Emergency episode to shed light on Silicon Valley Bank collapse, Department of Treasury announcement, and what it means for all of us - startups, VCs, and the general public. Our rockstar guest today is Sunny Kumar, MD. He's a partner at GSR Ventures where he focuses on early sage AI and ML tech applications to healthcare. Thanks for sharing what you know with us, Sunny! Connect with Sunny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnykumar1/ Subscribe and hit 🔔 to stay updated on new uploads: • Listen whe...
Mar 13, 2023•30 min•Ep. 34
On women's day we dive into how to pursue your dreams and embody your most powerful self - with the Oscar nominated writer of Pixar's Inside Out. Meg tells me about what her conflict was growing up, how she's overcame it, and shares tips we can all incorporate for ourselves. She describes what fear she had to overcome to pursue her dream job, what saying no to J.J. Abrams was like and what she's learned about what it takes to go after what we want in life. She tells me about what making a movie ...
Mar 08, 2023•55 min•Ep. 33
Hey rebel crew! Jes Wolfe is the perfect lady to kick off women’s month with. She is the CEO of multi-platform brand, Rebel Girls - on a mission to instill confidence in girls ages 6-12yo. Jes and I talk what it means to be a rebel girl, what challenges girls specifically face, and why a confidence gap emerges between the ages of 6-12yo that causes girls to fall behind boys. We discuss how we can support the girls in our lives to live out their potential as well as how to involve our boys! I lov...
Mar 01, 2023•46 min•Ep. 32
Ahead of the Major League Soccer season starting Feb 25th, I catch up with my friend Ian Anderson who is Chief Strategy Officer at San Jose Earthquakes. Ian helps set the context for soccer’s journey in the U.S., its biggest challenges and opportunities. What off the field career paths in soccer look like. And all of what we have to look forward to with the 2026 World Cup hosted in North America! Ian shares his predications for the future of soccer in the U.S. and we get into why the game is so ...
Feb 22, 2023•45 min•Ep. 31
Ben Wilson is the creator of How to Take Over the World Podcast, producer of My First Million Podcast, and founder and CEO of PodRamp. We discuss how to think about entertainment in content production and what exactly makes a great show. Ben tells me what he's learned about himself through podcasting, what's important to him in this season of life, and why PodRamp is so fulfilling. He walks me through how he would help MrBeast start a podcast, describes what shared impact Walt Disney and Sam Par...
Feb 15, 2023•56 min•Ep. 30
I talk to Neha Samdaria, founder of Aam, a responsible clothing brand for pear and hourglass shaped women. In our conversation we covered: - A detailed step by step on how to start a clothing brand: from design, manufacturing, packaging and shipping, pricing, marketing, all the way to funding. - What responsible clothing means: materials and ethics around manufacturing. - As a consumer, how to choose sustainable brands and build a sustainable wardrobe. - The perils of fast fashion and 1000x styl...
Feb 13, 2023•46 min•Ep. 29
Ryan Mundy is an 8-year NFL veteran, Super Bowl champion, and the founder of Alkeme Health - a company that aims to be the universal health platform for the black community. Ryan tells me about Alkeme, his vision for generational health, and how they've started with a focus on mental health. Speaking of mental health, we talk about how to take better care of black men. Ryan shares what playing at the top of his game in the NFL was like, then his struggles with leaving the NFL, and how prioritizi...
Feb 08, 2023•42 min•Ep. 28
Nimit Mehta, CEO of TopQuadrant, explains to me what a search fund is, how to become one, and his personal journey into entrepreneurship. We discuss how Nimit navigates working in an industry where 94% of people don't look like him, his approach to having a co-founder, and building culture while growing a business. Connect with Nimit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimitmehta/ Mentioned in this episode: https://www.topquadrant.com/ Subscribe and hit 🔔 to stay updated on new uploads: • Listen where...
Feb 01, 2023•40 min•Ep. 27
Laura Fravel is an award winning storyteller and executive communications advisor for brands like Netflix, Amazon, or Adidas. She previously worked for National Geographic, New York Times, Washington Post, and breaks down for us: - what makes a powerful story - how to craft your personal story in a powerful way - where we tend to go wrong in telling and distributing our stories - who the greatest storytellers of our time are Such a delight to have Laura on the Pod! Connect with Laura: https://ww...
Jan 25, 2023•37 min•Ep. 26
Dr. Ami Kumordzie is an impressive founder. She's a Stanford-trained MD/MBA and is building a fintech marketplace backed by Silicon Valley's top investors to help us all tap into $8B of health benefits that go unused each year. Ami tells us why she's building Sika, how to claim these funds, and gives advice to founders on fundraising as well as the routines that keep her operating at peak performance. What a juggernaut of a CEO. Connect with Ami: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ami-kumordzie-md-mba-...
Jan 18, 2023•41 min•Ep. 25
I talk to Lacey Reddix, CEO & Founder at Olokun Minerals. Lacey says that two third of the world’s population is at risk of clean water shortages by 2025. That’s two years from now - let that sink in (sadly, pun intended). In our conversation we cover: - 2025 water shortage risks: who will be most affected - What Lacey and her team at Olokun minerals are doing to protect our water supply, and what we need more of to collectively prevent this from happening! - How to find your purpose in life...
Jan 11, 2023•39 min•Ep. 24
Today on the JKP, I talk to Jen Hoar. Jen is a corporate investigations and intelligence specialist and a Managing Director at Forward Risk and Intelligence. She is formerly in Threat Discovery at Facebook, and was a journalist at ABC and CBS News. Jen and I discuss: - What corporate intelligence is and how investors and companies can benefit - Tips from the intelligence field that are applicable to any profession - Jen's thoughts on SBF, Elizabeth Holmes, Adam Neumann, and Billy McFarland Conne...
Jan 04, 2023•51 min•Ep. 23
I have a very special guest today, my husband! Marcin is an entrepreneur and investor. Together with two friends, he bootstrapped and sold an 8-figure digital agency in his 20s and he is now paying it forward by helping the next generation of founders start their first company. He’s taking an audacious challenge in 2023 - he is going to build a $1m revenue business completely from scratch and cover this journey in his weekly newsletter, The Gentle Nudge. In our conversation, he tells me where th...
Jan 02, 2023•46 min•Ep. 22
Basar is the co-founder of a mission-driven ed-tech startup, Kunduz, with the goal of bringing access to high-quality education to students around the world. Kunduz provides 24/7 access to tutors who can answer students' questions in just 15 minutes, and at an affordable price! The company operates in the US, Turkey, and India with plans to expand globally. Learn from Basar about: - How after 2 years he finally got his first check from Chamath Palihapitiya and subsequently oversubscribed the rou...
Dec 29, 2022•45 min•Ep. 21
Throwing it back to one of the first-ever podcast episodes recorded, fam! I talk to my dear friend, Eamon O'Connor, an urban designer living in NYC. He believes cities are at their best when they bring people together in spaces of solidarity and coexistence. As an urban planner, designer, and strategist at Gehl, he brings expertise in people-first planning and design, visual and written storytelling, and data analytics to projects that span geographies and disciplines. A Harvard-trained designer...
Dec 27, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 20
On this holiday weekend fam, I present you with my soulful friend, Geoff. He is the co-founder of Spoken - a Y Combinator-backed company that brings you the best prices on furniture available on the internet. Geoff describes how the experiences of building both a small business and a Venture Capital-backed fast-growing startup in Silicon Valley are different and similar. He describes the value of having a co-founder. And we talk about his appreciation for weirdness, as well as how viewing challe...
Dec 26, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 19
Today on the Jennifer Kamara Podcast, I talk to Ian Vorbach, aerospace engineer, early-stage investor in space industry, and the founder of Space.Biz newsletter. I had a great time learning from Ian about development of reusable rockets, the competition between SpaceX and Blue Origin, and how private companies have helped propel space development forward on the shoulders of NASA's foundation. Connect with Ian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-vorbach/ Subscribe Ian's newsletter: https://www.space...
Dec 21, 2022•51 min•Ep. 18
I talk to Joel Peterson, former chairman of JetBlue Airways, professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, founder of Peterson Partners with $3B in assets under management. We start with the meaning of life, discuss Joel's experience with cancel culture, debate how universities can be better at encouraging diversity of opinions, and the importance of having healthy debate. Joel also gives his advice for folks who are affected by layoffs, and for entrepreneurs building in today's environment...
Dec 19, 2022•55 min•Ep. 17
Today on the JKP, I talk to Kayiita Johnson, the founder of PM While Black, Black Surfers, and a Product Manager at Cruise where he's helping build autonomous vehicles. We learn all about how to break into product management and the various paths available to you depending on your background. We also talk about Kayiita's personal journey into PM, his Stanford MBA experience, and his experience building the largest community of black surfers. Connect with Kayiita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayi...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 16
I talk to Matt Abrahams, professor of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Matt gives tangible advice on how to overcome the fear of public speaking, as well as how to communicate effectively. Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/ Mentioned in this episode: Think Fast Talk Smart Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ll0MwobDt1JW9gYaOONEo Subscribe and hit 🔔 to stay updated with new uploads https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtVtZsw_543eE2ttp0QFCx...
Dec 07, 2022•39 min•Ep. 15
I talk with Kathryn Zealand, General Manager at X (Google's moonshot factory). Learn how the team at X approaches big problems, how they celebrate failures, and build culture for breakthrough innovation. Kathryn tells me her journey as well as gives advice on how to get a job at X. Enjoy! Connect with Kathryn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-zealand/ Mentioned in this episode: * X, the moonshot factory: https://x.company/ Subscribe and hit 🔔 to stay updated with new uploads https://www.yout...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 14
Fatima Dicko is the founder and CEO at Sugar. Sugar is a proptech app that turns strangers into neighbors, and neighbors into friends. In our conversation, Fatima shared with me how she fundraised $2.5M, and how her entrepreneurial journey shaped her sense of self. Connect with Fatima: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatimadicko/ Mentioned in this episode: Sugar: https://www.sugarliving.com/ Subscribe and hit 🔔 to stay updated with new uploads https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtVtZsw_543eE2ttp0QFCx...
Nov 23, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 13
Lisa Curtis is the Founder and CEO of Kuli Kuli, a multimillion dollar social enterprise. Kuli Kuli sources moringa, a natural superfood, from farmers across Africa and brings it to the American consumers. Lisa tells me how she came across moringa, what were the beginnings of Kuli Kuli, and how she grew it into a multimillion dollar social enterprise. Connect with Lisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamariecurtis/ Mentioned in this episode: * Kuli Kuli: https://www.kulikulifoods.com/ * More abou...
Nov 21, 2022•34 min•Ep. 12
Lauren Dunford is the formidable CEO and cofounder of Guidewheel , a leading factory operations platform that is on a mission to empower the world’s factories to reach sustainable peak performance. Guidewheel improves factory productivity by 30% across 7+ countries today and is just getting started. Lauren and I talk about how to learn what your customer really thinks about your product, how pivoting was a great decision for her team, and how her first principles approach and emphasis on testing...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 11
An exceptionally relatable session with my dear friend, Jeff Levere , an executive coach with pattern recognition over thousands of coaching sessions with clients across industries who are billionaires, CEOs, founders, and investors. We talk about the most common challenges Jeff sees people struggling with and how they boil down to navigating fear and trust. Jeff and I discuss three prominent human fears and how to manage them, as well as how to trust ourselves, and others, as well as what happe...
Nov 14, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 10
Sanchali Pal is the founder and CEO of Joro , an app that helps us understand our carbon footprint and make meaningful changes to our carbon use. Sanchali shares her take on our progress toward net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and describes which households and populations have the greatest opportunity to minimize climate change. We talk about the levers available to each of us to live more sustainably and how to track our carbon footprints via Joro. Sanchali helps me make sense of Carbon offse...
Nov 09, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 9
Thought-provoking chat with Jordan - a dear friend, marine, author of Union: A Democrat, A Republican and a Search for Common Ground , and the founder and president of America’s Frontier Fund (AFF) which is a non-profit raising and deploying $500M toward securing America’s competitiveness in global development. Jordan tells me about his work with AFF, building America's capabilities in a non-escalating way, and what it is like pitching prominent investors. We also discuss bridging the American p...
Nov 07, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 8
What an important episode for everyone. If you listen to one thing today, listen to this! Nina is unique in that her deep understanding of mental health comes from both her lived experience with depression and anxiety while studying at Harvard Medical School, and her practice as a Stanford psychiatrist , researcher, leader in mental health innovation, and CMO at Real . Nina describes what her experience with depression was like, how depression and anxiety can show up when to get help as well as ...
Nov 02, 2022•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 7
So much in-depth knowledge about AVs from Petch Jirapinyo , Chief Commercial Officer at Nuro - a leader in the autonomous vehicle space that is revolutionizing how we transport goods. Petch confesses he’s a sci-fi fan and we discuss what the future holds in store for us with technologies like autonomous vehicles. He helps me understand the difference between L2,3,4,5 vehicles, what sustainability and safety evaluation entail, and I am blown away by the level of simulation involved in ensuring th...
Oct 31, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 6
I check in with my older brother David Kamara - founder of Cape Sierra Capital , a multifamily real estate investment company. David describes what multifamily investing is, why it is relatively unknown as an asset class, and how it is different from venture capital or private equity. We talk about financing, what deals and returns look like, and how one can work their way up into this asset class from stock investing. David opens up about what image he still has of himself even after transformi...
Oct 26, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 5
