Lauren Gibbs
Owner
Gibbs Construction
You took over leadership of the company from your father in 2019. What was that trajectory like?
Growing up, Dad didn’t bring work home. The only thing I knew about Gibbs Construction was that Dad built cool buildings in New Orleans. I did well in school, had a preference for math and no clue what I wanted to study in college until—at the last minute—I decided engineering sounded interesting. I loved getting my degree and my internships working for Turner and American Constructors in Nashville. I moved back home in 2011 to start working for Gibbs in estimating, then project management. I became a vice president in 2017 and bought the company from Dad in 2019. I always knew I was drawn to leadership—I loved the work and wanted to be a reliable resource so I worked intentionally to learn as much as I could about the business. Ownership felt like a natural conversation to have.
How did the leadership of your father inspire your own style of leadership?
Both of my parents had a strong influence on how I see the world and how I choose to lead. I want people around me to feel trusted, valued and heard. My goal is to inspire growth, not force it upon someone. It can appear easy to be the “do-er” in the leadership position, but ultimately that bogs down the whole system. Leadership should inspire people to reach well beyond their self-limiting beliefs.
Do other members of the Gibbs family work with you?
My husband works with me. He is the president and the best business partner money couldn’t buy. One of my sisters worked for the company for a long time before she retired to travel the world. And I have two brothers who are in commercial real estate development. We have done tons of work together.
Every company anniversary is important, but what makes this 50-year mark so momentous?
This anniversary reignites the connection between our past and our future. There are so many stories about who we are and where we came from that shape how we treat each other today. The longer a company operates, the easier it is to lose that thread. People come in who never knew the early years, and the values just become the way things are instead of something with history and reason behind it. Celebrating fifty gives us a chance to break out those stories and make that history visible again.
Favorite way to celebrate Mardi Gras?
With friends, family, a clean bathroom and a reasonable exit strategy!
Favorite New Orleans stop that’s off the beaten path?
I’m a big fan of Ye Olde College Inn—traditional New Orleans cuisine, a great atmosphere and it’s super convenient to the River Ridge/Harahan area!
