A World of Balanced Power
Better Problems, the project of Lauren Marie and Michael Sandmeier, pursues the vision of a world with more balanced power. We believe that not the strongest, richest or loudest, but the most trustworthy brands should prevail.
That's why in 2021 we decided to use our backgrounds in medicine and leadership to decode and understand trust. Complemented by our trainings in neuroscience, trauma therapy and mediation, we now empower changemakers to foster trust in the business world and create positive impact for consumers and employees.
Michael Sandmeier
Hi there, I'm Michael Sandmeier.
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My career began in 2008, focused on international business management. For the next 12 years I helped companies navigate a variety of transitions, some big and some small.
Over and over, I noticed the same pattern coming up again and again. Companies with a lot of low-trust relationships had a much harder time pivoting - again and again they had to resort to either force or intimidation to get anything done. Conversely, companies who had nurtured high trust relationships evolved with far less internal resistance.
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Why could some companies evolve easily while others struggled?
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In 2020 I left my corporate position and took an 18-month sabbatical. During this time, I became obsessed with understanding the interplay between trust and resiliency.
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We founded Better Problems to reduce the frustration that occurs when change is met with resistance. We do this by helping leaders to create psychologically safe environments for their teams, for bold change with less resistance
Lauren Marie Sandmeier
Hello, I'm Lauren Marie Sandmeier and I'm so glad we found each other.
My journey began in 2014 as a Registered Nurse, specialized in pediatric oncology post-anesthesia and pain management. During my years in healthcare, I began noticing striking similarities between the intricacies of our individual health and the often dysfunctional systems that support us.
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In 2020, the US healthcare system reached a breaking point, and so did I. Burned out and exhausted, I made the difficult decision to step away. After a lot of reflection, I began to redirect my focus towards healing these dynamics.
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My purpose is to bridge the gap between our individual well-being and the broader systems we navigate. My lifelong goal is to use my experiences and privileges to empower all of us to break free from harmful cycles, embrace growth, and navigate change with a sense of safety and understanding.
