Lawrence began his journey in Charleston, known for its tropical weather and status as a top holiday destination. He has a solid foundation from a large, loving family that encourages him on this life journey. After attending Georgia Southern University, where he studied and played soccer on a scholarship, he signed a professional contract with the Charleston Battery of the USL. Initially, his dreams were tied to soccer, with aspirations of playing professionally outside the US. In his twenties, he seized the opportunity to move quickly and found himself on a plane to Jamaica.
"I was young, and I thought if I could live in Jamaica and come out the other end, I would be pretty ok," Lawrence recalls.
After about a year in Jamaica, Lawrence longed to play in Europe. His agent facilitated a unique trade: a Jamaican player returning home from Kokkola, Finland, where Lawrence would take his place.
"I went home for a few days to get some warm clothes. I didn't know much about Finland except that it's quite cold."
Lawrence arrived at Vaasa airport in mid-March 2007 and went straight to KPV's (Kokkola Football Club) practice for a two-week try-out period.
"They were quite surprised because they were expecting a Jamaican," Lawrence laughs.
On his 22nd birthday, after a few practices and an away game in Vaasa, Lawrence signed a 1+1 year contract with the team. That night, celebrating his new contract, he met his future wife, Ida.
Initially, Ida didn't take Lawrence's intentions seriously, but their relationship blossomed.
After a few years with KPV, Lawrence played one season in Vaasa before joining GBK (Gamlakarleby Bollklubb) in 2010. For the first few years, he traveled home to Charleston after each season, spending 3-4 months there from October/November until February.
"Little by little, I started to spend longer periods in Finland and didn't return home straight away."
Lawrence began contemplating his future beyond soccer after marrying in 2012 and having their daughter Alexandra in 2013. In 2014, a billboard for Centria University of Applied Sciences'
"International Studies" program caught his eye. Encouraged by Ida, he set a goal to graduate by Christmas 2017.
Balancing soccer, studies, and a growing family, Lawrence submitted his final work in November 2017, just as their second son and third child, Austin, was born. That same night, he met Robert Åström, CEO of Raisoft, who invited him for an interview.
"I ran into Robert on a Friday and told him I graduated; he invited me for an interview the following Monday."
Lawrence and Ida decided to spend Christmas in Charleston. It was a special moment when his parents held their youngest grandson for the first time, saw his diploma, and learned about his new job at Raisoft starting in January 2018.
Lawrence's first role at Raisoft was with Smart Break, a cloud-based workplace wellness solution.
"If you don't count soccer, this was my first real career job. It's been interesting and challenging to try different things, figure out what works, and open doors for Smart Break, especially in the United States."
Before COVID-19, Lawrence's job involved significant travel, often alongside CEO Robert Åström or Chief Knowledge Officer Johan Boholm.
"On these trips, I gathered as much knowledge as possible about Raisoft. They supported and trusted me, giving me space to make mistakes and learn."
Lawrence is increasingly involved with Raisoft as the company seeks to serve the customers currently in Canada while looking to expand further.
"I'm surprised how many contacts I made while marketing Smart Break have benefitted Raisoft's expansion. The Smart Break projects have provided valuable information on how to proceed with Raisoft."
In his free time, Lawrence stays active, playing soccer and spending time with his children. Since switching to Raisoft full-time, Lawrence has completed a master's degree in international business management and had a new addition to the household. His third son, Aaron, was born in October 2022 after a long discussion with the kids on whether they should have a puppy or another sibling. The kids wanted a puppy!
"Nights are long, and days are even longer," Lawrence says, emphasizing the importance of strict timetables and routines.
The focus is maintaining an excellent work-life balance and being there for the kids, wife, and Raisoft family. Traveling has been on the agenda, and making the Canadian market thrive for Raisoft and our customers is essential.
Lawrence Smith's journey from Charleston to Kokkola, from soccer fields to the corporate world, and from student to professional is a testament to his adaptability and determination. His story is one of continuous personal and professional growth, and he always keeps multiple irons in the fire.