After receiving my degree in Human Development and Family Studies, I worked as a case manager in the field of substance abuse and addiction advocacy until I decided to change course and pursue a career in comedy instead.

Not as big a leap as you might think! The two fields have a lot in common.

I moved to Chicago to study improv and sketch comedy. I immediately landed amazing agents at Grossman & Jack Talent and began working as a professional comedic actor. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, I've worked on TV and in film, favorites include “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Chicago Fire,” “Public Enemies,” and several national commercials. As a member of the Actors’ Equity Association, I’ve performed on prestigious stages, such as The Goodman Theatre, The American Theatre Company, and The Second City in several of their long running theatricals.

While I enjoyed work as a voice over artist and as a commercial copywriter, I expanded my career by writing and producing an award winning pilot. I had a knack for playing bizarro characters, so I co-created a web series that was hailed by The Chicago Tribune and won awards in LA and Chicago. I played a not-so-handyman, a male character that got me a Best Actress award. (Want proof of my character work? See my acting reel.)

Along the way, I paired my psychology-based background with my skills as a performer. I freelanced as a Communications Design Lead for The Second City where my creative work with them was featured in The Wall Street Journal, NBC’s “The Today Show,” ABC’s “World News with Diane Sawyer,” and in Fast Company Magazine.

From there, I launched my own brand of experiential learning and executive presence coaching based on my core belief that the very skills I honed in my multi-hyphenated career were the ones necessary to portray confidence and to grow as a leader in any industry. The Larapyn Group is a culmination of my creative journey and my passion for using a variety of art forms to inspire honest connection.

Wow, thanks for reading all that!