Lauren Book was a victim of childhood sexual abuse for six years at the hands of her nanny. Armed with the knowledge that 95 percent of sexual abuse is preventable through education, Lauren has worked to turn her horrific personal experience into a vehicle to prevent childhood sexual abuse and heal survivors by starting Lauren’s Kids. Lauren’s Kids encourages victims to “shine a light in dark places” and “shed the shame.” This presentation was given by Lauren Book, Founder and CEO of Lauren's Kids, for the Wall Street Journal-sponsored Women's Leadership Summit in New York City on September 20, 2013.

1. Between Your
Commas
Women Leadership Summit NYC
Sept. 20, 2013
Lauren Book, M.S. Ed
Founder and CEO, Lauren’s Kids

2. I am Lauren Book.
Woman. Educator. Founder. Survivor.
Advocate. Warrior. World changer.
Leader. I have many labels that could fit
between my commas. The one I won’t
accept is Victim.

3. Here’s my story…
I was born to a wealthy family
in a gated community.
For six years from the age of 11
to the age of 17 I was
physically, sexually and
emotionally abused by my
family’s nanny.
Every day.

4. Out of darkness, into light:
Lauren’s Kids
Founded Lauren’s Kids to prevent abuse, heal
survivors
 Developed a school-based abuse prevention
curriculum to give children the skills to protect
themselves from victimization
Walked 4,500 miles across Florida to raise
awareness, help other survivors begin their own
journey of healing
 Legislative advocacy to better protect
children and victims of sexual violence

5. Leadership Lessons from my
journey…

6. Face Your Dark
 Don’t run from the dark places, that is
where your power is.
 Your story is unlike anyone else’s.
Embrace it. Let it empower you.
 Be authentic, even with vulnerabilities.
Not everyone will get you, not everyone
will like you. Accept that.It doesn’t
matter.

7. Start To See Your
Ceiling As A Floor
 If you aren’t feeling a little uncomfortable
and unsure you can do it, you aren’t
challenging yourself
 Safer, Smarter Kids “I mean business”
voice
 “Our deepest fear is not that we are
inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we
are powerful beyond measure…Your
playing small does not serve the world.” –
Marianne Williamson

8. Use Your Power to Change
the World in ways that are
meaningful to you
 Decide what is unacceptable in your life
and your world and change that because
you can.
 Recruit a team to make your vision
happen. Get other people excited about
the possibilities of your shared vision.
 For me, 1 in 3 girls, 1 in 5 boys enduring
sexual abuse before their 18th birthdays is
unacceptable. I can imagine a world
where sexual exploitation of children is not
tolerated.

9. I challenge you to decide what self-
identifiers belong between your
commas and which ones you will not
accept.
Among them, should be “leader.”

10. I challenge you to decide what self-
identifiers belong between your commas
and which ones you will not accept.
Among them, should be “leader.”