Lauren Is Building Her Place in Charlotte, One Cocktail at a Time

Lauren didn’t set out to build a career in hospitality. When she first entered the industry, she was in college studying communications and marketing and picked up a side job working on a beer truck. What started as a way to make some extra money quickly became something much more meaningful. It was the people that kept her interested.

The one-on-one interactions, the constant stream of different personalities, and the opportunity to meet so many people in one setting showed Lauren that the skills she was learning in school had a natural place behind the bar. Communication, marketing, reading people, and understanding how to connect with an audience all became part of the work. That early experience still shapes how she approaches hospitality today.

Behind the bar, Lauren has learned that no two guests are exactly alike. Everyone brings their own background, preferences, and expectations to the experience, and working with such a wide range of people has pushed her to become more personal and more open in the way she creates. She describes herself as someone who learns something new every day behind the bar. A flavor combination she discovers from one guest might influence a future cocktail. A conversation might introduce her to an ingredient she hadn't considered. The people around her continue to shape the way she thinks about drinks. For Lauren, hospitality is as much about curiosity as it is about technique.

Finding Her Place at Merchant + Trade

Lauren is representing Merchant + Trade, a rooftop destination high above Uptown Charlotte known for its city views, modern setting, lush greenery, and welcoming atmosphere. The covered terrace allows guests to enjoy the rooftop experience regardless of the weather, while cocktails, bar snacks, and custom playlists help create the relaxed energy that keeps people there. For Lauren, though, Merchant + Trade has become more than a beautiful place to work.

She recently moved to Charlotte, and the team quickly made her feel like part of the family. In a new city where she was still finding her footing, having a hardworking team and creative people around her has made a meaningful difference. She credits the people at Merchant + Trade with helping her find her place and purpose in Charlotte. The environment gives her access to creative minds, resources and colleagues she can learn from, while giving her the space to continue developing her own approach behind the bar.

That sense of connection matters to Lauren because hospitality has always been about people for her. Her experience also extends beyond the bar itself. With a background in culinary creation, she brings a kitchen-minded approach to cocktails. If she's working on a drink, there may be several pots bubbling away nearby as she develops different components. Her inspiration often comes from comforting classics found across different cultures, but she isn't interested in simply recreating them. She likes taking those familiar ideas and finding a way to translate them into a cocktail. It is an approach that makes her drinks feel connected to food, memory and culture while still giving her room to experiment.

Stay Curious. Keep Creating.

Lauren isn't new to competition. Before moving to Charlotte, she participated in several mixology competitions while working in Greenville, South Carolina, and found that she genuinely enjoyed the experience. This time, though, the stakes feel a little more personal. After recently moving to a new city, Lauren sees Battle of the Babes as another way to establish herself in Charlotte and become part of the hospitality community here. Her manager, Jim, has encouraged her to get involved and has played an important role in helping her find her footing. For Lauren, that support reflects something she has learned throughout her career: you don't build a hospitality career alone.

She is also passionate about the space women continue to create for themselves behind the bar. To Lauren, being a woman in hospitality is "absolutely badass." She loves the combination of making someone feel comfortable and welcome while also having the technical skill to create a great cocktail and work with the tools of the trade. She hopes hospitality continues developing as a safe, creative environment where women can thrive and support one another. The mutual respect she has found among her fellow women in the industry has made a lasting impression.

Her advice to other women entering the field is simple: stay creative, try new things, listen, ask questions, and stay curious. She also believes in knowing when to lean on the people around you. And perhaps most importantly, don't be too hard on yourself. "We get to make fun drinks," she says. That attitude says a lot about Lauren's approach. She takes the craft seriously without losing sight of the joy that brought her to it in the first place.

A New City, With Something to Prove

One of the most rewarding parts of Lauren's career has been discovering that her skills and relationships can travel with her. Moving to a brand-new city where she didn't know anyone could have meant starting completely from scratch. Instead, the experiences and connections she built throughout her hospitality career helped her find her footing much faster. For Lauren, there's something powerful about realizing that she can take her heart and her skills anywhere in the world. Now, she's bringing both to Charlotte.

At Battle of the Babes, she hopes people remember how much she genuinely loves what she does. She wants guests to see the excitement she feels when creating something and sharing it with other people. For her, getting to share that gift is something she doesn't take lightly.

And when she steps behind the bar at Merchant + Trade for the competition, she'll be bringing more than a cocktail. She'll be bringing the curiosity that started with a beer truck, the culinary creativity that now shows up in her drinks, the lessons gathered from years behind the bar, and the connections that helped her find a new home in Charlotte.

Meet Lauren at Battle of the Babes

Lauren will be one of eight mixologists competing in the 6th Annual Battle of the Babes Cocktail Competition, taking place September 27, 2026, from 5 PM to 9 PM at Merchant + Trade, 303 S Church St.

Come meet Lauren and the other competitors, taste their creations and experience the creativity they bring behind the bar.