MEET THE FOUNDERS
The people behind the work
OUR STORY
CG Squared began with a shared conviction:
the skills, training, and opportunities we had been given were not just for us.
Lauren spent years helping organizations translate vision into execution. Chad spent years helping leaders strengthen wellbeing, resilience, and purpose. Over time, we realized we were being called to serve the same leaders — leaders who didn't need strategy in one corner and wellbeing in another. They needed both.
So we combined forces.
As co-founders, partners in life, and partners in this work, we bring complementary strengths to a shared purpose: helping mission-driven organizations become stronger, clearer, and more supported as they fulfill the work they are called to bring into the world.
Wellbeing Strategist · Leadership Coach · Executive Facilitator
CHAD J. THOMAS
CO-FOUNDER
“Wellbeing is not a luxury — it's a fundamental right. My work is dedicated to breaking down perceived barriers and creating pathways to holistic success for every person.”
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Chad Thomas is a wellbeing expert with over 15 years of experience in transforming workplaces and communities. Chad Thomas stands at the intersection of social innovation and meaningful change. His unique approach combines lived experience, academic insights, and grassroots activism to address the complex wellbeing challenges faced by underserved communities.
Chad is a member of BetterUp’s leadership team where he leads the work on integrating the world’s largest digital coaching solution into the wellbeing and HR programs for the largest companies in the world.
As a sought-after speaker, Chad brings raw authenticity and strategic insight to every presentation. He challenges traditional narratives about mental health and professional development. His practical and actionable strategies have been leveraged by scores of organizations and non-profits to transform culture.
Chad graduated from Boston College, with a degree in Human Developmental Psychology and earned a Master of Applied of Positive Psychology from The University of Pennsylvania.
Strategic Advisor · Executive Facilitator · Consultant
LAUREN DUGARD THOMAS
CO-FOUNDER
“Most strategies don't fail in the boardroom. They fail in execution. And for mission-driven organizations, that gap isn't just a business problem — it's a community one.”
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Lauren Dugard Thomas is a strategist, facilitator, and trusted advisor with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations translate vision into actionable strategies, and priorities into measurable impact.
She has a gift for distilling complexity into a critical path, asking the right questions to move thinking forward, and aligning stakeholders around shared priorities. Her style is thoughtful and candid, with an energy and warmth that makes even the most challenging work engaging and joyful.
Lauren began her career in medical device manufacturing after earning her degree in Biological Engineering from Cornell University. Her early training continues to shape how she approaches problem solving today, particularly her ability to balance big-picture thinking with close attention to detail. She later earned a dual MBA and MPH from UC Berkeley, expanding that systems perspective across business, healthcare, and population health.
Lauren went on to serve as Director of Strategy and Innovation at Blue Shield of California, where she led enterprise-wide strategic initiatives and helped design the organization’s strategy-to-execution process. Her experience has since expanded beyond healthcare to nonprofit and social impact organizations working to improve outcomes for the communities they serve.
Today, as co-founder of CG Squared, Lauren works alongside executives and leadership teams as a strategic thought partner and facilitator. She creates space for leaders to step outside the demands of the day-to-day, think expansively about where they are going, explore new possibilities, and wrestle with the complex questions shaping their organizations and the communities they serve.
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