Welcome to episode nineteen of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Laura Kornhauser, CEO of Stratyfy. On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders.

Although it may have started by accident, Laura’s parents launched and ran their own company for years, eventually achieving a successful financial exit. That environment was a proving ground for many of the values Laura would take into her career her own startup.

My name is Nathan Baumeister; I am the Co-founder of ZSuite Tech and the host of this podcast.

While earning her undergraduate degree from Princeton, Laura wrote a senior thesis that correctly predicted the housing bubble and crash of 2007/2008. Rather than dwell on any missed opportunity Laura decided to dive headfirst into investment banking and spent more than a decade at JPMorgan in their derivatives division.

Faced with a challenge to her core value of caring for her co-workers as family, Laura quit JPMorgan, and decided to get her MBA. Eventually she would decide to found Stratyfy with a classmate and tackle the challenge of fundraising while pregnant.

As CEO of Stratyfy, Laura brings an immense depth of experience and competencies to her work, in addition to a deeply empathic approach to work and leadership. Stratyfy is a company where people can do meaningful work without sacrificing what’s most important.

What’s clear is that Laura’s success is not a function of her ability to mask and cater to other people’s expectations. It is a vibrant expression of her uniqueness and drive to capture the excitement and joy that life holds. This episode will give you a tiny glimpse into her world — but that glimpse feels like a burst of sunlight on a cloudy day.

Resources:

Laura’s book recommendation:

When the Going Was Good by Graydon Carter

Connect:

Laura Kornhauser LinkedIn

Nathan Baumeister LinkedIn

ZSuite Tech LinkedIn

ZSuite Tech on X (formerly Twitter)