A woman with dark curly hair smiling and crossing her arms, wearing a patterned sweater with teal, black, white, red, and beige colors.

Meet the Founder

Gabby LaPress

I deeply understand what it feels like to question yourself while leading, to try and be what you ‘think’ and not be true to who you are—and then I know what changes when you don’t anymore. This is about becoming YOU with confidence, so you can inspire others, build authentic connection, create community, and truly support and elevate others into their best self.

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My Story

For 19 years, I’ve worked my way up and led in a Fortune 100 environment—managing large teams, building high-performing cultures, and driving real results.

From the outside, it looked like success.

But like many PEOPLE- who just happen to be leaders, there were moments where I felt the pressure to perform, to have all the answers, and to be who I thought I needed to be, to conform—rather than who I truly was.

And that disconnect changes how you eat, sleep, connect, exist, and definitely how you lead. I knew my biggest responsibility was to do what's best for others- so I had to foster myself first. There’s a moment when you stop trying to be who you think you should be—and just become who you are.

For me, that’s where everything changed.

Authenticity became the foundation for real connection.

Now, my mission is to help others drop the armor, show up fully, and build the kind of connection that allows people to truly care for one another, have the courage to be honest—and accomplish something incredible together.

My Why

I created Rooted & Rising because every person comes from something deeper beneath the surface—and when we nourish those roots, the growth that follows can be beyond anything we imagined.

Real, lasting growth is built on a strong foundation.

And for me, this is personal.

If I’ve been given the chance to live a beautiful life—one filled with peace and joy, even on borrowed time—then I believe I have a responsibility to help others reach their fullest potential.

Starting from their core.

So that when life knocks them down, they don’t break— they rise, grounded in who they are, and persevere beyond it.

What changed

Over time, I realized something that shifted everything:

The strongest, most impactful leaders aren’t the ones who have it all figured out on the surface—

they’re the ones who are rooted in who they are. The ones that could let vulnerability be the avenue of relatability and tell the story of perseverance to inspire others

When I began doing that inner work—building self-trust, understanding myself more deeply, and leading from a place of authenticity—everything changed.

Not just for me, but for the people I led.

Connection became stronger.

Trust deepened. 

Performance followed.

This is more than leadership. It’s who you are at your core. It’s how you show up for others. It’s how we rise—together.

With over a decade of leadership experience, I’ve led small teams and large teams in building a culture grounded in authentic connection, trust, respect, care, and growth—where people are empowered to become their best and bring out the best in others.

I’ve seen firsthand what happens when people feel:

Seen
Supported
Confident in who they are
They don’t just perform—they thrive.