38 | Education: Southern Methodist University | Company: LIVE LOVE POP
Lauren Mariel found comfort in a simple act of love while caring for her mother as she battled a rare form of breast cancer — making stovetop popcorn, something they had always enjoyed doing together.
Over time, Mariel realized that popcorn could be more than just a snack.
With the support of her family, Mariel built a 500-square-foot kitchen and began popping popcorn by hand. That small kitchen grew into LIVE LOVE POP, a brand now sold across the country with a mission of Selfless Snacking™ — creating products that both taste good and do good.
Each of Mariel’s flavors of popcorn, which range from sea salt to dill pickle and sweet and salty kettle corn, supports a charitable cause. And Mariel continues to lead the company with the same heart she began it with: family, purpose, and an aim of spreading joy one pop at a time.
“I never imagined I would start a food company, but life has a way of leading us exactly where we’re meant to go,” she said. “What began as a way to cope with a difficult time in my family turned into a mission-driven business that has connected me with incredible people and opportunities.”
Over the years, Mariel has partnered with nonprofits supporting breast cancer research, childhood cancer, hunger relief, and other causes close to her heart.
“If there’s anything I hope people take away from my story, it’s that sometimes the most meaningful ideas start in the quietest moments,” Mariel said, “and with enough heart, they can grow into something that touches many lives.”
What (or who) motivated you to get involved in the community?
My parents. My mother taught me resilience and compassion through her journey with cancer. She showed me that even during life’s hardest moments, we can still find ways to lift others up. My father taught me what it looks like to believe in someone wholeheartedly. When LIVE LOVE POP was just an idea, he didn’t hesitate to help build our first kitchen and stand beside me as a partner in the business. Because of them, I’ve always believed that success means very little unless you use it to help others.
What is your favorite part of your current job or community involvement?
The people. Whether it’s customers, retail partners, charities, or my own team, the most rewarding part of my work is the relationships built along the way. I love seeing how something as simple as popcorn can bring people together — at family movie nights, school events, celebrations, and fundraisers. Knowing that our products can create small moments of joy while also supporting meaningful causes is incredibly fulfilling.
Are you where you thought you’d be when you graduated from high school?
Not even close — and I’m grateful for that. I never imagined I would start a food company, but life has a way of leading us exactly where we’re meant to go. What began as a way to cope with a difficult time in my family turned into a mission-driven business that has connected me with incredible people and opportunities. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful paths are the ones we never planned.
What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
One of my first jobs was working in sales, which taught me the value of persistence and relationships. I learned early on that success often comes down to showing up, listening, and building trust with people. Those lessons still guide me today as an entrepreneur.
Was there a “lightbulb moment” that led you to your career? If so, what was it?
When my mom was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer, I remember realizing very quickly that I couldn’t just sit in fear — I needed to create something hopeful out of such a difficult moment. Popcorn had always been our family tradition, something my mom taught me to make on the stovetop. During her treatments, it became a small source of comfort again, and that’s when the idea for LIVE LOVE POP began. With my dad’s encouragement and belief in me, what started as a way to stay strong during a hard time turned into a business rooted in love, resilience, and giving back.
What accomplishment are you the proudest of and why?
Building LIVE LOVE POP from a small family kitchen into a nationally distributed brand while staying true to our mission of giving back. But even more than the business growth, I’m proud that my children are growing up watching what it looks like to lead with heart, kindness, and resilience.
Which leadership skills have been the most challenging for you to develop and why?
Learning to trust myself and make difficult decisions. Entrepreneurship often requires stepping into uncertainty and making choices without having all the answers. Over time, I’ve learned that leadership means balancing intuition with courage — and remembering that growth often comes from the hardest moments.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing Dallas right now? If you had the connections and resources to change that, what would you do?
Like many cities, Dallas continues to grow rapidly, which creates both opportunity and challenges. One of the most important things we can focus on is ensuring that growth benefits everyone — supporting local businesses, strengthening community programs, and creating opportunities for families and young people. If I had the resources, I would invest heavily in programs that connect entrepreneurship, education, and community support to help the next generation build meaningful careers and businesses here in Dallas.
If someone made a movie about your life, what would it be called and who would play you?
When Life Gives You Kernels… Because LIVE LOVE POP began during one of the hardest chapters in my family’s life. When my mom was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer, I knew I couldn’t just sit in fear — I had to do something. What started as making stovetop popcorn in our kitchen turned into an idea, and with my dad’s belief in me and willingness to take a chance on that idea, it slowly grew into the company we run today. Sometimes life hands you something difficult, and the best you can do is turn it into something meaningful.
As for who would play me — hopefully someone with a lot of energy and heart, because building a business while raising three kids definitely requires both.
What is your favorite local restaurant or shop?
Rise no. 1 — hands down my favorite restaurant for the ambiance and the food!
What’s on your bucket list?
Traveling more with my family and continuing to grow LIVE LOVE POP into a brand that spreads joy and gives back on an even bigger scale.
What do you have in mind for after 40?
Hopefully continuing to build businesses and initiatives that make a positive impact — while also spending as much time as possible with my family. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that success means very little without the people you love beside you.
Is there anything else you think we should know about you?
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: kindness matters. LIVE LOVE POP began as a small act of love during a difficult time in my family’s life. If there’s anything I hope people take away from my story, it’s that sometimes the most meaningful ideas start in the quietest moments — and with enough heart, they can grow into something that touches many lives.
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