In this FINAL episode of season "In the Company of Women", Kate Syuma dives into a conversation with Sera Tajima, Conscious Tech Advisor, angel investor, and former product designer at Webflow and Zendesk, to explore her journey into climate tech advisory and angel investing. Sera shares how her father's passing became a pivotal moment that shaped her perspective, how her background in product design influences her approach to climate tech startups, and why authenticity is the key to finding meaningful partnerships in the conscious tech space.
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
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Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth Advisor, ex-Miro. This season, “In the Company of Women,” is about celebrating women who successfully balance work, family, and creative passions while building meaningful careers.
Growthmates is where top product and growth leaders share real strategies and insights to help you turn ideas into successful products. Learn from experts at Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and more in deep dive interviews with Kate Syuma, ex-Miro Head of Growth Design and founder of Growthmates.
Sera took an unconventional path, transitioning from product design at tech giants like Zendesk and Webflow to becoming a conscious tech advisor and climate tech angel investor. Her journey was shaped by personal loss, from the passing of her father to navigating health challenges that kept her away from work for a year. Instead of following traditional career paths, she built a multi-faceted approach centered on impact, authenticity, and sustainability.
She also shares insights on making angel investing accessible (starting with as little as $400), incorporating indigenous knowledge into tech education, and finding purpose through conscious tech development.
Tune in to hear Sera's perspective on feminine energy in leadership, finding your authentic voice on social media, and how investing in climate tech startups creates greater impact than individual sustainable practices alone.
🔗 Find more insights on growthmates.club and follow on your favorite platforms for more episodes.
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Key highlights from this episode 👇
* Redefining Design: Sera expands design beyond interfaces to encompass customer research, UX, growth hacking, and activation points — often overlooked as "true" design work.
* Accessible Angel Investing: "My first investment was $400," Sera shares, debunking the myth that angel investing requires wealth. She proves tech pros can start small to learn and scale.
* Authentic Online Presence: "Posting ‘un-LinkedIn’ content feels risky," Sera admits, but prioritizes authenticity over virality — deeper connections > broad appeal.
* From Designer to Climate Advisor: Sera shifts from product roles to impact-driven climate tech advising, helping startups amplify environmental solutions beyond individual action.
* Indigenous Knowledge in Tech: Sera integrates native Hawaiian frameworks like PICO into her courses, tying business strategy to generational stewardship — even in technical contexts.
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* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/
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Where to find Kate Syuma:
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/
* Newsletter: https://www.growthmates.news/
Where to find Sera Tajima:
* Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/seratajima/
* Website: https://seratajima.com
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seratajima/
* Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@seratajima
* Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@seratajima
* Advising: conscioustechventures.com
* Conscious Tech Newsletter: https://seratajima.substack.com
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What we covered:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:32) Sera's career journey from product design to climate tech
(04:04) Defining conscious tech and its impact
(07:17) The transition from full-time job to entrepreneurship
(10:03) Building a community of like-minded founders
(12:39) Breaking into angel investing with minimal capital
(17:06) Authenticity on social media
(21:43) Creating educational content and courses
(27:27) Incorporating sustainability and indigenous knowledge
(34:33) Dealing with feedback and vulnerability
(42:42) What the world needs more of
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📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:
* Design for Conscious Product-Led Growth: seratajima.com/growthdesign
* Personal website: seratajima.com/advising
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Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights.
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Today, we close the final chapter of "In the Company of Women"— a season that redefined what’s possible when strength, grace, and brilliance collide.
Every guest, from visionary founders to fearless investors, taught me that true growth blooms where courage meets authenticity. I’m leaving these conversations not just as a host, but as someone who’s glimpsed the future they’re building.
Thank you for being part of this journey. You’re the ones turning “impossible” into “already here.” While we prepare for what’s next, remember: your ideas are changing the world. Just keep going.
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Let’s keep growing together!
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