January 20, 2025

339. Leading With Purpose: Strava's Chief Business Officer Zipporah Allen On Intentionality, Owning Her Mornings & Picking Up Running Later In Life

59 minutes

Zipporah Allen has a big job. Overseeing business and new ventures at Strava, she loves the opportunity to stay curious and travel the world inspiring folks to live their best active lives. For episode 339, we talk abut the how: How she got here, how she finds the time to move despite her busy schedule, and how Strava's working to empower their consumer to live their best active lives. Plus: Best-practice business and leadership advice, how she feels about picking up running in her 40s, and the importance of owning your "no."

IN THIS EPISODE

(3:37) Zip shares what her most recent Strava activity was

(6:00) Zip talks about her work experience before becoming the Chief Business Officer at Strava, specifically time in restaurants at Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and McDonald’s

(8:26) Emily and Zip swap their go-to Taco Bell orders

(9:47) Why learning is so important to Zip in business, and how she firmly believes you can learn from anyone regardless of title

(10:08) Zip talks about moving internationally for work

(12:32) What happens when you’re on a board of directors for a company, what that looks like for Zip, and what she hopes to get out of being an independent board member at a few different private companies

(14:30) Zip shares what it was like for her to start running when she joined the team at Strava in order to better understand the product — and she’s now a two-time marathon

(20:57) What Strava is doing specifically to cater to female-identifying customers, including safety features

(23:00) What self-care looks like for someone who is constantly traveling

(25:48) How to become a morning person

(30:22) Zip gets the invite to join Pastry Run Club in New York

(35:10) Why Zip thinks it’s important never to be the smartest person in the room, often telling her team: “I reserve the right to get smarter and take in new information and change my mind.”

(36:06) What Zip’s role as a mom has taught her about being a leader

(38:00) Why it’s important to respond instead of react

(42:05) Why it’s important to create the conditions as a leader to empower your employees to bring their full expertise to the table

(55:55) What Zip sees when she looks in the mirror.

SOCIAL

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By Emily Abbate

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