When Laura Aughtman graduated early from Samford University in December 2023, she didn't waste any time launching into her next chapter. By January, the Birmingham native had already opened her own LLC, Lauri Speaks, as a foreign language coach and cultural integration consultant, work that reflects both her deep academic roots and her global ambitions.
As a Language and World Trade major with a minor in World Languages and Cultures and a concentration in German, Aughtman was no stranger to linguistic rigor. But her mission now extends beyond grammar and vocabulary.
"I don’t just help people study foreign languages," she said. "I help them harmonize language study with their routine to suit the lifestyle they want or professional goals they have."
That mission translates into a dynamic, border-crossing workload. In a single month, she might help Americans prepare their Spanish for a mission trip, coach a French doctoral student for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, co-create an English slang course with a partner in Kyiv, teach AI model language in German and support members of the Hispanic community through English as a Second Language (ESL). Whether working with clients in real estate, diplomacy or technology, Aughtman finds purpose in helping people connect across cultures.
That passion was ignited and nurtured in Samford’s World Languages and Cultures Department. “The teachers in WLAC always went above and beyond, even if they weren’t teaching one of my classes,” she said. She credits mentors including Heather West, Angela Ferguson and Grant Henley with inspiring her to pursue language coaching and guiding her through both academic and personal challenges.
One highlight of her undergraduate journey was her internship with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Germany. Another was receiving the Distinguished World Languages and Cultures Scholar Award in 2023—a rare recognition that affirmed her path.
“I consider it a manifestation of a lot of hard work, but also of my teachers’ belief in me,” she said. “That ceremony, along with my final presentation at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung headquarters in Berlin, made me feel affirmed in my decision to do what I do.”
Aughtman now speaks English, Spanish, Russian and German fluently, and she’s adding Ukrainian, Polish and eventually Italian to her list. She hopes current WLAC majors recognize the professional value of their studies, but also hold on to the personal joy of cultural connection.
“My biggest power right now is the ability to connect,” she said. “That’s thanks to the linguistic and cultural knowledge I developed in undergrad.”
When she's not working or learning new languages, Aughtman enjoys solo travel, foreign music, café hopping and advocating for justice in Ukraine. With her entrepreneurial spirit and global mindset, she’s living proof of the paths a Samford language degree can open—and the lives it can help transform.
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