Rita Kastrati isthe founder of Pioneering People, a socially responsible fintech platform shaking up the temporary staffing space.

Rita’s journey took her from working hospitality jobs to launching a platform connecting companies with temp staff, all while championing fair pay, inclusivity, and founder wellbeing. Her story is packed with lessons on building a business with purpose, storytelling without a marketing budget, and navigating the realities of burnout, fundraising, and leadership as a young female founder.

🚀 In this episode:

• Why founder-led marketing and storytelling matter

• How to embed social good into your business model

• The reality of burnout and how to avoid it

• When passion drives success—and when it’s not enough

• Finding co-founders, mentors, and resilience as a first-time founder

(00:00) – Intro & Rita’s mission

(00:29) – From hostess to founder

(01:01) – First job in hospitality

(01:42) – Learning resilience

(02:53) – Pioneering People explained

(03:55) – Building the founding team

(04:44) – Meeting co-founders on LinkedIn

(05:35) – Entrepreneurial beginnings

(06:32) – Lessons from 20+ jobs

(07:24) – Earning respect as a young founder

(08:06) – Finding mentors on LinkedIn

(09:00) – Standing out in a competitive market

(10:08) – Fundraising & attracting female investors

(11:03) – Building the team

(11:40) – Leadership & tough conversations

(13:12) – Red flag or green flag segment

(15:28) – UN Women delegate experience

(17:04) – Embedding social good in business

(18:06) – Expansion beyond hospitality

(18:42) – Founder-led marketing & storytelling

(21:02) – Paying interns & avoiding burnout

(22:03) – Managing burnout & balance

(24:08) – Is passion essential in business?

(24:37) – Defining success with Ikigai

(26:04) – Mindset shifts & networking

(27:28) – Women leaders & resilience

(28:27) – Knowing when to quit

(30:20) – Bootstrapping, quitting & impact stories

(31:22) – Building community & supper clubs

(33:07) – Celebrating wins & vulnerability

(35:03) – Coffee break & staying connected

(36:11) – Best advice not taken

(38:05) – Wrap up & farewell