Welcome back to Systems with Laura, the space where we talk about building businesses, creative work, and lives that feel intentional, sustainable, and aligned with who we are becoming.

Today’s conversation is a very special one for me.

I’m joined by Vedrana Sruk, founder of Sociallure, a Croatia-based marketing agency helping entrepreneurs approach social media with clarity, strategy, and intention, so it works for them, not against them.

But before Sociallure, before client work, before personal branding and storytelling…

Vedrana was a student employee at Proprium.

In this episode, we reflect on that full-circle journey, from her early days learning systems and operations, to becoming a founder who now helps others show up online with confidence and purpose.

In this conversation, we explore:

- How Vedrana transitioned from employee to entrepreneur

- The systems she put in place when launching Sociallure

- What most creators misunderstand about content and social media

- How she transforms client stories into strategic, resonant content

- The tools and workflows she uses to manage clients, editing, scheduling, and deliverables

- What surprised her most about running a marketing agency

- How she built the confidence to show up publicly and build her personal brand

- The behind-the-scenes realities of content production and client expectations

Vedrana shares honest insights into what it really takes to build a creative agency that is both strategic and sustainable, where content, branding, and systems work together instead of creating overwhelm.

📱 Whether you’re a creator, a service-based founder, or someone who feels exhausted by social media, this episode offers a grounded look at how clarity, structure, and storytelling can completely change your online presence.

🔗 Connect with Vedrana Sruk & Sociallure

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vedrana.sruk/

- Website: https://sociallureagency.com/

🤝 Episode Sponsor: Proprium Agency

We help service-based businesses replace chaos with clarity through smart tools, automation, and intentional system design.

Book a 15-minute discovery call:

👉 https://connect.proprium.agency/discovery-call

Join the Proprium Digital Network for founders and operators who want better systems, smarter workflows, and sustainable growth:

👉 https://proprium.agency/proprium-digital-network

🧠 Stay connected with Laura Plantak

- Website: https://www.lauraplantak.com

- Newsletter: https://lauraplantak.com/newsletter

- LinkedIn: Systems With Laura Podcast

💬 If this episode helped you rethink how you approach content, social media, or building a creative business, share it with someone who needs to hear that social media doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. And subscribe for more calm, honest conversations about building meaningful work through better systems.

Welcome back to Systems With Laura 🎙️

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to build confidence in public speaking in a way that is structured, repeatable, and grounded in practice rather than talent or personality.

This week, I’m joined by Diana Bukowska, actor, educator, public speaking coach, and co-founder of THE LIMELIGHT HUB. Diana helps professionals and teams speak with presence and impact by using acting-based tools that turn communication into a skill anyone can learn.

Diana shares her journey from Poland to the United States, where she had to rebuild her confidence in a new language and culture, and how that experience shaped the way she now teaches others to find their voice. What started as personal survival became a powerful method that now helps professionals overcome stage fright, show up authentically, and communicate with clarity.

This conversation is practical, insightful, and especially encouraging if you’ve ever felt that public speaking “just isn’t for you.”

In this episode, we talk about:

- Diana’s journey from actor to public speaking coach and co-founder of THE LIMELIGHT HUB

- Why confidence is not a personality trait but a trainable system

- The acting techniques that translate directly into better communication

- How to systematically overcome stage fright and fear of speaking

- The structure behind her workshops and coaching process

- How international professionals can rebuild confidence in a new language and culture

- What presence actually means and how to train it

🎧 If you want to feel more confident speaking in meetings, presentations, workshops, or on stage, this episode will show you that confidence is something you can build step by step.

📒 Grab a notebook, hit play, and let Diana show you how speaking with impact can become a system, not a struggle.

Connect with Diana:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianabukowska

- THE LIMELIGHT HUB: https://www.thelimelighthub.com

🤝 Episode Sponsor: Proprium Agency (www.proprium.agency)

This episode is sponsored by Proprium Agency, a business workflow and automation agency helping service-based businesses replace chaos with clarity through smart tools, automation, and intentional system design.

If your business feels overwhelming, overly manual, or dependent on you doing everything, Proprium helps you design systems that support sustainable growth without burnout.

☎️ Want direct help from Proprium?

Book a 15-minute discovery call to explore how we can support your operations and client delivery with better systems.

👉 https://connect.proprium.agency/discovery-call

🌐 Join the Proprium Digital Network

A space for founders and operators who want:

- Better systems without unnecessary complexity

- Practical guidance on tools, workflows, and automation

- A clear path from messy operations to structured, scalable processes

👉 https://proprium.agency/proprium-digital-network

🔗 Stay connected with Laura Plantak

- Website: www.lauraplantak.com

- Laura’s Learning Lab Newsletter: https://lauraplantak.com/newsletter

- Instagram: @thelauraplantak

- LinkedIn: Systems With Laura Podcast

If this episode inspired you, leave a comment, share it with someone who wants to feel more confident speaking, and subscribe for more behind-the-scenes conversations on building sustainable, system-supported businesses.

Welcome back to Systems with Laura, the space where we talk about building businesses, creative work, and lives that feel intentional, sustainable, and aligned with who we are becoming.

Today, I’m joined by Angela Thurman, Founder and CEO of Thurman Co, a Houston-based consulting firm specializing in project management, technical program management, and supplier capability services for organizations operating in manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and technology sectors.

But this conversation isn’t about theory. It’s about how Thurman Co works today, how Angela and her team step into complex environments, assess what’s breaking down, and rebuild clarity through process, communication, and disciplined execution.

In this conversation, we explore:

- What Angela actually does when a client calls with a struggling program or unclear processes

- The difference between project management and technical program management in real-world practice

- How supplier capability and risk management impact entire organizations more than leaders realize

- The frameworks Angela uses from PMP, Lean, Agile, and AI-driven process optimization to bring structure to chaos

- What it takes to run a consulting firm where continuous improvement is applied internally, not just taught to clients

Angela also shares how she balances strategic leadership with operational oversight, how her team maintains consistency across highly regulated industries, and why integrity and communication are central to Thurman Co’s success.

If you’ve ever dealt with unclear ownership, broken processes, or supplier issues that ripple across your organization, this conversation will provide a practical look at how structure and systems can restore control.

📘 Whether you’re a founder, operator, consultant, or team leader responsible for delivering complex work, this episode offers a grounded, practical look at how disciplined project management and supplier strategy create measurable impact.

🔗 Connect with Angela Thurman

- Website: https://thurmanco.com

🤝 Episode Sponsor: Proprium Agency

We help service-based businesses replace chaos with clarity through smart tools, automation, and intentional system design.

Book a 15-minute discovery call:

👉 https://connect.proprium.agency/discovery-call

Join the Proprium Digital Network for founders and operators who want better systems, smarter workflows, and sustainable growth:

👉 https://proprium.agency/proprium-digital-network

🧠 Stay connected with Laura Plantak

- Website: https://www.lauraplantak.com

- Newsletter: https://lauraplantak.com/newsletter

- LinkedIn: Systems With Laura Podcast

💬 If this episode helped you think differently about project leadership, process clarity, or supplier relationships, share it with someone responsible for delivering complex work. And subscribe for more slow, grounded conversations that make space for doing meaningful work.