Elevated Futures - Coaching & Consulting

Lead business development initiatives for international clients, focusing on market entry strategies and cross-border partnerships.
Design and implement customized business strategies that align client objectives with sustainable growth opportunities - small business development.
Executive-level coaching and corporate training on international business strategy and operations.

Founder Lead Consultant & Head Coach

Hochschule Heilbronn - Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Informatik

Full Professor at the Faculty International Business.

Professor - International Business & Tourism Management 

Lauren Ugur CC

Provided consultancy to corporates, government bodies, and international organizations on strategic economic and social development, urban planning, and marketing.
Notable clients include the German Convention Bureau, Royal Caribbean Cruises, KfW Development Bank, UN-Habitat, and GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit).

Independent Development Consultant and Coach

International School of Management (ISM)

Courses taught (English and German):
- Tourism Management / Event Management
- Tourism Marketing / Event Marketing
- Tourism Markets and Policy
- Pricing and Revenue Management
- Quality Management and CRM
- Business Planning and Financial Management
- Market Research
- Intercultural Management
- Scientific Research / Academic writing

Professor Tourism and Event Management

Technische Universität Darmstadt

Consortium management for the Erasmus Mundus MSc programme "Mundus Urbano" in International Cooperation in Urban Development hosted by the TU Darmstadt in collaboration with three european partner universities. 

Key tasks:
- Consortium contract drafting and management
- Co-author and data collection for Erasmus Mundus renewal grant (approved, ca. €2,5 million)
- Management of the Erasmus Mundus scholarship application process, selection and awards
- EU annual technical and financial reporting 
- Lecturing

Consortium manager - Erasmus Mundus Master of Science International Cooperation in Urban Development

Entitled "Beyond the Pilot Project, towards broad-based integrated violence prevention in South Africa" 
this research focuses on the institutionalisation of integrated planning approaches for violence prevention and explores the question of transferability so as to conceptualise how successful pilot programmes may be scaled up beyond their initial sites of implementation.

Doctoral Researcher

I have been involved with the Erasmus Mundus funded International Masters Programme in International Cooperation and Urban Development since 2007, first as a student and from 2009 to 2011 as the programme manager. Overall this position encompassed many aspects related to the day-to-day management and overall strategic development of the programme. 

Main tasks included:
- Application and scholarship award management
- EU financial and technical annual report writing 
- European consortium partner/relationship management
- Strategic development and programme marketing 
- Curriculum planning and organisation of international guest lecturers
- Guest lecturer liaison

Programme manager - Erasmus Mundus Master of Science International Cooperation and Urban Development

I don’t fit neatly into a single box: academic, consultant, strategist.

What I bring is a perspective shaped by deep academic grounding (PhD in Sociology, MBA, MSc in International Cooperation and Urban Development) and over 15 years of experience bridging research, real-world strategy, and business operations.

I don’t teach by the book. I don’t consult from theory. I work at the intersection because today’s most pressing challenges don’t fit into boxes either. They require integrated, multidimensional thinking.

I’ve worked with corporate leaders, government institutions, entrepreneurs, and students to move beyond surface-level success. 

My focus? Making complex ideas actionable and helping people build businesses and careers that actually work, not just look good on paper.

How?

By asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and co-creating strategies that align with your goals, resources, and context. Whether in a boardroom or a classroom, my work is about clarity, alignment, and measurable progress.

As a Professor of International Business, I go beyond textbook theories guiding future leaders to navigate global markets, digital shifts, and social change with confidence and purpose.

In business, my approach is the same: clear, grounded, and forward-thinking. I’ve advised corporates, supported public sector innovation, and helped entrepreneurs define their direction and grow with purpose, without sacrificing profit.

I partner with:
➠ Corporate leaders ready to cut through the noise and lead meaningful innovation.
➠ Entrepreneurs seeking smart, scalable strategies and a business that reflects their values.
➠ Public sector teams needing fresh, actionable approaches to strategy and implementation.
➠ Students and professionals ready to lead with purpose in a complex, global economy.

Challenging the status quo isn’t about being edgy. It’s about designing something better intentionally and with impact. It’s about creating progress through sharper thinking, stronger systems, and more courageous leadership.

Curious about a different way to lead and grow?
Let’s connect. I’d love to hear what you're working on.

Dr. Lauren Uğur, PhD, MBA🧩

Zuricka - A Minimalist Entrepreneur

Through this project, I share the exact steps that have been documented and practised through ancient history and that I find useful. Topics include
-- the power of reprograming the mind
-- how to declutter and let go of Chaos
-- How tp set goals and achieve them

At the end of the day, to transform your life as a professional/ business owner/founder or a self-employed professional, strategies and tactics can only work if we figure out what we want at a deep inner level.

Founder

StraightUp

http://www.straightup.net.nz is where you can learn about how we operate as software tech recruiters.

🚀The core purpose of StraightUp is to enable New Zealand companies to find talented software engineers and at the same time to enable software engineers to find companies that are worth investing their careers with. We only get involved when they are unable to find the right talent or workplace.

We span the globe for software engineers with the rare skillset that New Zealand software teams require to stay ahead in the market.

🔥We solve one problem in a very competitive marketplace: That problem is finding talent for hard-to-fill software engineering roles and workplaces that are stable, financially strong and a joy to work at.

I feel grateful that I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most talented software engineers from all over the world who wish to contribute to the New Zealand economy.

Our software engineering clients are down-to-earth, driven and with a mission that is clear and measurable. They look after their people and their suppliers, and I am grateful to work with them.

CEO - Software Tech Recruiter

Defense Task Force

Being an Indie team, we have to wear various hats. My role at Defense Task Force is to make sure we get our Tower Defense PC Game across in front of Game Publishers, News and media personnel, to raise funds through crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter to get the game to its finished stage. The end goal is to have a successful launch on the Steam Gaming Platform. Day to Day my work involves connecting with Media Personnels, YouTube Gamers, Kickstarter Backers, Social Media Planning, Advertising and Project Managing our Game Development Cycle.

Marketing Director

Worked on Commission only with a Recruitment Firm

The job market is going through a complete change. My role as a Recruiter is to work with High Tech Cloud Companies, Software Development teams to find their next developer, tester, lead developer, software development manager, business analyst. If you are looking to work with a company that values you for you, gives you flexibility, understands work life balance then drop me a line and I shall seek to place you in some of New Zealand's thriving workplaces. If you are working for an amazing company that values their people and if you are seeking to fill a role with exceptional talented human beings, then I may be able to connect you with that person you are looking for. You will never know until you seek.....

IT Technical Recruiter

Zap Strategy Ltd

Zap has been an amazing place for me to work with. Having started this business with my best friend, it was fun and our sole purpose was to find consulting work. Zap had no big Vision or mission. It was setup with the prime motive to find contract jobs.

Today after so many years I am thankful that I went down the consulting path as it taught me what to do and what not to do in business. It enabled me to appreciate that working long hours and thinking I will be able to live my life of abundance is folly. Consulting gave me insights that I have everything right in front of me, it taught me when to walk away from toxic environments and who not to work with. Through this experience Zap began to change in personality and values.

Today Zap Strategy for me is not an entity it's my virtual friend who offers very specific services:
Internet Marketing for Entrepreneurs and medium size businesses
Cloud Computing business applications
Coaching for Small to medium size businesses on setting up businesses the right way
Finding the right talent for Entrepreneurs who are seeking staff

What's my Role:
I am involved in being an enabler for my entrepreneur buddies and small to medium size owners. I hire the right talent that will enable me to move forward in life and train my team to handle a large portion of the day to day activities.

I also reach out to find the right partners to partner with so that we are not reinventing the wheel to offer business mentorship to our clients

Director

ChillX Limited

When we started down the path to create a social network presence in India, it was patriotism and giving back to my nation that got me on this journey to start ChillX. It was to connect fellow Indians to their roots. I did not realize the competition we would have with the mighty gods. I would just be another small fish. When we launched most people who came across us laughed and said why should we be part of your social network when all our friends are already on a different network. We got into the circle of being compared. It's amazing how emotion can take the better of us. Having an MBA and having done the right steps in a business plan the numbers for ChillX as a social network were not massive for a country like India. 

This created a flow on effect to attract advertisers and ChillX was suffering in the early stages for 2 years.As a team we had a choice to downscale our dream or to move forward. We took the path to move forward and re brand our service with a purpose. We accepted that we could not serve those who laughed at us or who wanted us to prove our worth especially for a free service. We embraced those members who took time to register and communicate with others on the network. Today ChillX enables people in India who may be introverts, shy and struggle to find friends. It enables people who struggle to move out of their villages to the metros for a better life. It enables people who are being abused to seek help.

So what's my role at ChillX

Understanding the needs of our members.
Researching what personality books could help our members to change their mind perception
Find out what areas our members struggle with e.g. relationship issues, toxic marriages, finding a job to pay their bills, self confidence, communication etc
Providing customized tailored solutions to our members to uplift their lives by partnering with people around the world who have in depth knowledge in their respective field e.g. clinical psychology, marriage counselors, etc

Director - User Experience

Express Couriers

Business Analyst

Sovereign

Ferrit.co.nz

E-Commerce Business Analyst

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

Played a significant role in the Online Trade Portal for the government. This Trade portal allowed buyers to submit tenders and enquiries to Exporters of New Zealand.
Generated new development deals, Comprehensive database management, capturing business requirements, etc

Online Service Consultant

My mission is to spread one simple concept: keep life simple, enjoy life while building wealth. There is power in designing a life that you truly enjoy. 

If we know the kind of lifestyle that makes us happy, then re-engineering exactly the career/ business that can support that lifestyle  becomes simple👋 

I have adopted a Minimalist Life and document what I learn along the way. These are topics on the power of the subconscious mind, habits, and self-discipline. 

These are learnings that ancient minds in history practised to build empires, conquer battles, and build wealth with clarity.

I document these learnings as short videos or written posts for another fellow being who may be on the same path.

As Buddha graciously defined, " What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.😊 

For work, I run 2 ventures.

❤️Zuricka - A Minimalist Entrepreneur - Through this initiative, I enable a solopreneur/self-employed professional to design their life and then re-engineer how to structure work that makes that lifestyle possible. I share how to reprogram the subconscious mind and build a working schedule to make this happen.

❤️StraightUp Tech Recruitment - This project enable software engineers aiming to live + work in New Zealand to find meaningful work with thriving New Zealand tech teams. Instead of the vanilla recruitment model, I share with software engineers how to market their skills to find work in thriving, happy workplaces. I work with a selected few tech teams .

In my personal life, I have adopted the core principles of 
❤️Minimalism - For me, minimalism is having more peace, focus, and wealth & less worry, confusion, and overwork. That, to me, is power.

🚀 My ultimate aim is to unlearn chaos and let go of superficial metrics. Through living this way of life, I hope to inspire others too. 

🔥Some Work Accomplishments so far :
- Failed in 5 business initiatives that allowed me to pause and rethink
- Bootstrapped a recruitment software firm from scratch to making it profitable in 3 years as a 1-person business with 2 freelance team members.
- Enabled 80+ global software engineers to find work in awesome workplaces within New Zealand.
- Enriched 100+ professionals, solopreneurs, small business owners, startup founders, to go from inconsistency to having a clear execution plan.
- I am a daughter, sister, partner + friend and animal lover.

*For Software Dev Recruitment visit www.straightup.net.nz
⭐If you need help with simplifying your professional work life, or goal setting - you are welcome to message me.

taplio

The Battle

Dr. Lauren Uğur, PhD, MBA🧩

Zuricka Azavedo

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