Founders' Fears & Failures

What role does creativity have in your life as a founder? Do you make sure you find ways to protect and prioritize it?

In this week’s episode I’m introducing you to Tova Safra, a solopreneur turned tech startup co-founder. In this episode we dive into the importance of creativity in her life, why she thinks entrepreneurs should embrace shiny object syndrome, and the importance of having a social infrastructure when you’re working alone.

Tova is Cofounder & Chief Design Officer (CDO) at Groove, a digital coworking space. Her expertise is in research-backed design, incorporating qualitative feedback and collaborating with people who use the technology she helps create.

Tova has two decades of experience designing all sorts of things people like to use, from textiles to apps, and is also a digital artist working with new technologies. Before cofounding Groove, she worked for large corporates, teeny start ups, and then as a solopreneur.

She believes the world would be a much friendlier place if we all gave each other just a little bit more space to be creative in it. Originally from NY, she lives in Jerusalem with her family.

Currently, you need to apply and get on a waitlist if you want to join Groove’s digital coworking space, but as a listener of the podcast Tova is giving you the chance to go straight in and start co-working right away (and connect with her) through her personal invite link: https://wegroov.in/share/mdZW

Find Tova online:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tovasafra/
• The Groove blog: https://blog.groove.ooo/

Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaparksphd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/

Website: https://melissaparks.com/

Schedule a free 30 min. discovery call with Melissa to see if coaching with her would be a good fit: https://melissaparks.com/free-consultation-call/

This week’s guest is a trailblazer in the field of entrepreneur mental health. She started working to shift the conversation on this important topic nearly a decade ago, when no one else was talking about, and despite receiving some pushback around it which she shares about in the interview.

Kristin Darga, is the CEO and founder of Black Label Coaching and Impact Founder. She’s a keynote speaker, award-winning author, and health, performance, global incident response, crisis, executive and recovery coach. She has worked with over 500 entrepreneurs, executives, and individuals desiring personal growth to unravel their blocks and create successes. As a six-time founder, she also understands firsthand entrepreneurship's highly satisfying yet distressing road.

Kristin is revered as an expert in mental health and entrepreneurship. She published Impact Founder Book of photos and short written Stories in 2017. She also co-authored a scoping review with the University of Alberta, "Depression among entrepreneurs: a scoping review".

After a decade studying, coaching and intimately interviewing hundreds of founders, she is positioned as an leading expert in founder depression, wellness and burnout.

It’s a huge honor to have Kristin on the show with us this week to share her experience as a trailblazer in this field. We talk not only about what she’s observed in her work with entrepreneurs, but also difficult moments she’s faced firsthand as a business owner including long covid, burnout, panic attacks, as well as what’s helped her to take care of herself and recover from these challenging times.

I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did!

Find Kristin online:

Website: https://www.impactfounder.com/ and https://www.blacklabelcoaching.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfounder/ and https://www.instagram.com/kristindarga/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristindarga/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-founder/about/

Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaparksphd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/

Website: https://melissaparks.com/

Sign up for Melissa’s weekly email to receive podcast updates, behind the scenes glimpses of her own experience on the entrepreneur rollercoaster, as well as self-care tips for you to try: https://melissaparks.com/podcast/

Schedule a free 30 min. discovery call with Melissa to see if coaching with her would be a good fit: https://melissaparks.com/free-consultation-call/

Entrepreneur life is full of uncertainty and things that are outside of our control. Being a successful founder requires to you to find ways to thrive amidst this inevitable chaos.

In this week’s episode, I’m introducing you to some of the tools that I’ve found incredibly helpful for my clients, and myself, in learning how to cope with this uncertainty - mindfulness and self-compassion.

Some people are turned off when they hear about mindfulness or self-compassion, which is understandable, but not a sign that these practices aren’t for you. In this episode I’ll also share with you some of my own reservations when I started to practice these skills, why it’s so normal to have knee-jerk “no” reaction to practicing them, and what I tell my clients to help them stay open minded and give mindfulness and self-compassion a try. I hope you’ll stay open to learning more and deciding if you want to experiment with these skills yourself.

In the words of mindfulness teacher, Jon Kabat Zinn, “you can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” As a founder you can’t stop those waves, but you can learn tools to make sure they don’t pull you under. In other words, in order to stay in this game for the long run, it’s essential to learn ways to increase your emotional resilience and mental fitness such as mindfulness and self-compassion. I hope you enjoy the introduction to these practices in this week’s episode

A huge thank you to my podcast producer, Ineke Camille of Zourit Solutions, for helping me to get creative with this week’s show!

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Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaparksphd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/

Website: https://melissaparks.com/

Schedule a free 30 min. discovery call with Melissa to see if coaching with her would be a good fit: https://melissaparks.com/free-consultation-call/

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If you’d like additional support for your mental and emotional well-being as a founder please visit Melissa’s website for a list of resources to help you find a coach, therapist, or peer support.

This week on the show we’re mixing things up and instead of interviewing someone else I’ll be speaking on one of my favorite topics to talk about - imposter syndrome.

It’s one I’m very familiar with after helping many clients to overcome it, and having dealt with it myself which I share more about in this episode.

Imposter syndrome is a deep feeling of self-doubt, very often in spite of having an impressive resume. When you’re dealing with imposter syndrome, it doesn’t matter how much you’ve accomplished, or how positively others see you, you have a voice inside that tells you you’re a fraud and it can feel like the ultimate truth.

I really dislike the term imposter syndrome. Especially the syndrome part. It makes it sound like it’s a diagnosable condition, which it isn’t,  and it also makes it sound like something is wrong with you.

Nothing could be further from the truth though!

First of all, if you’re struggling with it - you’re in good company. It’s estimated that 70% of people will struggle with imposter syndrome at some time or another.

If you’re a high achiever, an entrepreneur, or part of a marginalized group you’re even more likely to experience it. Be sure to check out the full episode to learn why this is as well as some tools to help you make sure that imposter syndrome doesn’t hold you back.

Resources from this episode:

Free guide to help you connect with your inner compassionate coach: https://melissaparks.com/self-compassion-entrepreneurs/

HBR articles on imposter syndrome: https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome and https://hbr.org/2021/07/end-imposter-syndrome-in-your-workplace

Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaparksphd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/

Website: https://melissaparks.com/

Schedule a free 30 min. discovery call with Melissa to discuss how her coaching can help you to deal with your own imposter syndrome: https://melissaparks.com/free-consultation-call/

If you’d like additional support for your mental and emotional well-being as a founder please visit Melissa’s website for a list of resources to help you find a coach, therapist, or peer support.

Too often we think about therapy as something to seek out as a last resort, when we’re in crisis and have exhausted all our other options.

Even if you suspect that it might help you to pursue therapy proactively, too many of us view it as something optional. Especially when you’re a founder who is acutely aware of how you’re spending your time and money.

My guest this week is here to talk about why he believes therapy is essential for founders, why it’s so helpful to seek out a therapist before you have a problem, and all of the ways his own experience in therapy has made him a better founder, as well as a co-founder.

Ryan Schwartz is the founder of Mental Health Match, a free platform that makes it easy to find a therapist. He's also the co-founder of TherapistsDAO, a community of therapists that shares ownership and governance of the infrastructure needed to advance mental health care across the globe. Ryan and his husband are nomadic, traveling around North America in pursuit of the calmest nature backdrops to their lives as startup founders.

Tune in to this episode to learn more about some of the ways founders might benefit from going to therapy, including uncovering blind spots and overcoming imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and avoidance, as well as the tips Ryan shares for how to know if a therapist is the right fit for you.

Find Ryan online:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mentalhealthmatch/
• https://mentalhealthmatch.com
• https://www.therapistsdao.com

Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaparksphd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/

Website: https://melissaparks.com/

Schedule a free 30 min. discovery call with Melissa to see if coaching with her would be a good fit: https://melissaparks.com/free-consultation-call/

If you’d like additional support for your mental and emotional well-being as a founder please visit Melissa’s website for a list of resources to help you find a coach, therapist, or peer support.

In this week’s episode I’m introducing you to Andrew Douglas, a firefighter turned mental health app co-founder.

This episode is an intense one and I want to warn you that there is mention of suicide as well as a traumatic event that contributed to Andrew’s PTSD while working as a firefighter. However, all this serves to highlight the importance of his company’s mission and I hope you’ll feel as inspired as I did about the work he’s doing to share with the world the mental health app that he wishes he would have had at his darkest moments.

Andrew dedicated several years of his life to serving his community as a firefighter/paramedic and union leader before he personally struggled with PTSD. This experience showed him the importance of mental health support which led him to co-found Siento, a stigma-free mobile application platform designed to help first responders and professionals in high-stress industries. (note: “Siento” means “to feel” in Spanish).

Siento’s mission is to provide a safe and anonymous space for people to share their feelings, connect with others who understand their challenges, and access the mental health assistance they need. They believe that by fostering an environment of understanding and compassion, they can make a positive impact on the lives of those who serve our communities and work under immense pressure.

In this interview, I learned about research showing that more firefighters die by suicide each year than in the line of duty. I hope this episode helps to raise awareness about this important cause and the work Andrew and his team are doing to change these disturbing statistics.

If you, or anyone you know, is suicidal, don’t hesitate to call 988 (in the United States) or visit this website for a list of crisis lines around the globe: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/

Find Andrew online:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-b358b4226/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.douglas.334
• Siento website: https://siento.io
• Siento Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090208429001

Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaparksphd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/

Website: https://melissaparks.com/

Schedule a free 30 min. discovery call with Melissa to see if coaching with her would be a good fit: https://melissaparks.com/free-consultation-call/

If you’d like additional support for your mental and emotional well-being as a founder please visit Melissa’s website for a list of resources to help you find a coach, therapist, or peer support.

In this week’s episode, I’m introducing you to Neha Gunnoo, a former tech startup co-founder who stepped away from her startup after realizing how much it was harming her mental health.

Neha is now the founder & senior content strategist of Luova Digital Ltd specializing in digital content strategy and marketing with clients and partners globally including the US, Europe and Mauritius. Neha was previously the co-founder and CMO of LeFinTech Ltd – a startup in Mauritius specializing in chatbots for small businesses in Mauritius. She was responsible for the business and marketing strategy and for maintaining the relationships with different stakeholders. She was among the finalists of the Turbine Test Drive 2019 and the startup was incubated at Turbine.

Neha has worked in various companies such as Accenture Technology and Barclays Mauritius. She is a regular Speaker at local and international events, Host & Owner of the Bold Enough Podcast, Mentor at the AMFCE and AfriTech and Content Marketing Trainer at Chelvan Training. She was awarded the title “Rising Star of the Year 2022” by the Women in Tech Africa and has been featured in multiple magazines for her entrepreneurship journey

In this interview we talk about her decision to leave startup life behind, the fears she had to face to make this choice, and why looking back she has zero regrets. She also shares what she’s doing differently as a soloepreneur to prioritize her mental health and ensure that her business is not her life.

If you’re looking for support to help you be a successful founder without sacrificing your mental well-being or relationships, schedule a free discovery call with Melissa to see if 1:1 coaching with her would be a good fit. Schedule your call here - https://melissaparks.com/free-consultation-call/

Find Neha online:

• Neha’s podcast, Bold Enough: https://linktr.ee/boldenough
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nehagunnoo/

Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaparksphd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/

Website: https://melissaparks.com/

If you’d like additional support for your mental and emotional well-being as a founder please visit Melissa’s website for a list of resources to help you find a coach, therapist, or peer support.

For more about this episode and the transcript, visit http://melissaparks.com/15-tech-startup-founder-turned-solopreneur-neha-gunnoo 

In this week’s interview I’m introducing you to Melani Gordon, a founder who realized at the height of her company’s success that she was experiencing burnout.

Melani is a highly respected serial entrepreneur and business coach, with a decade-long track record of mentoring and coaching over 200 startup founders via Techstars and Founders First Capital. Melani offers a range of services to ambitious founders, leaders and their teams, including CEO coaching, co-founder alignment, team off-sites, peer groups, and sales training programs. She is well known for her SaaS Sales Academy.

Melani has a wealth of experience in the tech industry. She was the CEO of TapHunter, where she grew the company into a leading player in management and marketing software for bars, restaurants, and other local businesses. TapHunter was acquired in late 2022.

Aside from her business accomplishments, Melani is a limited partner at Interlock Capital, a founding member of San Diego Startup Week, and a board member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She is also a volunteer adaptive snowboard instructor at Achieve Tahoe. In her free time, Melani enjoys being in the backcountry mountain biking and snowboarding in the Sierra Nevadas.

In this interview, we discuss Melani’s journey through burnout and road towards recovery, and the lessons she learned along the way about the importance of mental health. She also shares some of her words of wisdom for founders who want to avoid burnout themselves and why she thinks all founders should budget for a therapist, business coach, and peer support group.

TW: I do want to let you know that there is a mention of death by suicide in this episode.

Find Melani online:

• Melani is currently scheduling her next batch of peer groups for CEO's and founders. Schedule a call with her - https://calendly.com/melanigordon/30min
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanigordon/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/melgordon
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanigordon/

Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaparksphd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/

Website: https://melissaparks.com/

Sign up for my weekly newsletter to be notified of new episodes and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at recording of the podcast:

https://melissaparks.com/podcast/

If you’d like additional support for your mental and emotional well-being as a founder please visit Melissa’s website for a list of resources to help you find a coach, therapist, or peer support.

The rates of mental illness amongst founders are incredibly high. Research out of UC Berkeley found that 72% of entrepreneurs are affected by mental illness.

This same study found that entrepreneurs are:

• 2x more likely to suffer from depression
• 6x more likely to suffer from ADHD
• 3x more likely to suffer from substance abuse
• 10x more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder

Many of these entrepreneurs are likely suffering in silence, or feeling like they’re the only one. It’s essential that we have key players in the startup world who are sharing about their own struggles with mental illness so we can reduce the stigma, and inspire others to get vulnerable and seek treatment.

My guest this week is Micah Baldwin, a serial founder, angel investor, and leadership coach. Micah started his first business when he was 9 years and sold his last company in 2014. Over the years he has started or been early at 5 companies that raised a total of $350 million. He has also spent time at Amazon and Microsoft and in venture.

In this interview Micah shares his story of grappling with addiction and getting sober, and receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. He shares about some of the challenges he’s faced along this journey, and the types of support that have been integral to his recovery. Micah currently coaches founders so he also shares his insights into some of the struggles he sees founders facing on the entrepreneur rollercoaster and some of his words of wisdom for how to take care of yourself and ultimately, go further faster.

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Find Micah online:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/micah
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artndog/
• Website: http://Micahbaldwin.com

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Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaparksphd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/

Website: https://melissaparks.com/

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If you’d like additional support for your mental health and well-being as a founder please visit Melissa’s website for a list of resources to help you find a coach, therapist, or peer support.

What if you realize that the day-to-day of bringing the vision of your startup to life requires you to ignore parts of yourself that are incredibly important?

What if you’re still passionate about the mission behind your company, but realize that life as a startup founder/operator is not the way you want to bring it to life?

Today I’m introducing you to a former co-founder who struggled with these same questions. Kat Brendel, was the co-founder of Cowomen, a coworking space and community club for women in Berlin, one of Germany’s first coworking spaces for women.

Kat’s love of stories led her to study journalism and build a career in media. Through getting a boatload of marketing experience in South America, the US, and Europe, she learned not just how to tell good stories, but how they can drive businesses forward. In 2017, she launched her first podcast and was immediately hooked.

Since then, she’s not only become a serial podcaster, but has also helped dozens of people & organizations launch and grow theirs. As a podcasting & storytelling strategist, her jam is helping bold business owners become the orca of their industry's ocean (aka the biggest, baddest, most big-hearted thing around).

In this episode we explore how Kat found herself in a co-founder role, the moment she realized it wasn’t the right fit, and what helped her to make the difficult decision to step away, and how she overcame this so-called “failure.”

Find Kat online:

• Website: https://tellonpurpose.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tellonpurpose/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katbrendel
• Listen to Kat’s podcast (and sign up for her “Inside Story” emails: http://creatinginthemargins.com

Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/

Facebook: Melissa Parks, PhD - Mindset Coaching for Entrepreneurs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/

Website: Home - Mindset Coach for Entrepreneurs - Melissa Parks, PhD

Set up your free discovery call with Melissa:

Melissa Parks PhD, LLC

If you’d like additional support for your mental and emotional well-being as a founder please visit Melissa’s website for a list of resources to help you find a coach, therapist, or peer support.