From the Lab to the Mic: Dawn Hunter’s Journey to Transform Work Culture

Project Ownership had the opportunity to step into the lab with Dawn Hunter — not a science lab, but the transformative space she has built for leaders and organizations. As a public health lawyer, research scientist, and Certified Wellness Practitioner, Dawn is creating a space to reimagine work culture that prioritizes the needs, desires, and interests that bring joy to the human beings behind the titles.

Her mission is to help leaders create healthier, human-centered workplaces where everyone is empowered to be their best selves and thrive. Dawn reminds us that it’s never too late to change your relationship with work and design a career that aligns with your joy.

What inspired Dawn to become an owner, and how did she get started?

Dawn recalls a pivotal season in her career: working in a lab where every team member, except the Principal Investigator, was a woman. That environment was fun, collaborative, and supportive. They freely exchanged ideas, encouraged innovation, and learned continuously from one another.

Since labs are often named after their lead investigator, Dawn chose to name her own business, The Dawn Lab, as an homage to that transformative experience.

Dawn began consulting while working full-time, creating contracts and agreements, building client relationships, and testing her capacity for entrepreneurship. However, the real shift occurred in 2023 after she joined a book club and was inspired by We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers. Coupled with public service loan forgiveness and a work environment that no longer aligned with her values, Dawn realized the world was her oyster and she had the freedom to explore possibilities outside of government and non-profit work.

That’s when she gave herself permission to ask: What are my best skills? What brings me joy? And from there, she built a business around those answers.

What impact has ownership had on Dawn's life, family, and community?

For Dawn, business ownership is freedom. It allows her to align her work with her values, nurture the various parts of her identity, and spend more meaningful time with her family. She can also freely engage in continuous learning, bring her creative ideas to life without restriction, and decide how to monetize them on her own terms.

Dawn’s work is also deeply tied to her belief in generational wealth. She views property and business ownership as keys to breaking cycles of economic disparity and creating better opportunities for future generations. She wants to be an example to her four nieces and two nephews, showing them that anything is possible and

that they can be the architects of a future filled

with joy, meaning, and independence.

What fears or challenges did Dawn have before becoming an owner, and how did she overcome them?

Like many new entrepreneurs, Dawn questioned whether clients would show up and whether people would invest in her services. She chose faith over fear, trusting that those who needed her work would find her, and she leaped.

She also faced the financial ebb and flow that comes with running a service-based business. Speaking and workshop facilitation often bring income in waves, followed by quieter seasons. To adapt, she developed strategies to generate revenue during the slower periods in her industry.

Most importantly, Dawn redefined what success means to her. While income matters, her measure is: Did I do what I set out to do in a way that makes me happy? By focusing on purpose as much as profit, she created a healthier, more sustainable definition of success. So, even if she only had one client and could answer yes to that question, she could still experience happiness and feel successful.

Dawn believes that one of the most important actions we can take in reframing our relationship with work, and especially entrepreneurship, is to redefine what success means to us.

What advice would Dawn give someone who’s never owned an income-producing asset but wants to start?

Dawn’s advice is realistic and empowering:

• Start by identifying your best and natural skills. Make a list of what people consistently seek your advice on.

• There will be items on the list that bring you joy and you want to protect and not monetize, and others that you are interested in monetizing. Label each of the items. Then highlight the ones you do want to monetize.

• Choose one monetizable skill and create an offer around it — think of something people would pay for based on that skill. Be open to all the innovative possibilities that come to mind.

• Identify your unique lane. You don’t need to know everything — focus on your solution, product, or service.

• Remember, owning a business is accessible to you. You only need to know more than the people paying you. You’re the authority on this solution, and there’s someone out there looking for what you have to offer.

• Network and surround yourself with people who have been where you want to go, and who are willing to guide and mentor you.

Connect with Dawn To Enhance Your Work Culture

Dawn dreams of a headline five years from now: “The Dawn Lab Changes the Way We Approach Work Culture in the United States.” We believe she’s well on her way!

Dawn's movement is built on the belief that work should be just one aspect of life — not the priority. For employees, success looks like deeper engagement, fewer absences, greater productivity, and innovation. For organizations, success is measured by reduced turnover, stronger community relationships, cost savings, and an enhanced reputation as a great place to work.

Dawn’s ideal clients are mission-driven organizations — mid-size firms in law, biotech, sciences, and state and local government — that are committed to creating a positive employee experience aligned with their values. She offers organizational assessments, policy analysis, best practice recommendations, and tailored plans for alignment and success. She provides leadership and management coaching to strengthen connections between staff and management. She also recently earned her certification as a wellness practitioner, which deeply informs her work.

• To learn more about Dawn Hunter & The Dawn Lab:

  • Book a call: www.TheDawnLab.com

• Follow her on LinkedIn and IG: TheDawnLab

  
  

• Subscribe to her bi-weekly newsletter & blog: The Better Boundaries Brief, exploring the intersections of law and policy, and healthy workplace boundaries.

  
  

• Listen to her podcast: Work Is Third — a movement inspiring people to prioritize joy, care for themselves, and reclaim life beyond work by amplifying the stories of others.