never be pressured into making a decision. “They’re the decision makers and I’m the sherpa guiding them up the mountain. That’s what I love about my job and what sets me apart,” Lauren elaborates. One of her favorite parts of the job is witnessing memories being made in the homes she helps her clients find. A simple moment, like seeing a first-day-of-school photo taken in front of a house she helped them purchase, brings her a deep sense of pride.

Morgan Hill has been an ideal place for Lauren to grow her real estate career. “Morgan Hill real estate is a special breed. Everyone is super nice and supportive and encouraging and positive. It is very rare that we have any negativity,” Lauren gushes. The local real estate community welcomed her with open arms, and she’s deeply appreciated the spirit of collaboration among agents and other professionals. She often meets her peers for lunch and enjoys the camaraderie that comes with working in such a positive environment.

The most pivotal moment in Lauren’s life was the birth of her first child, a daughter named Reese. Raising her in a completely new state wasn’t intimidating for Lauren—in fact, welcoming Reese into the family gave her a renewed sense of energy and determination. “She gave me superpowers,” Lauren says of her daughter. “If I could have this gorgeous baby, then I could do anything.” With her confidence strengthened, Lauren knew she could accomplish anything she set her mind to. The arrival of her son, Stephen, four years later brought just as much joy.

Lauren and her husband, Steve, met at a nightclub in Long Island, New York. Since then, they’ve become best friends and strongest supporters of each other’s goals. “He has been such a support for me while I created my business and I’m really grateful to him. We have made a real good life together here in Morgan Hill,” Lauren says. They love spending time together as a family—hosting backyard barbecues, rollerblading and scootering, playing wiffle ball, and curling up to watch movies. They also enjoy traveling, with favorite destinations including Disneyland, Hawaii, and, of course, regular trips back to New York to visit family and friends.

Lauren is also deeply involved in her community and charitable work, organizing one major fundraiser each year to support a cause close to her heart. “I am a philanthropist at heart,” Lauren says. After her father was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer, the American Cancer Society became especially meaningful to her, and she frequently raises funds to support the organization.

Looking ahead, Lauren is excited to continue building community and working alongside people she loves in Morgan Hill. She’s also expanding her real estate presence back in New York, already partnering with a company there. For Lauren, true accomplishment means doing what she loves with people she chooses. Tony Robbins captures her philosophy perfectly: “Success is doing what you want to do, when you want, where you want, with whom you want, as much as you want.” Lauren has paved her own way and is living the life of her dreams—on her own terms. And when it comes to her future in the industry, the sky’s the limit.