RootedBook

Origin & Founder

This work began as an experiment, lived out loud.

UPWARD Rooted emerged from Laura Smith's own experience rebuilding community and local connection after relocating abroad and coping personal loss.

One early structured experiment — a public, intentional approach to forming new adult friendships — unexpectedly led not only to meaningful new relationships in her own life, but to dozens of recurring connections between participants themselves.

That outcome raised a broader question: what if meaningful social integration could be approached more intentionally — especially for adults rebuilding life in new places, demanding environments, or periods of transition?

UPWARD Rooted is the operational exploration of that question.

Read the original write-up of the early experiment →

Laura Smith, founder of UPWARD Rooted, laughing
Laura Smith · Founder, UPWARD Rooted
Participants from one of the early structured social experiments, gathered outside a Helsinki cafe at night
An early Helsinki gathering — participants from the original experiment

More on Laura's background

Laura is an organizational adviser and researcher focused on human-centered growth, social sustainability, and meaningful integration in demanding environments. Her work draws on years of studying communication, collaboration, inclusion, and scaling dynamics across international organizations and communities.

  • EducationMBA in Communication Management
  • CertificationGender Analytics & Inclusive Analysis — University of Toronto
  • ResearchApplied research experience through Stanford University
  • Practice8+ years advising internationally scaling teams
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