CapLander

This week Jody and Morgan sit down with Jan D'Alessandro, founder of Blue J Strategies and one of the driving forces behind Pledge 1%, the global movement encouraging companies to pledge equity, profit, product, or employee time for social impact.

Jan shares her path from big law to AOL, venture-backed startups, major exits, and purpose-driven advisory work. They dig into what a general counsel actually does inside a startup, why business-minded lawyers are so valuable, how deals really get done across Silicon Valley, New York, and LA, and why equity should never be treated casually.

They also talk about philanthropy in the startup world, the power of founder-led giving, and why this moment in San Francisco feels electric again with the rise of AI.

A sharp, funny, and insightful conversation about startups, law, leadership, and building businesses that matter.

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More from J.Thelander Consulting: https://www.youtube.com/@morganthelander

In this episode of CapLander, Jody and Morgan turn the mic on themselves. With Morgan celebrating her 31st birthday (and expecting her first child), the two take a step back to share how their partnership—and their family business—actually works.

They talk about how Jody built J. Thelander Consulting nearly 30 years ago, how Morgan eventually joined the company, and what it’s really like to work side-by-side as mother and daughter. The conversation moves from family dynamics to entrepreneurship, the philosophy behind their work, and why they believe compensation data—and the context behind it—matters more than ever.

It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the personalities, standards, and occasional friction that power the Thelander ecosystem, including Thelander, CompLander, and CapLander. Along the way, they also talk about how the market is changing, how AI is influencing hiring and pay, and why working moms might just be the most efficient people in business.

Katie Stanton, Founder and Managing General Partner of Moxxie Ventures, joins Jody and Morgan for a candid conversation about what it really takes to build—and back—early-stage companies in today’s market.

From her journey as a longtime Silicon Valley operator to launching Moxxie in 2019, Katie shares why courage is at the core of entrepreneurship, what she believes venture capital gets wrong, and how she’s working to modernize the ecosystem. The episode closes with an honest look at building a firm while raising a family, the myth of work-life balance, and the power of surrounding yourself with people who push you to be better.

Insightful, practical, and refreshingly real—this is a conversation about venture capital, leadership, and the courage to build something meaningful.

From parking wars to the real work of creating value inside private equity portfolios, this episode is all about personal agency. Jody and Morgan sit down with Paul Press of Press & Associates, a trusted search partner to private equity firms building value creation and portfolio operations teams.

Paul breaks down what “value creation” actually means in PE today, how portfolio ops teams work, why emotional intelligence matters more than ever, and what compensation really looks like behind the scenes. Along the way, they dig into negotiation, carried interest, recruiting rockstars, and why waiting for permission is the fastest way to lose momentum.

In this episode, Jody and Morgan are joined by Lauren Makler, co-founder and CEO of Cofertility, a modern fertility company redefining family-building. Lauren shares how her background in tech prepared her to launch her own company, the inspiration behind Cofertility's first-of-its-kind egg sharing model, and what's ahead for the next generation of fertility and family planning. 

In this episode of the CapLander podcast, hosts Jody and Morgan Thelander sit down with Alessandro Chesser, founder & CEO of GetDynasty to discuss how they help startup founders pay zero taxes through Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS). Discover how Alessandro's journey from banking to tech led to the creation of a full-stack trust company aimed at reducing taxes for entrepreneurs. Learn about the pivotal moments that shaped his career, the challenges of balancing family and business, and the future of wealth management in the startup ecosystem. Whether you're a seasoned founder or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights into maximizing your financial potential.

Join Jody and Morgan as they debrief from the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference and share an exciting update for what's to come in 2026. Jody breaks down the smartest wardrobe investments - what's worth the price tag, where to save and how to play the high-low game while Morgan prepares for a snow storm. The conversation offers listeners an insight into the mother-daughter dynamic behind the J.Thelander Consulting executive team.

Join Jody and Morgan as they kick off JP Morgan's 44th Annual Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. They are joined by Ali Murata, compensation and benefits partner at Cooley. Ali shares her insights on the evolving compensation landscape, the strategic role of legal advice in business, and her unique journey from law school to becoming a trusted advisor in Silicon Valley. Join us for an engaging discussion on the challenges and opportunities in today's corporate world - and why the short game matters so much more than one good drive. 

In this episode, Jody and Morgan Thelander come out of hibernation to share exclusive data on salary increases and bonuses for investment firms and private companies - plus, who's hiring for 2026. They are joined by special guest David Spreng, founder of Runway Growth Capital, who shares his extensive expertise on what venture debt is and its important role in today's market. David shares how venture capital prepared him for founding his own firm and why his basement is where you'd want to be in case of an emergency (minus an earthquake!).

This week, Jody and Morgan are joined by Emily Zheng, a Senior Research Analyst at PitchBook. Emily breaks down the intricacies of secondary markets, the impact of AI on venture capital, and what 2026 holds for IPOs and private investments. Emily shares her journey from JP Morgan to PitchBook, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of venture capital. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on liquidity, market trends, and the role of AI in shaping the future of finance.