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LUNCH AND DEMONSTRATION
Join us for a casual conversation with Lara Merriken over lunch plus a product demonstration led by Lara, founder of LÄRABAR. Merriken started Larabar in her kitchen with a simple fruit-and-nut recipe and a belief that simplicity mattered. The brand grew into a national success, eventually leading to its acquisition by General Mills. But even as the business succeeded, a deeper question began to emerge: what does it mean to build not just a successful career, but a meaningful life? In this conversation, Lara shares the pivotal moments that shaped her journey from founder to coach and advisor, and reflects on what she has learned about resilience, reinvention, and the space between achievement and fulfillment.

Lunch provided by Roots.

Lara will also be holding an evening discussion and workshop in partnership with The Foundry at 5:00 pm on the same day, April 22. Location: Contemplative Commons, Alchemy space. Learn more about the evening Recipe For Success workshop.

About Lara Merriken

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Lara Merriken is an entrepreneur, advisor, positive psychology coach, and speaker who turned an idea sparked on a Colorado mountain hike into LÄRABAR, a whole-food snack brand that grew from her home kitchen into a household name. Later acquired by General Mills, the brand continues to reflect her original vision for simple, nourishing food.

For more than 16 years, Lara has served as an advisor to General Mills, and her story has been featured in Fortune, Entrepreneur, Forbes and on NPR's How I Built This.

Today, she brings her passion for human potential to two ventures: Anther Global, the coaching, advisory, and immersive learning company she co-founded to support agency, resilience, and flourishing for founders, CEOs, and leaders; and her personal coaching practice, where she works with individuals navigating growth, reinvention, and their next chapter.

Lara holds a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a degree in psychology from the University of Southern California. Her work has always been rooted in a deep commitment to well-being, shaping every chapter of her life and work.