Career Memos withSarina

Career Memos highlights stories and advice from founders and leaders from the startup world. Sarina Virk Torrendell has over a decade of experience in GTM, partnerships, and driving revenue at high-growth startups and Fortune100 tech companies. She was #12 at Postmates, the first on-demand delivery company in the US, where she launched its first markets and new categories, building a marketing and operational infrastructure that was first of its kind. She later went on to launch new products and drive growth through partnerships at other early stage companies like Glamsquad and Calibrate, and brings expertise from leading partner and product marketing at global companies like Apple and Meta.

Kim Chappell: Storytelling, Motherhood, and the Power of Betting On Yourself 03/20/2025

Giovanni Vaccaro: Mindset, Purpose, and Building GLAMSQUAD 02/27/2025

Sam Safer Valentine: Finding the Right Co-Founder and Discovering Product Market Fit 02/13/2025

Sam Safer Valentine: Finding the Right Co-Founder and Discovering Product Market Fit So many people featured on this podcast have been co-founders. But how do you know if you and your potential co-founder are the right fit? How can you test your working dynamic before making a MAJOR commitment? Sam Safer Valentine suggests working on a project first. This way, you can see if you have complimentary communication skills. See how it feels to be vulnerable with them – and how you might handle potential conflict later on. This is exactly what Sam did before she and her co-founders launched , an AI-powered marketing intelligence platform. Knowing she could trust her business partners made ALL the difference while building the company. From her early days curating fashion history at top museums to running a sales and marketing agency, then pivoting into tech, this conversation with Sam is filled with invaluable insights on co-founder dynamics, navigating pivots, and trusting your ability to figure things out, along with the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. You’ll also hear great advice about collaboration, being a generalist, and trusting your ability to find the answers. IN THIS EPISODE: Sam’s remarkable journey from being an assistant curator at London's Fashion and Textile Museum to co-founding Norby Why you should tackle a project with your potential co-founder first to test your compatibility, communication styles, and ability to handle conflict Norby's evolution from an all-in-one marketing platform to an AI-powered marketing intelligence platform The parallels between starting a company and being a parent, requiring adaptability, resilience, and the ability to handle unexpected challenges while maintaining composure LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Sam’s company, . Sarina is a consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , and on , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/35261945

Julia Belt: How Mindly is Revolutionizing Youth Mental Health with Single Session Interventions 01/23/2025

Julia Belt: How Mindly is Revolutionizing Youth Mental Health with Single Session Interventions Is your market not ready for your product? Here’s an idea: try a different market. This is what Julia Belt and her co-founder, Margaret Hines did when their company, , a mental wellness platform focused on delivering digital single-session interventions, wasn’t taking off as fast as they expected it would. The economy was doing poorly and mental health budgets were being cut. One advisor suggested waiting a few years and trying again. Instead, they floated the idea to the youth mental health network. It took off like wildfire. So many founders think they need to find their market fit right away. The reality? You might need to try a few things before you get it right. In this episode, Julia beautifully shares how her brother’s suicide inspired her to leave the chemical engineering industry to create innovative mental health solutions. She shares thoughtful insights about the challenges of pivoting in business, mental resilience, and the importance of following your why, which she says will guide you no matter the obstacles you meet along the way. IN THIS EPISODE: Julia’s background in chemical engineering, and how the devastating loss of her brother inspired her to create , a mental health gifting company The genesis of Mindly, a mental health platform that delivers single-session interventions for youth The importance of letting go of ego, being willing to learn publicly, and continuously reaching out to experts and potential partners (even when it feels uncomfortable) The value of finding two types of mentors: one who has successfully built something similar to your goals, and another who is just a few steps ahead of where you are Julia’s advice for entrepreneurs, including scheduling focused work blocks, identifying your most productive hours, and maintaining clear boundaries between work/personal time LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Mindly on their and check out Julia’s favorite book, by Michael Singer. Sarina is a consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , and on , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/34923970

Katy Marshall: Rising Up to the C-Suite 01/09/2025

Nisha Dua: The Non-Linear Path to Success 12/05/2024

Nisha Dua: The Non-Linear Path to Success What do venture capitalists ACTUALLY look for in the founders they take on? For Nisha Dua, co-founder of , it’s all about great storytelling. What problem are you trying to solve? Why is your team best positioned to solve it? Also: why now? BBG Ventures’ superpower is in supporting “overlooked” founders, particularly women and diverse groups who are targeting untapped markets. In this episode, Nisha sheds light on how demographic shifts post-COVID are presenting new opportunities for innovation and investment. Nisha has a fascinating story, too: she’s the daughter of immigrants and grew up in a small Australian town. She worked in corporate law, consulting, and even lead strategy at AOL before co-founding BBG Ventures, launching their first institutional fund of $50 million in 2019! Today, she shares deep insights into the venture capital world and reveals the evolving priorities within venture capital, the key considerations for investments, and how to create the perfect VC pitch, no matter what stage you’re in. IN THIS EPISODE: Nisha Dua's journey from corporate law, to consulting at Bain, managing strategy at AOL, and co-founding BBG Ventures The value of storytelling and 3 key questions founders should ask themselves in a VC pitch: Why now? Why this product? Why this team? Why non-linear career paths are OK (and sometimes better!) – allowing for serendipity and surprise VC pitching advice for pre-seed and seed founders, including common mistakes and red flags Drawing in overlooked founders and the importance of understanding the shifting identities, values, and behaviors of the American people LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about including their investments in the . Sarina is a consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , and on , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/34263495

Gabby Slome: On Entrepreneurship, Motherhood, and Ruthless Prioritization 11/21/2024

Gabby Slome: On Entrepreneurship, Motherhood, and Ruthless Prioritization Gabby Slome’s founder journey is one of passion, resilience, and an unyielding belief in herself. First, she experienced massive success with direct-to-consumer dog food subscription service and wasn’t afraid to put in the hustle to get the word out. We cover the gritty grassroots marketing tactics she tried around Manhattan, the impact of direct-to-consumer models, and the surprising results that came with asking for help (including how she ended up talking to the Head of Food Safety at Burger King!) After stepping down from Ollie, Gabby launched her next venture, , a virtual lifeline for parents, featuring expert-led group workshops on everything from sleep, self-regulation, picky eating, and parental loneliness. As a Mom of 3, Gabby gets raw, real, and honest about the juggle of motherhood, parenting, and running a successful business. How does she stay present with her kids when an important email comes in? What self-care tactics does she make non-negotiable? Gabby shares her secrets to “ruthless prioritization” and how becoming a parent made her a more empathic leader and manager. One of my takeaways? You can almost always figure ANYTHING out if you access the right people. I can't wait for you to hear Gabby's wisdom, resilience, and storytelling! IN THIS EPISODE: Gabby’s background as a first-generation American, the child of two entrepreneurs, and a professional equestrian Starting Ollie, which involved grassroots marketing strategies (like distributing samples at dog parks and cold-calling customers for feedback) How Gabby honed her prioritization skills and became a more empathetic leader The moment Gabby knew to step down from Ollie to focus on Cooper Parenting – plus, her advice for fellow entrepreneurs who are running businesses while raising kids Gabby’s #1 tip for founders: the importance of passion and why not every passion project deserves to be a business LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Gabby Slome’s company, . Sarina is a consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , and on , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/33993667

Emma Bates: How She Raised $20 Million Dollars for Diem, a Female-Centric Search Engine 11/07/2024

Lee Rotenberg: The Importance of Acting Fast, Being Open, and Just Going For It 10/23/2024

Lee Rotenberg: The Importance of Acting Fast, Being Open, and Just Going For It Lee Rotenberg has exited not one, but TWO companies. Want to know the secret to her genius? Quick decision-making. If you’ve got an idea, get it out there, perfection be damned. Pivot and edit until you have that perfect market fit. In this episode, Lee shares her experience of starting and selling two businesses with her partner, Alex Schinasi: (business management software for interior design firms) and (early childhood AI-powered learning). You’ll hear a behind-the-scenes look at both ventures from beginning to end, along with great advice about co-founder relationships, productivity, and the importance of just taking the leap and being fluid with what comes next. If you take anything away from today’s conversation, don’t “kill the idea” by limiting yourself to launching ventures about only what you know. With Ivy, Lee and Alex infiltrated the interior design market even though they didn’t know anything about interior design! IN THIS EPISODE: The importance of speed in the early stage of start-ups, particularly when it comes to pivoting and finding the perfect market fit Building to sell vs. building for the sake of building a great company (which Lee says is kind of similar to finding a life partner!) A perfect co-founder recipe: respect, trust, equity, and the ability to think creativity and move fluidly The process of creating, pivoting, and eventually selling both Ivy and Clay, and the lessons Lee and Alex are taking with them on their next venture “If you’re waiting for something to be perfect, you’re killing the idea” – and other thoughts from Lee about the power of action in building a business LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED: Sarina is a consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , and on , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/33517962

Jaclyn Johnson: How to Get Started as an Angel Investor 10/10/2024

Jaclyn Johnson: How to Get Started as an Angel Investor Have you ever been intrigued about angel investing, but unsure where to begin? The path to getting started can feel incredibly daunting. How much money do you need? How can you “break in”? Jaclyn Johnson is an inspirational trailblazer in the world of entrepreneurship and angel investing, and she’s here to demystify it all, while giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the process. With a portfolio that includes 25 companies (!), Jaclyn is also the founder of , a platform that uses dating app mechanics to connect angel investors with entrepreneurs. The investing world can be fragmented, but Jaclyn breaks it all down with beginner tips from the average check size, to safe notes, what special purpose vehicles are, and how to get started. You’ll also hear about angel investing from her perspective: what captures her attention as an investor, and the power of having a unique marketplace advantage, plus a truly compelling story – one that speaks to the heart of why your amazing product needs to exist in the world. IN THIS EPISODE: Jaclyn’s inspiring founder journey, and why she launched Cherub to bridge the gap between angel investors and entrepreneurs What angel investing is: who does it, what it looks like, and the benefits of angel investing as opposed to venture capital What to look for if you’re an angel investor, including founder credibility, unique marketplace advantages, and the potential for long-term returns Jaclyn’s experience with angel investing: why she does it (and it’s not just to make money!) and how her approach has evolved Tips for entrepreneurs funding through angel investing (be wary of taking little checks from lots of people!) and how to find investors who provide strategic value beyond just financial support LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED: Check out and sign up for their . Also, be sure to take Jaclyn’s fundraising if you’re a founder raising capital. Sarina is a consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , and on , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/33358187

Cherie Hoeger: How a Need For Better Reusable Period Care Products Launched Saalt Into an 8 Figure Business 02/29/2024

Cherie Hoeger: How a Need For Better Reusable Period Care Products Launched Saalt Into an 8 Figure Business Seven years ago, Cherie Hoeger saw a real need for better reusable period care products – and after starting Saalt in 2018, it became clear how big that need really was. In their second year, Saalt products were stocked in all Target stores nationwide. By their third, Saalt had reached eight figures in revenue! Their company has since donated more than 100,000 products to help women and girls worldwide and has funded 600,000 days of school for girls. What’s noteworthy about Cherie’s story is that her background wasn’t in business. It was in writing. But she did have five daughters, and the news from relatives in Venezuela – that political instability was causing a pad and tampon shortage – kept her up at night. Wasn’t there a reusable product that could prevent girls in developing countries from missing school? In this episode, Cherie takes us behind the scenes of starting this very successful company with her husband. For them, conducting the research and pinpointing their mission has been crucial, offering them fuel while navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and helping them effectively create something that consumers wanted. IN THIS EPISODE: Cherie’s background as an English major, writer, and editor, and the conversation with her husband’s aunt in Venezuela that kept her up at night and provoked her to start Saalt The beginnings of the company, starting with the creation of a 3D CAD model of their first period cup, and how they differentiated themselves in a saturated market Their first years of business, which included a product recall and a buyer from Target who changed everything, helping them reach 8 figures in year three Becoming a B Corp-certified business: how to get certified, the impact it can have socially and environmentally, and the importance of mission for Gen Z/Millennial consumers Using market research to literally create a company that consumers wanted and the importance of surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED: Learn more about and the of how the company came to be. Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , via , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/30151943

Adriana Carrig: Building a Kindness-Driven Jewelry Venture 02/15/2024

Adriana Carrig: Building a Kindness-Driven Jewelry Venture Fearlessness in putting yourself out there is Adriana Carrig’s secret to success. Adriana is the inspiring Founder and CEO of the , a community built on the back of bestselling affirmation bracelets worn by A-listers like Taylor Swift, Lance Bass, and Alicia Keys. After years of bullying, Adriana was inspired to launch her jewelry company as a way to build sisterhood in her college sorority. After college, the Little Words Project was intentionally built without capital by listening to her gut, the market, and her brand’s impact-driven values. Sometimes it can be uncomfortable putting yourself out there, but discomfort is where growth happens. You never know who is going to get you into what space. You never know who is going to be interested in your product. This conversation with Adriana is incredibly powerful as she weaves in stories of resilience and empowerment and insights around motherhood and entrepreneurship. The result of her hard work isn’t just a business, but an entire community built on kindness and self-love. IN THIS EPISODE: The origins of the Little Words Project in Adriana’s college sorority, which was then a side hustle that she worked on in her parents’ basement Getting the business “on sale” by hiring friends to help her with her website and create video content – and why she wouldn’t change those first steps even 10 years later “Baby stepping” her way into working at her business full-time and only growing when it was necessary, hiring her first employees carefully and strategically Allowing all the imperfect moments to be seen on their social media accounts and the impact this had on the Little Words Project community How to find the right people who can give you confidence in your business and help champion your brand, plus the importance of putting yourself out there LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED: Join the community and shop their bestselling jewelry. Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , via , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/29961768

Sabena Suri: Co-Founding BOXFOX Without Venture Capital 02/01/2024

Sabena Suri: Co-Founding BOXFOX Without Venture Capital Slow and steady is the BEST way to build a business, laying the foundation brick-by-brick. Sabena Suri is the co-founder and board member of , an ecommerce gifting destination, curating elevated, thematic boxes for all occasions. The company is tremendously successful, and yet, Sabena and her co-founders never raised capital. Instead, they learned to wear lots of hats and built their business slowly with no outside forces dictating the direction. After 8 years, Sabena made a bold and unconventional decision to pivot and step down from BOXFOX, realizing her “zone of genius” is actually in establishing the foundations for a new business from scratch. Today, Sabena takes us on her fascinating career journey: her early experiences, what it was like to grow BOXFOX with friends, and the work she’s done since. She shells out great advice for fellow entrepreneurs, from the importance of being open, to knowing when it’s time for something new. IN THIS EPISODE: Sabena’s early work experience writing for CNET and working as an associate at Ogilvy and Mather, where she became fast friends with one of her future co-founders The benefit of focusing on problems instead of products and the birth of BOXFOX, a curated platform for gifting Sabena’s advice for deciding whether to start a company with a co-founder, plus things to consider, from your vision and commitment, to the skills you each have Why BOXFOX decided to not raise capital (an unconventional decision!) – and advice for entrepreneurs going that route Leaving a thriving company in order to pivot, pursue personal growth, and find more opportunities that enable you to use your “zone of genius” LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED: Check out BOXFOX’s elevated gifting options on their . Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , via , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/29741648

Stephanie Cartin: Running FOUR Businesses as a Multipassionate Entrepreneur 01/18/2024

Stephanie Cartin: Running FOUR Businesses as a Multipassionate Entrepreneur What is it actually like to be a co-founder of multiple companies? Today’s guest Stephanie Cartin is spilling her secrets as a multi-passionate entrepreneur and how she went from selling Girl Scout cookies to launching her first company, , a full-service social media marketing agency. Stephanie has so much wisdom to offer in this episode from how she positioned herself as a thought leader to attain clients to why she hired senior talent as soon as possible (this will help your business grow faster!). She also delves into how to use angel investing to your advantage. Besides Socialfly, Stephanie is also the co-founder of , a marketplace for parents selling pre-loved items, , an investing community helping female founders raise capital, and , an online membership and podcast for women entrepreneurs. If you are starting or growing a business, this conversation is jam-packed with fascinating stories and tips! IN THIS EPISODE: Stephanie’s foray into entrepreneurship (selling Girl Scout cookies and Beanie Babies), her time at Cornell University, and the Disney Vacation Club that inspired her career Being at the forefront of using social media for marketing, which inspired the first business she co-founded with her business partner, Courtney Spritzer The benefits of bringing senior talent on early in the business as consultants instead of full-time junior talent Focusing on what YOU are really great at in your business and partnering or hiring people who can execute what THEY are great at Entreprenista, which started as a business podcast that turned into a membership community and media platform that provides content and tools for founders and leaders Balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood (and Stephanie’s favorite tool to manage it all, the Big A## Calendar) LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED: Are you starting a business and still in the trenches? Check out , an online community for founders who are looking to make meaningful connections that will lead to business growth and success, and listen to the . Stephanie is also the co-founder of , , and . Want to learn more about raising capital? Be sure to check out of Career Memos featuring Annie Evans. Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , via , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/29532758

Jennifer Ross: Disrupting the Sugar-Free Beverage Industry with Swoon 01/04/2024

Jennifer Ross: Disrupting the Sugar-Free Beverage Industry with Swoon What does it look like to disrupt an industry? Jennifer Ross is giving us a behind the scenes peek into her journey of launching , an innovative line of zero-sugar iced teas and lemonades. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a child, much of her motivation for starting the company stemmed from a desire for better sugar-free drink options, for the “young Jens” out there. In this episode, you’ll hear how Swoon came to be, from coming up with the formula, building a proof of concept, and going door to door to sell it. Now, Swoon is available nationwide! Jennifer also shares what it’s like running a successful F&B company alongside her friend, Co-Founder, and Co-CEO Cristina Ros Blankfein, and she offers great advice for aspiring founders who have a similar dream of breaking into the food and beverage space. Before Jennifer became an entrepreneur, she had very little experience in the food and beverage industry – and yet, she credits her previous jobs in banking and operations for teaching her the skills she uses today. It doesn’t matter where you start. No matter the job, no matter the industry, there’s always something you can take with you to your next career or business venture. IN THIS EPISODE: Jennifer’s career highlights, from Goldman Sachs, FanVision, Harvard Business School, and the cocktail mixing company she started with her partner, Cristina Ros Blankfein How Jennifer and Cristina navigated the crowded food and beverage space in New York by starting small, testing the market, and getting customer feedback early on The idea and origins of Swoon, a company that produces sugar-free lemonade and iced tea from monk fruit-based syrup What to look for in a Co-Founder and Co-CEO, and the value of working with people who think differently than you Working at a large company where roles are fixed vs. a small company where you have your hands in everything LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED: You can find Swoon at Whole Foods, at your local grocery stores, at select Targets, , and on their . Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , via , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/29318333

Jessica Chang: Co-Founding the Largest Childcare Network in the United States 12/21/2023

Jessica Chang: Co-Founding the Largest Childcare Network in the United States Most startups fail, but, as today’s guest Jessica Chang reminds us, it’s what you do with the failure that matters. What can you learn from the experience? What will you do better next time? Jessica is the CEO and Co-Founder of , the largest childcare network in the United States, which connects families with trusted providers through an online marketplace and partners with government entities to improve access to sponsored care. Upwards experienced major challenges during the pandemic, losing 90% of their revenue overnight! While they made major cuts and pivots to survive, they came out stronger than ever with a new business model and product. In this episode, Jessica shares her inspiring story about co-founding Upwards, how she compartmentalizes her time as a Mom, her motivation to work 12 hours a day, plus her advice for fellow co-founders (especially co-founders who are parents!) At the end of the day, she says it’s not the hardest-working person who wins – it’s the person who is the smartest with their time. IN THIS EPISODE: Jessica’s background in finance and the pivotal turning point that made her change paths out of finance and into entrepreneurship Her efforts to learn about the childcare industry’s biggest problems, which involved interviewing 200+ providers and becoming a preschool owner/operator while pregnant Why the loneliness of entrepreneurship inspired Jessica to bring on co-founders, how they work together, and what each of their strengths are The pandemic’s effect on Upwards, dropping 90% of revenues overnight, and how they got through it by making cuts and creating a new product How Jessica balances parenthood and being a Mom, the value of compartmentalizing time, and the importance of having a WHY during very difficult days LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED: Learn more about Jessica Chang’s company, (formerly WeeCare), which is the largest childcare network in the United States. Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , via , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/29160783

Amira Rasool: How The Folklore Group Shifted Business Models to Empower More Brands 12/07/2023

Amira Rasool: How The Folklore Group Shifted Business Models to Empower More Brands Pivoting a business is a risky and difficult decision to make. How do you know it’s the right choice? Today’s guest, Amira Rasool, says you’ve got to listen to the market, to the people around you, and most importantly, to your gut. Amira is the founder and CEO of , a supply chain software company that helps retailers access underrepresented brands, particularly from untapped markets in Africa, South America, Asia, and the Caribbean. She’s been taking business risks since she was a teenager, when she’d skip school to attend New York Fashion Week. In college, she interned at various fashion magazines and launched an online thrift store called Midnight Marauders. When it came time to start her own business, her inspiration came during a trip to Cape Town. Amira shares all the details of the origin story of Folklore and the MAJOR pivot she made in 2022, turning Folklore into a solely B2B business – and how this has allowed her to build something she is passionate about that supports underrepresented people all over the world. IN THIS EPISODE: Amira’s beginning in the fashion space: her blog, fashion magazine internships (Women’s Wear Daily, Marie Clare, V Magazine) and her online thrift store Warm introductions and building trusting relationships, which Amira accessed by being a member of the press and through Techstars How Amira leveraged Techstars to build relationships and get the intros she needed in order to raise $1.7 million in pre-seed funding Direct-to-consumer vs. business-to-business – how Folklore tried to do both at first, but eventually pivoted to focus on B2B in 2022 The impact the murder of George Floyd had on demand for Black designers, including those that Folklore worked with LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn about the work Amira is doing at and , a premium B2B wholesale platform. Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , via , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/28897083

Victoria Thain Gioia: The Power of Authenticity and Co-CEO Partnerships 11/23/2023

Victoria Thain Gioia: The Power of Authenticity and Co-CEO Partnerships When Victoria Thain Gioia co-founded , she was a self-proclaimed “Type A Millennial Mom” who wanted better maternal supplements – especially after her daughter was born with a nutritional deficiency. Within 6 weeks of launching, Perelel was shipping to all 50 states! She thinks part of the company’s success is due to their ability to make moms feel seen through every step of their pregnancy – and during pregnancy loss, too. In this episode, Victoria talks in-depth about what it’s like to run a company with her co-founder and co-CEO, Alex Taylor. Defined roles and communication, both about professional and personal matters, has helped them have tough conversations with a deeper understanding of what the other person is going through. There were a lot of risks involved with starting Perelel, and Victoria is a self-described “risk-averse” person. But just like with having kids, there never is a perfect time. If you feel passionate about it, you just have to do it and get through, one bite at a time. IN THIS EPISODE: Victoria’s career journey, from merchandising at J.Crew, investment banking, and then business school – and her mission to create better supplements after her daughter was born with a cleft lip How Perelel broke through the noise of maternal supplements through authenticity and making moms feel seen and were shipping to all 50 states within 6 weeks of launching Inside Victoria and Alex’s partnership, including their clearly defined roles and how they navigate tough conversations How Victoria built warm relationships with seed investors early on – and using this feedback to propel the company forward The unexpected challenges Victoria and Alex faced with funding and bootstrapping at the beginning of the pandemic LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about the company Victoria Thain Gioia founded with her co-CEO Alex Taylor, . Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , via , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/28730323

Nicole Wegman: The Secret Sauce to Success 11/09/2023

Nicole Wegman: The Secret Sauce to Success What are you good at? What is your “secret sauce?” And more importantly, what are you not good at? What should you get help with so your company can grow? These are some of the questions posed by today’s guest, Nicole Wegman, the founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, one of the fastest-growing fine jewelry companies in America, which focuses on designs for women, by women. Nicole founded her company with just a $2,000 investment in 2013 after ring shopping with her now husband in the Diamond District in Manhattan. At the time, it seemed like every other jeweler was an antiquated, generational, family-run business. Few had any kind of ecommerce presence or understood millennial shopping behavior. I’m excited for you to hear Nicole’s journey of self-funding her business, to growing a team and how she became profitable. She’s done some pretty badass stuff, and is full of great advice for all the founders out there. IN THIS EPISODE: Nicole’s background in the fashion industry (majoring in fiber science and apparel design at Cornell, then working at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s) and how she fell into the jewelry world How starting things very small and investing profits back into the business each year allowed Ring Concierge to be fiscally responsible, privately-held, and self-funded How Nicole acquired office space, grew to a team of 60, and became one of the first in her industry to utilize Instagram The pros and cons of starting a business with funding vs. without, and the power of transparency The magic of hiring people who can help you with the aspects of the business you’re not comfortable with, and the importance of relying on your gut Why Nicole hired a CMO, and how she’s thinking about leveraging other social media platforms to create a Gen-Z funnel LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Connect with Nicole on . You can follow Ring Concierge on and check out their ! Nicole also recommends by Eric Ries, which is what she read when she started her business. Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , via , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/28560806

Henley Vazquez: Building a Modern Travel Agency with Henley Vazquez 10/26/2023

Henley Vazquez: Building a Modern Travel Agency with Henley Vazquez Henley Vazquez, co-founder of , is creating opportunities and jobs for people who love travel and want to turn their passion into income. One of the worst pieces of advice she received early in her career was to hire a certain kind of person. When you do that, your company becomes an echo chamber, where everyone has the same expertise. There’s no diversity. So when she launched Fora, a modern travel agency helping people plan their dream trips, she started it with two co-founders, each offering a different level of expertise. In today’s episode, Henley talks in depth about the importance of relationships in a company – between the leadership, staff, and investors – and gives us a peek behind the curtain into her thoughts on failure. Plus, she shares the ups and downs she’s experienced as a founder, from having to close a company amidst a worldwide pandemic, to finally starting something that has meaning to her. IN THIS EPISODE: Henley’s growing up experience on a Virginia farm, attending Princeton, taking a job at Town and Country, and eventually finding her way into the travel industry Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable (and the idea you can learn anything by getting on the bike and pedaling) How Henley started her own travel agency, Passported, in 2014, and the decision to shut it down in the midst of the pandemic The intricacies of travel advising, including its similarities to real estate and what it takes to become an advisor How Henley pivoted her career and started Fora with two co-founders, each with clear expertise and roles (from tech, to business, to travel), which took the burden off launching a business solely on her own Starting a company “from her bootstraps” vs. going the venture capital route, and the importance of getting answers fast so you can get to that “yes” so much faster LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Follow Henley on and learn about her company . If you want to turn your travel obsession into your next career move, you can also to become a travel advisor (P.S. Use code CareerMemos to get to the front of the list)! Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , via , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/28419536

Kat Garcia: How This Former TV Actress Became a Co-Founder & Co-CEO of a Tech Company 10/12/2023

Kat Garcia: How This Former TV Actress Became a Co-Founder & Co-CEO of a Tech Company What do you want your life to look like? Can you imagine it? Can you picture yourself there? According to today’s guest Kat Garcia, imagination has been instrumental in getting her to where she is today – from television actress to co-founder and co-CEO of , an AI-powered assistant for brand owners and growth marketers. Kat began working at 14, when she was cast in a show. To be a successful actress, Kat says you have to be relentless, and you have to have a strong imagination. As adults, it can be hard to protect our imaginations. There are so many variables coming at you, and so many brilliant people don’t take the leap! Her advice? Lay out your fears. Our fears are valid, and if you’re acting from a place of constraint, you’ll never be honest with yourself. It’s okay to consider different options. What are you afraid of? And what are the steps you need to take to succeed? IN THIS EPISODE: Kat’s background as a television actress during her teenage years, which helped propel her into the corporate world The relentlessness required of acting that served Kat later on in her career – she became well practiced at not taking “no” for an answer Kat’s journey to co-founding Ground, from being selected by the startup accelerator Techstars, to a 3-hour conversation with her co-CEO before taking the plunge The importance of imagination and visualization, from filling in holes to imagining ourselves in certain places despite the fears we may have How Kat’s network eventually led her to where she is today, plus, her advice for potential founders and people who are in the thick of it LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED is the co-founder and co-CEO of Ground. Learn more about Ground’s powerful AI tools on their and their upcoming collaboration with the . Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her , on , via , and check out more episodes of the Career Memos . /episode/index/show/withsarina/id/28292456