Ellen Cassidy is a joy to be around and once you know her story you'll have even more respect for that. From humble beginnings to say the least, she is the product of a drug dealer and their customer and was raised in a single parent household. She learned to find agency through her academics earning her way into Stanford undergrad, which seemed worlds away from her upbringing in Philly. Ellen shares how instances of feeling other, misses, and failures led her down the right path for her - towar...
Feb 07, 2024•48 min•Ep. 64
Arica and Kristen are the power cofounder duo behind Hart & Highland, an LA based creative and marketing studio that helps CPG food/ bev /wellness brands be heard, seen and understood by their target customer. They bootstrapped the business to $1M in revenue and are just getting started. They tell me about their journey to becoming founders of Hart & Highland - getting off of the corporate path and starting their own businesses before meeting through the beautiful rom com sequel story of...
Nov 22, 2023•57 min•Ep. 63
Kevin Lee is the Cofounder of Immi, a DTC company that invented the world’s first low carb high protein instant ramen. Kevin tells me about how growing up in Silicon Valley, the son of Taiwanese immigrants from a produce background resulted in him revolutionizing the ramen industry - one of those you can only connect the dots looking backward stories. Kevin shares how he and his cofounder’s playful curiosity and lack of experience in the traditional food manufacturing industry gave them the adva...
Nov 08, 2023•54 min•Ep. 62
David is the co-founder of The Explanation Company, which is on a mission to support kids’ play, grow, and autonomy. David tells me about his journey from falling in love with entrepreneurship during the 90s snowboarding boom, to why he believes kids should start 10 businesses before they graduate high school, to then building his first company, eSpark Learning, which is used in a quarter of elementary schools to support individualized learning for kids in reading and math. David shares his less...
Nov 01, 2023•51 min•Ep. 61
Sam is the founder of Nood.com and is on a mission to help people feel more comfortable in their skin by creating better hair removal experience with the power of light. Within 2 years of founding Nood, Sam led the team to earning $60M TTM in revenue! Sam tells me about his journey as an entrepreneur from spending several years barely earning a living but instead earning a fortune of experience, to launching Nood.com. Sam is generous with his experience share from how he got the idea, to product...
Oct 25, 2023•46 min•Ep. 60
Austin tells me about growing up in a small farm town, Pickney MI, learning to code at 12yo, dropping out of college at 19, getting kicked out by his parents, and staying on a friends’ couch and founding Inventr.io which now 4.5yrs later makes 5M+ in annual recurring revenues. Austin describes what he loves about “making” things, how he’s teaching kids and adults to code and build with his company’s products, and how as a young founder of 25 yo he thinks about success and designing his life. Con...
Oct 11, 2023•24 min•Ep. 59
Matt Serel shares his personal story of opioid addiction - how it started, the various incidents that led to it worsening, and how it culminated in an overdose in his hotel room where he was found within 10 mins of death. Matt shares his perspective on what helped him succeed through the first year of recovery, how to think about supporting someone in recovery, as well as what’s kept him sober now 10 years on. He tells me about how he integrated his personal experience into building You are Acco...
Oct 04, 2023•44 min•Ep. 58
I catch up with Rob Hoffman, the cofounder and CEO of a content as a service industry called Contact Studios. Rob’s journey is interesting because it’s so real. It’s non linear with twists and turns and setbacks and resilience of layoffs and failed attempts to finally bootstrapping a successful business with his friends. Add in elements of moving to Colombia on a shoestring budget, and having gangsters as neighbors and we get the tips on storytelling and getting the first 100 customers from a ma...
Sep 20, 2023•54 min•Ep. 57
I spoke with Jon Levin, the Dean of Stanford Business School, my alma mater, about all things running an institution of higher education. We discussed what being the Dean of a business school entails, the evolution of the MBA degree - specifically: is it worth it today and why, how the GSB will incorporate AI and language models into the curriculum, and unconventional paths students take to and post business school. Dean Levin tells me about his plans to offer more public policy topics as part o...
Sep 13, 2023•46 min•Ep. 56
I caught up with Melissa Cash, the co-founder and CEO of Pok Pok, an award winning app for kids that uses Montessori inspired toys and a playroom to encourage open ended play for kids aged 2-7. A valuable episode for CEOs full of experience shares from Melissa about how she stumbled into entrepreneurship and becoming a CEO without an idea, how she successfully fundraised while pregnant and successfully honored her maternity leave, systems she’s found helpful for inspiring play, empowerment and e...
Sep 06, 2023•57 min•Ep. 55
In this essential episode, Jennifer covers everything one needs to know about co-founders - what are the upsides of having a co-founder, what to look for in a co-founder, and how to find one. And importantly - how to structure a productive and lasting co-founder relationship. Enjoying Jenn's Gems? Make sure to subscribe and share. Happy designing! Subscribe and hit 🔔 to stay updated on new uploads: • Listen wherever you get your podcasts • Watch on YouTube More about Jennifer: Life Design for C...
Aug 16, 2023•15 min•Ep. 54
Today I have the pleasure of chatting with Jasmine Star. She's a CEO, a speaker, a podcaster, who teaches business owners how to tell visual stories online. Jasmine shares with me how her mom's fight with cancer inspired her to drop out from law school and pursue photography. We discuss working with our husbands, Jasmine's business serving 66 thousand customers, launching a software company, and much more. I absolutely loved Jasmine's energy and no-nonsense approach to work and life, and you wil...
Aug 09, 2023•52 min•Ep. 53
In this essential episode, Jennifer covers the practice of gratitude and appreciation - why it matters, what the science indicates is an effective practice, how it can result in higher performance, and examples of how you can begin implementing gratitude today for your teams, as well as yourself! Enjoying Jenn's Gems? Write Jenn at podcast@jenniferkamara.com with how you're implementing these tips. Happy designing! Subscribe and hit 🔔 to stay updated on new uploads: • Listen wherever you get yo...
Aug 02, 2023•11 min•Ep. 52
Today I have a wonderful conversation with my new neighbor here in Austin, Adam Lawrence. Adam is a world-class business operator, who honed his skills at companies like Bolt and Addepar, before launching his current project, Boom and Bucket. We talk about Adam's journey as an entrepreneur, we discuss what business excellence looks like, and dig into the importance of healthy company culture. Subscribe and hit 🔔 to stay updated on new uploads: • Listen wherever you get your podcasts • Watch on ...
Jul 26, 2023•43 min•Ep. 51
Today I chat with Lauren Tickner, founder & CEO of Impact School. Lauren tells me how having a disabled brother helped her can-do mindset, how she fought panic attacks and obsession with weight loss, what drove her to drop out of college, how she became a millionaire, and what she is busy building today. Great energy, thank you for coming on the pod Lauren! Connect with Lauren: - https://www.instagram.com/laurentickner - https://www.youtube.com/@UC8qhCPBiqf3qje6CdDBjdgQ - https://impact-scho...
Jul 19, 2023•47 min•Ep. 50
Jess Chan is the CEO of retention marketing agency LongPlay, and B2B SaaS company Backbone. She walks me through realizing she had depression and anxiety and how she turned her mental fitness around which led her to entrepreneurship! We talk about designing around her introvertedness/social anxiety as a CEO who needs to interact with humans constantly. She tells me about Longplay's tinder swindler-esque moment (yikes!) and what she learned from it, the best part about being an entrepreneur, and ...
Jul 12, 2023•41 min•Ep. 49
Want to build a business or project that endures? Or want to make a sound choice on a person to commit to? Knowing our values and designing around them is a simple way to align you with your personal compass, to position you toward what you will find meaningful, and to build something that lasts! I break down how to identify your values via peak and low experiences, and how make them work for you, starting today. Enjoying Jenn's Gems? Write Jenn at podcast@jenniferkamara.com with how you're impl...
Jul 05, 2023•8 min•Ep. 48
A lot of my clients come to asking for help with letting people go. I recorded this episode to help people prepare for and navigate letting someone go compassionately. Subscribe and hit 🔔 to stay updated on new uploads: • Listen wherever you get your podcasts • Watch on YouTube More about Jennifer: Life Design for CEOs and Artists Follow Jennifer: • LinkedIn • Twitter If you enjoyed this, don't forget to subscribe, like, and share!...
Jun 21, 2023•14 min•Ep. 47
I chat all things adventure with Nate who originally from South Chicago is now a travel blogger, TV show host and entrepreneur. Nate is the star of award winning travel show World Wide Nate. He tells me about his most recent adventure with his 76 yo mom to Antartica including how much it costs to get there, what the journey is like, and why it’s worth seeing. We talk about connecting with people across cultures when we’re traveling. Nate also tells me his passion of his to inspire more black swi...
Jun 14, 2023•38 min•Ep. 46
We kick off men’s health month with Andrew Suggs who is passionate about men’s health having lost his father due to inadequate primary care. He is now building a company to bridge the health gap. Andrew tells me about growing up in the south side of Chicago, how his parents shielded them from drugs, gun, and gang violence, and the trials that built character in his experience. He describes what losing his father was like, what he’s learned from grief, and how he’s turning it into impact by provi...
Jun 07, 2023•56 min•Ep. 45
Do you feel like you struggle to get a handle on wind down and wake up routines that serve you? Jenn's got you! This episode covers why getting a grip on our routines is so elusive and how you can beat it with a night routine that is soothing, great sleep hygiene, and a morning routine that sets you up for success in the day. Write Jenn at podcast@jenniferkamara.com with what is working for you and what else you would add to this. Share with a friend that could use this nudge. And thanks for bei...
Jun 05, 2023•18 min•Ep. 44
Are you feeling burnt out? You're not alone, Jenn covers how shockingly common burnout is. She shares what it feels like, how it is different from stress, and very important: why it is not a sign of weakness. Jenn shares four focus areas to help you squash burnout for good as well as how each tool alleviates your symptoms so you understand why it is worth investing in. Write Jenn at podcast@jenniferkamara.com to let her know how conquering your burnout is going for you, and share this with someo...
Jun 01, 2023•16 min•Ep. 43
Do you feel like you're constantly working, in back to back meetings, busy and making no progress, in fact still drowning with no end in sight? This episode is for you. Jenn shares 4 tools you can action to put you in the driver's seat of your workload and help you 10X your productivity. By the end, you'll know how to implement: 1) Energy Audit, 2) Eisenhower Matrix, 3) Top Goal, 4) Six Levels of Delegation. Enjoying these solo episodes? Write Jenn at podcast@jenniferkamara.com what topics you'd...
May 31, 2023•16 min•Ep. 42
Amy and I discuss the lessons she learned from working in some of tech’s most notable companies, as well as her time investing as the first female growth partner at Sequoia. She describes how she applied these to entrepreneurship in building an AI compnay, and we talk about what lessons are critical to founders. Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunamy/ Mentioned in this episode: https://www.brieflyai.com/ Subscribe and hit 🔔 to stay updated on new uploads: • Listen wherever you get...
May 03, 2023•53 min•Ep. 41
Aaron Samuels, my friend and the co-founder of Blavity, Blavity.org, Afrotech, and Collide Capital tells me about building on purpose to cater to underrepresented populations as well as leading through crisis. As mixed kids, we connect on the experience of identifying with multiple identities. Specifically, Aaron shares how growing up as a Black, Jewish, artistic, and analytical kid shaped the man he is today! Connect with Aaron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-levy-samuels/ Mentioned in this ...
Apr 26, 2023•43 min•Ep. 40
Jake is the cofounder of CANN a cannabis-infused social tonic that’s the number one micro-dose drink in California. He brings me up to speed on the history of various forms of cannabis, what the effects of THC and CBD are, and how CANN is leading the beverage market as a healthier and lighter alternative to alcohol. We talk about the education that the market requires around alcohol, cannabis, and micro-dosing, how he got celebrity investors like Rosario Dawson, Rebel Wilson, and Gwen Paltrow to...
Apr 12, 2023•50 min•Ep. 39
I am joined by the one and only Steph Smith, a walking example of carving out your own path in life. You know her from several projects she led as an online creator from leading the Hustle’s newsletter Trends to 15k+ subscribers, her writing on online content creation, and as the host of a16z’s podcast. Steph tells me about what growing up in a multicultural household was like, what her dream is, how she prioritizes her projects these days, who she looks up to and why, as well as having moved to...
Apr 05, 2023•54 min•Ep. 38
Tony “the GOAT” Taveras sits with me to talk how to make lemonade when life hands you lemons. From having to walk away from a 10 year NFL dream because of an injury, to then becoming one of the youngest sales leaders at LA Fitness, and now co-owning America’s largest roofing company, Tony tells me about how grit, perseverance, and purpose gave him the strength to not just get through but thrive in life. Tony further shares how to be a great salesperson (it is not about selling), how to train as ...
Mar 29, 2023•46 min•Ep. 37
Senan is a physician-scientist and the founder of Delfina, a company taking a data approach to address the maternal care crisis. Senan tells me about who faces the worst outcomes, why that is, and how we can begin to improve our state of care. We talk about what 3 things every woman and family should do to maximize the health of mom and baby, what 3 things to ask your OBGYN, and what minority women with the worst outcomes can do to maximize their care. I had a blast getting to know Senan - we ta...
Mar 22, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 36
Shaniqua and I met in Professor Seglin’s writing class at the Harvard Kennedy School. She tells me about what growing up as the daughter of a single mom was like. How she got into politics and landed her dream job at Crooked Media, along with all the failures and how she learned from them along the way. We talk about what everyday citizens can do to contribute toward building the America we care about, how to bridge political divide and what is important to her these days. An absolute gem of a w...
Mar 15, 2023•55 min•Ep. 35
