Laura Clise is the founder and CEO of Intentionalist, a Seattle-based social purpose corporation focused on making it easy to support small businesses and more connected, inclusive communities through everyday decisions about where we eat, drink and shop. Prior to Intentionalist, Laura held a variety of executive roles leading sustainability, corporate responsibility, supplier diversity, and external communications at AREVA, Plum Creek, and Weyerhaeuser.  

Laura received an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a BA in International Relations from Carleton College. She is a 2013 Aspen Institute First Mover Fellow, the recipient of an Exceptional Individual Achievement Award from the Human Rights Campaign, and serves on the Board of Directors of Athlete Ally and the Net Impact Corporate Advisory Council. 

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Season 2

Being Intentional


After years of working in corporate America, Laura Clise decided to start a company to address her growing frustration with the lack of easily accessible information on small businesses, beyond the product or service for sale. Laura’s company, Intentionalist, is an online guide to intentional spending that supports small businesses and diverse local communities.

In this week’s episode of Start Small, Dream BIG, Laura speaks with MCAAD president Kerry Healey about the origins of Intentionalist, the importance of using profits to grow sustainability and impact, and how each one of us can be more intentional with the dollars we spend in our communities.

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