Laura Baxter

31/08/2026

Remembering Dolly Parton—a remarkable voice, storyteller, leader, and changemaker. ✨

26/08/2026

Earlier this year, I was asked during a panel at the World Communication Forum in Davos whom I would choose if I could have dinner with anyone.

My answer was Dolly Parton.

I think it surprised many of the non-Americans in the audience, but I would have loved to sit across from her and hear the stories behind the songs, the business decisions, the rhinestones and that wonderfully quick wit. I suspect I would have laughed a lot—and learned even more.

Dolly wrote thousands of songs, built enormously successful businesses, gave hundreds of millions of books to children and stood up for people who needed an ally. Through it all, she never seemed to forget where she came from, what she believed or who she was.

She was glamorous without being pretentious, spiritual without being judgemental, clever without needing to prove it, and somehow almost universally loved in a deeply divided world. That may have been one of her greatest achievements.

I’m sad that imaginary dinner can now never happen. But what a gift she gave us through her songs, her humour, her generosity and her enormous heart.

Rest in peace, Dolly. Heaven just gained quite a bit more sparkle. ✨

communication forum association - davos -wcfa

12/06/2026

If you've ever struggled with self-image, belonging, or feeling different, this conversation is for you.

On June 13, author Suchita Smith will take the stage at W***y Lit Fest to discuss her memoir, Little Body, Huge Life—a story of courage, joy, and embracing life exactly as you are.

Come be inspired by a voice that is changing lives, one story at a time.

***yLitFest

10/06/2026

Working with Suchita Smith and helping bring Little Body, Huge Life: Finding Freedom in Any Body into the world has been a true privilege. ✨

Suchita’s wisdom, warmth, honesty, and quiet strength shine through every page of this beautiful memoir. Her story is not only deeply personal, but profoundly human — a gentle reminder that we can learn to live more compassionately with ourselves, our bodies, and each other.

Some people inspire loudly.
Suchita inspires simply by being who she is. 💛

I’m also incredibly proud that in just a few weeks, Suchita will be speaking about her book at the Williamstown Literary Festival — a well-deserved opportunity for more people to experience her remarkable story and presence.

***yLitFest

20/03/2026

Silence, Shadows, and a New Beginning

Here in Bali, the New Year doesn’t start with fireworks.
It starts with silence. The Balinese celebrate Nyepi, a full day where the entire island simply pauses.

But before that stillness, there is an incredible build-up.
In the days leading up to Nyepi, there are ceremonies and rituals, ending with the Ogoh-Ogoh parades. Giant, colorful demon figures are carried through the streets—loud, vibrant, almost chaotic—and then burned at the end of the night. They represent negative forces, and the burning is a way of letting them go.

Then, the next day… everything changes.
💡 No lights.
👩‍💻 No work.
✈️ No travel.
💃 No entertainment.
🪷 Just quiet.

The idea, as it was explained to me, is beautifully simple:
If the island is completely still, the negative spirits won’t find anyone, and they’ll simply move on.

As I stood there watching the parade, I kept thinking, we all carry our own “demons,” don’t we?
💀 Self-doubt.
💀 Those critical thoughts about ourselves.
💀 The comparisons.
💀 The little voices that sneak in when we least expect them.

We don’t build statues of them, but they’re there. And often, we don’t release them. We carry them with us into the next day, the next decision, the next chapter.

I was reminded of Suchita Smith and her beautiful message about learning to sit with those thoughts, to understand them, and then gently let them go in her book "Little Body Huge Life.

Not by pushing them away, but by choosing to love ourselves anyway.

Nyepi made me realize something: Maybe we don’t need a whole island to shut down, but we do need moments of stillness.

Moments where we stop the noise and turn inward.
Moments to ask ourselves what we’re ready to release.

So here’s a little question I’m sitting with today:
✨ What would you let go of if you gave yourself the space to be completely still?

28/12/2025

So, what do you see? 😊

25/12/2025

A very special Christmas surprise happened today...

I just found out that my Christmas CD—recorded back in 2007 with some of the most amazing musicians!—has just been released on Spotify and YouTube. It happened to arrive just a few hours ago, on Christmas Day. What a beautiful surprise!

The album includes "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," a song that carries a lot of warmth and tradition for me. It was created for moments of quiet listening, for connection, and for those small pauses that make the season feel human again.

I wish you and your loved ones truly magical, peaceful, and blessed holidays. Thank you for being part of my world this year—for listening, sharing, and connecting. I’m very much looking forward to seeing you again in the new year.

🎵 If you’d like, you can listen or watch here:

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/5CIAWhQNiQ8C8R8AUNpN1M?si=8a4c42c9c622492b

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj5ka7JCYiw&list

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

Laura Baxter, Michael Schlierf Piano · ... if only in my dreams: The Christmas Collection · Song · 2007

27/11/2025

When I think of Thanksgiving at my parents house, two memories stand out above all others. The first is from my childhood. My older brother used to visit us every year at Thanksgiving to take my younger brother (who is still older than I am…) to the Thanksgiving Fair at the old Sears shopping center and to buy us each a present at a local toy store. He did this because he wanted to make us feel special.

When I was a bit older (in my teenage and young adult years), Thanksgiving was a bit different. The family would gather and eat—the usual traditions of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, football, etc. also happened—and then after everyone was in bed, my sister, younger brother and I would sneak into the kitchen around midnight and do the forbidden—we ate the leftover dressing from Thanksgiving dinner. Every year, on the day after Thanksgiving, my mother would wake up and yell, “Who ate the dressing??!!” Silence. Silence followed by guilty looks and snickering. I always wondered why this surprised her each time… 😂

Today, looking at Thanksgiving from so far away, I miss these moments, and I am truly grateful to have shared them with my family. Treasure the little moments you have with each other and remember to be thankful. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

15/11/2025

A quick throwback to a few weeks ago when the University began its latest updates. Grateful to have been at the beautiful Orangerie Erlangen during this exciting start. More progress ahead!

12/11/2025

🎤 The magic happens in the dress rehearsal.
That’s where you see the preparedness of the speaker.
✨ How is the mic? Is the mic working? How are the acoustics in the room?
✨ How is the stage? How can you use the stage to your advantage?
✨ How is the lighting? How far can you move and still be visible to the audience?

Preparation isn’t about perfection; it’s about finding your home on the stage. It’s about being able to play with your audience. It’s about presence.
When you know your stage, your story, and your space, you’re free to lead with confidence and connect from the heart. 💫