Laura Baukol shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Laura, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, joy has come from my little rituals: journaling with my morning coffee, walking my pup Taittinger, and enjoying good food and wine with my husband. Travel always lights me up too! Exploring new places reminds me to slow down, stay curious, and find magic in the everyday.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Laura Baukol, Founder & Chief Sparkle Officer of Sparkling Alchemy, a woman-owned small business in Colorado. I specialize in permanent jewelry, boutique-style piercing, and celestial hair sparkles, offering personalized experiences that make people feel celebrated, connected, and radiant.
What started as a creative outlet while I was working full-time has grown into a lifestyle brand rooted in intention, empowerment, and joy. From pop-ups and private parties to corporate events and in-studio appointments, I create meaningful moments that help people embrace their sparkle.
Now, I’m expanding into digital products that bring this magic to even more people, wherever they are. Whether I’m welding a bracelet, creating content, or collaborating on a magical event, my mission is the same: to inspire and empower others to live their joy. ✨
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was a sparkly, imaginative girl who loved to perform, create, and connect. I was always putting on plays, dressing up in costumes, and dreaming about a life filled with storytelling, magic, and meaning. Acting was my first love. It gave me a way to express big emotions, step into other worlds, and make people feel something.
As I grew older, I learned how to thrive in the corporate world – efficient, dependable, buttoned-up, but in doing so, I started to lose pieces of myself. Launching Sparkling Alchemy helped me reconnect with the creative, joyful version of me I thought I had to leave behind. Now I get to blend all the parts of who I am, the actress, the dreamer, the entrepreneur, and help others feel beautiful, inspired, and empowered.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. Before Sparkling Alchemy, I was deep in a corporate job that drained me. The stress, long hours, and toxic culture had me questioning everything, including whether I was capable of building the life I truly wanted. There were days I felt like giving up on my own dreams because they felt too big, too risky, and too different from the safe path I was told to follow.
But in that low point, I realized something: if I was willing to work this hard to build someone else’s vision, why not give that same energy to building my own? That perspective shift – paired with a lot of grit, creativity, and late-night “what if” brainstorming – is what gave life to Sparkling Alchemy. Now, I look back and know that walking through that hard season was exactly what I needed to create something joyful, meaningful, and mine.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They’d say I care about creating unforgettable experiences. Whether it’s helping someone celebrate with a piece of permanent jewelry, telling a great story through acting, or planning an incredible trip, I love helping people step out of the ordinary and into something meaningful. Travel especially matters to me. It shifts your perspective, breaks routine, and reminds you there’s always more to explore.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
For a long time, I did what I was told to do: build a “safe” career, work hard, check the boxes. I was good at it, but I felt disconnected from who I really was. I’ve always loved travel, creativity, and meaningful connection, but for years, I kept that part of myself separate from my work.
Now, I’ve created something that brings it all together. Whether I’m helping someone celebrate with permanent jewelry, planning a trip that expands their world, or performing a role that tells a deeper story, I’m doing what lights me up – I’m building a business and a life centered around joy, celebration, and meaningful experiences – and that makes all the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sparklingalchemy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparklingalchemyjewelry
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sparkling-alchemy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparklingalchemyjewelry
