Lauren Watkins, Ph.D. 

About Lauren

Lauren Watkins Ph.D. is an environmental psychologist and consultant with more than 15 years of cross-sector experience spanning government, nonprofit, consulting, and academic work. Her background includes leadership in environmental social science, strategic communications, and applied conservation practice. She understands how environmental organizations operate, how funding and culture shape opportunities, and how careers in this field are rarely linear.

Lauren’s work sits at the intersection of people and the environment. As a consultant, she has worked with more than 40 clients worldwide across sectors, giving her firsthand insight into how organizations hire, evaluate talent, and develop leadership. She understands that technical expertise alone is rarely enough to build a meaningful career in this field. Communication, strategy, positioning, and systems awareness matter.  She brings this perspective into her coaching, helping clients navigate the environmental field with both realism and confidence.

My Approach 

I believe environmental careers are shaped by both agency and systems. Funding cycles shift. Organizational cultures vary. Networks matter. Structural barriers are real. While you cannot control every external factor, you can make informed, strategic decisions that meaningfully influence your career path.

My approach blends structured reflection with practical strategy and advice. We clarify your strengths, values, and motivations. We examine real versus perceived barriers to change. We identify skill gaps and create concrete plans to address them. I ask direct questions and challenge limiting beliefs in a way that feels steady, safe, and supportive.

Together, we strengthen your professional narrative, refine how you position yourself, and map out intentional next steps. My goal is not to promise certainty, but to help you build confidence and resilience in an evolving but incredibly rewarding field.

Read more in my monthly blog here. 

Who I Work With 

I work with individuals building or reshaping their careers in the environmental field. This includes professionals who are:

• navigating transitions
• negotiating new roles
• pivoting sectors (even those who want to break into the environmental field for the first time)
• launching consulting practices
• considering graduate education
• early-career individuals who want to position themselves thoughtfully and avoid common missteps as they enter the field

Many women seek my support as they step into leadership, advocate for themselves, or navigate professional environments that may not always feel equitable. 

Clients choose to work with me because I understand the environmental field deeply from multiple perspectives, create a space that feels safe and thoughtful, and provide honest, strategic guidance that builds confidence and expands possibilities.