#38 - Kelly Parker (Send Ribbon)

Kelly shares her story, from her early days of recognizing her entrepreneurial spirit to the founding of her company, Send Ribbon.   She discusses her tech startup background, the challenges of personalized corporate gifting, and how her experience inspired her business idea.   She shares insights into her strategic methods for launching the business, overcoming financial constraints, and the pivotal moments that led to the company's growth. Kelly also details her personal life sacrifices, the importance of networking, and her eventual acquihire by Urban Stems during the pandemic.    01:02 Early Entrepreneurial Spirit 01:34 Founding Send Ribbon 04:03 Challenges and Growth 09:08 Learning the Ropes of Inventory 14:31 First Big Breaks 18:41 Balancing Two Careers 19:45 Networking and Opportunities 22:12 Casual Updates and Networking 23:09 Pandemic Challenges and Opportunities 23:44 The Acquihire Email 24:39 Negotiating the Acquihire 25:29 Joining DoorDash and Health Struggles 27:23 Urban Stems Acquisition 29:27 Lessons from the Acquihire 33:21 Personal Reflections and Future Plans 42:33 Advising and Community Building