Chief Mama Officer

Laura Cunningham is the co-founder and CEO of AVA, a 24/7 parenting partner that knows what's coming, helps with the work, and makes sure you don't miss what matters. In this conversation, Laura talks about the Clay Club moment that led her to build AVA (an “AI wife”), why she stopped seeing the mental load as a personal failing, and how she and her co-founder built trust before leaving their jobs. Laura and Jennie also get honest about fundraising, tying self-worth to outcomes, and why connecting to vision helps when the no’s come.

Connect with Laura:

• ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-cunningham-35a7ab7/⁠
• ⁠https://lauracccunningham.substack.com/⁠
• ⁠https://www.instagram.com/l_c_c_c/⁠

Learn more about AVA: ⁠https://hiava.com/⁠

Download AVA with the CHIEFMAMA discount code: ⁠https://hiava.com/getava?utm_source=CHIEFMAMA ⁠

Find Jennie Yang on Instagram and TikTok @chief.mama.officer

Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at [email protected].

Chapters

00:00 The Founding Story of AVA

05:12 Understanding the Mental Load

09:59 Pivotal Moments in Laura's Journey

15:13 Building Trust with Co-Founders

19:54 The Value of AVA and User Experience

27:57 Identifying Problems Over Aspirations

28:13 The Concept of the AI Wife

29:30 The Reality of Time Management with AI

32:44 The Challenges of Fundraising

36:52 The Personal Journey of a Founder

40:31 Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Validation

43:40 Future Plans for AVA

47:39 Advice for Women Founders

Margaret Coblentz is the co-founder and GP of Capital F, a fund investing at pre-seed and seed in digital commerce, AI, health, and wellness. In this conversation, Margaret and Jennie talk about the goal-setting and discipline behind her path: bootstrapping a company to acquisition, starting Stanford GSB five months postpartum with her third child, and closing a $17 million first fund in a historically challenging fundraising environment. They also dig into how Capital F ended up with 82% women LPs, what she looks for in a founder, and why she thinks bootstrapping is underrated.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Margaret Coblentz

01:30 The Superpowers of Efficiency and Discipline

06:40 Journey to Venture Capital

07:57 The Birth of Angel Investing

09:58 Fundraising Challenges and Strategies

14:05 The Importance of Female LPs

18:56 Building Community Through Salons

23:09 Bootstrapping Experience and Insights

24:02 The Rise of Micro Brands and AI

27:11 Transitioning from Founder to Investor

29:22 Balancing Family and Graduate School

32:10 Building Self-Belief and Operating Excellence

35:00 Evaluating Founders: Key Traits for Success

37:47 Advice for Founders Pitching in Q4

39:27 Vision for the Future: Family and Capital F

43:11 Embracing Ambition and Personal Growth

Connect with Margaret Coblentz: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-coblentz-2797882/⁠

Find Capital F on Instagram @capitalfvc and  ⁠https://www.capitalf.vc/⁠ 

Find Jennie Yang on Instagram and TikTok @chief.mama.officer

Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at [email protected].

Ting Guo-Villaseñor spent a decade building companies before she started investing. Today she leads Hello Moai, a deal-by-deal angel syndicate backing founders in healthcare, family, and consumer essentials people actually rely on. In this conversation, Ting and Jennie dig into how she’s defined success over the years: the version her parents prescribed, the version she measured against her peers, and the one she’s working out now as a mother, investor, and founder-backer.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ting Guo-Villaseñor and Her Journey

05:03 The Impact of Upbringing on Motherhood

07:56 Creating Hello Moai: A New Kind of Syndicate

11:54 Investment Philosophy and Focus on Essentials

18:13 Redefining Success as a Mother

21:57 The Value of Community in Angel Investing

25:44 Empowering Women Investors

26:09 Evaluating Early Stage Investments

30:22 The Importance of Coachability

31:20 Building Relationships in Investing

33:11 Vision for Future Investments

36:11 Health and Well-being in Entrepreneurship

37:12 Support Networks for Founders

41:18 Redefining Success and Values

45:29 The Power of Asking for Help

Find Ting Guo-Villaseñor at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tingtingguo and https://www.hellomoai.com

Find Jennie Yang on Instagram and TikTok @chief.mama.officer

Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at [email protected].

In this episode, Elizabeth McCluskey, venture capitalist and angel investor, shares her path from investment banking to backing purpose-driven founders in family, community, and health. She discusses the moment managing her grandmother's investments pushed her toward impact, why she believes founders driven by mission last longer on a 10+ year road to exit, and what changed in 2024 that made her ready to write personal checks as a mother of two. 

Elizabeth emphasizes the power of angel groups, starting with small checks, and building relationships to source deal flow. She also reflects on what makes a founder a 10 out of 10, how women founders can navigate the risk lens in pitches, and why time has become her most valued form of wealth.

Find Elizabeth McCluskey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethcmccluskey/

Join Elizabeth’s newsletter At The Table: elizabethmccluskey.beehiiv.com

Find Jennie Yang on Instagram andTikTok @chief.mama.officer

Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at [email protected].

In this episode, Rei Wang, co-founder of The Grand, shares her journey of building community and support for mothers who are also entrepreneurs. She discusses her unique upbringing, the importance of intentionality in community design, and the transition from her role as CEO at Dorm Room Fund to building The Grand. Rei emphasizes the significance of in-person connections, the challenges of motherhood, and the need for supportive spaces for women navigating personal and professional transitions. She also offers advice for ambitious women and reflects on her own growth and aspirations.

Chapters

00:00 Building Community and Belonging

03:09 The Journey to Founding The Grand

05:53 Intentionality in Community Design

08:52 From Dorm Room Fund to Angel Investing

11:53 Creating Supportive Spaces for Mothers

15:14 The Importance of In-Person Connection

18:03 Navigating Personal and Professional Transitions

21:06 The Role of Retreats in Personal Growth

24:01 Advice for Ambitious Women

27:12 Embracing Change and Unlearning

30:03 Defining Your Zone of Genius

33:04 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations

Find Rei Wang on Instagram @reireimagines

Find Jennie Yang on Instagram andTikTok @chief.mama.officer

Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at [email protected].

Arielle Zuckerberg, General Partner at Long Journey Ventures, joins Jennie to discuss what it really means to lead from a place of love. From her formative years in college through her journey into venture capital, Arielle reveals how she recovered from perfectionism and learned that vulnerability, not polish, is what builds trust. She opens up about her brother's sudden fame, the friends who showed up and those who didn't, and why surrounding yourself with high-integrity people is everything. Arielle shares her philosophy on difficult conversations (she's the "Grim Reaper" of her friend group), the power of seeing people's potential, and how her mother taught her that love is infinite. She also talks candidly about motherhood, partnership, community, and why asking for support is what allows us to rise into our zone of genius.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Arielle Zuckerberg

01:18 Formative Experiences and Early Career

05:14 Philosophy and Its Relevance

11:00 Navigating Personal Challenges

17:24 Transitioning to Venture Capital

22:15 Growth at Long Journey Ventures

23:12 Balancing Motherhood and Career

29:18 Heart-Centered Leadership

32:34 Trust and Vulnerability in Leadership

36:48 Embracing Messiness and Imperfection

39:32 Overcoming Perfectionism

43:03 The Power of Difficult Conversations

48:30 The Influence of Family on Leadership

52:44 Community Support for Women

54:51 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

Find Arielle Zuckerberg @ariellezuck (twitter) and @az (instagram)

Find Jennie Yang on Instagram andTikTok @chief.mama.officer

Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at [email protected]. 

In this conversation, Jennie Yang reflects on her journey of personal and professional transformation at the age of 40. She discusses the challenges of operating from a scarcity mindset, particularly in navigating work and family life. Jennie emphasizes the importance of shifting to an abundance mindset, prioritizing connection and well-being, and redefining how we view wealth and productivity. Through her experiences and insights, she encourages listeners to embrace their identities and recognize their worth beyond traditional measures of success.

Chapters

00:00 Embracing Change at 40

02:59 The Scarcity Mindset

Take the CMO Compass at https://www.chiefmamaofficer.com/cmo-compass

Find Jennie Yang on Instagram andTikTok @chief.mama.officer

Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at [email protected]. 

Balu Belz leads membership communities at Chief and The WIE Suite after an early career in advertising. She's an angel investor focused on women's and family health, and serves on the boards of CFHI and the Wits Fund US. 

Raised in South Africa on Ubuntu, "I am because you are", she connects people, ideas, and opportunities in ways that create real belonging. Today, she moves capital backing founders solving for the health and happiness of women, mothers, and families.

The relationship you have with yourself determines the relationships you build with others. In this conversation, Balu talks about finding your gifts, why your investment thesis is a reflection of who you are, and the difference between believing in yourself and believing yourself.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Balu Belz and Her Journey

02:19 The Influence of Ubuntu on Community Building

06:09 Discovering and Leveraging Your Zone of Genius

09:23 The Role of Community in Angel Investing

12:17 Navigating Personal Challenges: Health and Happiness

17:18 The Journey of Motherhood and Fertility

20:40 Practices for Cultivating Peace and Joy

26:39 Juggling Multiple Roles: The Reality of Solo Parenting

29:17 Navigating Parenthood and Work-Life Balance

33:21 Insights from Birth Order and Business Evaluation

38:12 The Journey into Angel Investing

44:33 Empowering Women Investors and Future Generations

Find Balu Belz on Instagram at @balubelz

Find Jennie Yang on Instagram andTikTok @chief.mama.officer

Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at [email protected]. 

Jennie Yang talks with Claire Smith, Partner at SpringTide Ventures, about Claire’s path into venture capital, the difference between tech bio and biotech, and why strong teams matter. Claire also shares how she thinks about building trust with founders and the power of networking, mentorship, and community support for women in investing.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Claire Smith and Her Background

03:04 The Evolution of TechBio vs. Biotech

05:57 Claire's Journey into Investing

08:51 The Importance of Team in Venture Capital

12:03 Supporting Founders Through Challenges

15:03 Building Trust and Transparency with Investors

17:54 Well-Being in the Workplace and Family-Friendly Policies

22:14 Navigating Work-Life Balance

29:03 The Importance of Networking

35:31 Building Genuine Connections

40:28 Empowering Women Investors

Find us on Instagram and TikTok @chief.mama.officer

Find Claire Smith at https://www.springtide.com/claire and https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-elizabeth-smith/ 

Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at [email protected]. 

Caroline Lewis is Managing Partner at Nura Ventures and Rogue Women’s Fund. In this episode, she shares more about her journey in building Nura Ventures, investing in women, and the experiences that shaped her path from operator to venture investor. The conversation focuses on women, money, power, and how Caroline supports founders as whole people, not just as companies.

Jennie and Caroline also discuss how financial fluency creates agency, why scarcity mindset can affect even successful people, and how Caroline uses nature, sport, and daily practices to stay grounded while fundraising and investing.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Caroline Lewis and Her Journey

03:50 Founding Nura: The Vision and Values Behind the Fund

09:49 Supporting the Whole Founder: Unique Offerings of Nura

12:07 Lessons from Nike and Entrepreneurial Insights

14:06 Defining Success: Personal and Professional Goals

15:51 Empowering Women Through Financial Knowledge

20:19 The Influence of Family on Financial Acumen

23:17 Overcoming Scarcity Mindset: Strategies and Narratives

24:36 Navigating Fear and Intuition in Decision Making

32:00 The Importance of Hobbies and Personal Growth

38:14 Lessons from Nature and Its Impact on Life

40:08 Legacy and Empowerment for Future Generations

Find Caroline Lewis at ⁠https://nura.vc/⁠ 

Find us on Instagram and TikTok at @chief.mama.officer

Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com.