Lauren Bailey

Co-Founder + CEO at Postino, Upward Projects

Speaker

Lauren Bailey is the Co-Founder and CEO of Postino, who was named to the Nation's Restaurant News 2026 Power List (2019, 2021) and ranked #28 on the 2025 100 Under 100 list of fastest-growing restaurant brands. She also leads parent company Upward Projects, the restaurant development and hospitality group known for one thing, making people feel good. Lauren focuses on strategy, conceptualization and development for over 35 restaurants over five brands in seven states. Additional locations are currently in development. Named in the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing companies for four consecutive years, Upward Projects places an emphasis on preparing high-quality food and adapting and reusing historically relevant buildings that are an integral part of the neighborhoods they serve. The brands are comprised of Postino, Joyride Taco House, Windsor, Churn Ice Cream and Federal Pizza. Collectively, Lauren is responsible for growth and vision of the existing company as well as future projects. Lauren also previously served on the board of Brand USA for three years, overseeing the direction of a $250M annual budget to promote United States tourism globally.

Recently named to the Arizona State University Foundation’s Board of Directors, Lauren helps to oversee the nearly $1B endowment for this university, named the most innovative school in the U.S. for five years in a row by U.S. News & World Report. A proud ASU graduate, Lauren is also the first alumna to study under current ASU president Michael Crow to now serve alongside him at the Foundation. In 2024, Lauren joined ASU’s Sun Devil 100, which recognizes global leaders that demonstrate innovation, growth and entrepreneurial spirit. Lauren also sits on the Grand Canyon University Colangelo College of Business Advisory Board, and is a proud “big sister” with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. Lauren is a former Steering Committee Member for Devour Phoenix, and a former board member of the Entrepreneurs Organization. Inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame as “Restaurateur of the Year”, Lauren has been honored as a “Food Pioneer” by the Arizona Restaurant Association, named by the Phoenix Business Journal as the “Outstanding Women in Business” and selected as a finalist for the Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” award. Lauren also shared her expertise as a panel speaker in both the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference and Restaurant Industry Conference in 2022.

Lauren was raised in the state of Indiana and has inhabited a number of cities up and down the East Coast, including New York City and Nantucket. She attended Arizona State University, graduating in 2002 with dual degrees in Communication and Fine Art. In her spare time Lauren travels the world, chases her 11-year-old, hunts for vintage treasures, creates art, cooks dinner for friends, and spends time with the most important people in her life.