Michelle Zatlyn is the Co-founder and President of Cloudflare, a global internet infrastructure that keeps the world safe and secure online operating 20% of the global web with over 4,000 employees.

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada, Michelle began her career studying chemistry, aiming to become a doctor. But a pivotal turning point during a hospital internship set her on a new path - one that eventually led to Silicon Valley.

In this episode, Michelle shares the formative experiences that shaped her, the unexpected pivots in her career, and dives into the tough decisions she’s had to make. She also unpacks the gritty realities of early-stage startup life, the challenges of scaling, and what it really takes to lead a high-growth tech company.

For a deeper dive into the episode, check out Carly's Substack: https://carlymalatskey.substack.com/

Referenced:

• Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com
• Harvard Business School (HBS): https://www.hbs.edu/
• Lee Holloway (Cloudflare co-founder): https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-holloway-159152/
• Matthew Prince (Cloudflare co-founder & CEO): https://www.linkedin.com/in/mprince/
• Project Honey Pot: https://www.projecthoneypot.org/
• Toshiba: https://www.toshiba.com/tai/
• WIRED Article about Lee Holloway: https://www.wired.com/story/lee-holloway-devastating-decline-brilliant-young-coder/

Timestamps:

(1:46) Growing up in Saskatchewan
(6:04) The decision not to pursue medicine
(9:51) Falling into business and technology
(13:39) The first taste of entrepreneurship
(16:27) Finding community and clarity at HBS
(17:28) The “essay line” that guided her
(19:28) Turning down LinkedIn to start Cloudflare
(25:05) How to improve your decision-making
(29:15) Choosing a meaningful mission
(32:18) Being the non-technical founder
(34:33) Early team challenges
(38:24) The grind from 1 to 100M
(41:32) Getting product-market fit
(44:23) The slow burn of success
(47:49) Being a founder impacts personal life
(51:52) Raising up the next-gen tech leaders
(54:12) The power of small teams and shared purpose

Jess Rosen is the Co-founder and Creative Director of Raw Generation, a leading wellness brand known for its juice cleanses and plant-based products. Jess launched the company with her father in 2012, after watching both her grandmothers battle cancer.

With a background in architecture and a certification in holistic health, Jess has grown Raw Generation into a multimillion-dollar brand while also launching spinoffs such as Little Sippers (children’s nutrition) and Functional Mother (for postpartum women). In this episode, she discusses how her personal health journey, entrepreneurship, and motherhood all intersect.

Where to find She Leads:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram
• X (Twitter)
• Substack

Where to find Carly:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Where to find Raw Generation Juices:

• Website
• Instagram

References:

• Gary Vaynerchuk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyvaynerchuk/
• Hippocrates Health Institute: https://hippocrateswellness.org/
• Institute for Integrative Nutrition: https://www.integrativenutrition.com/
• Jess Rosen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-rosen-raw-generation/
• Lisa Testa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-testa-m-s-16514036/
• Raw Generation: https://www.rawgeneration.com/

Timestamps:

(01:13) Childhood creativity and early ambition
(04:10) Growing up in an entrepreneurial family
(05:00) Quitting architecture after just 9 months
(09:37) How cancer shifted Jess’s view on food
(19:17) Raw Generation was a family affair
(21:30) Burning out and battling Lyme disease
(24:55) Advice for stuck 20-somethings
(27:32) Why Jess ditched social media
(28:25) Balancing business and Instagram
(30:19) Raw Generation’s slow early days
(31:22) The Skinny Cleanse breakthrough
(35:58) Pivoting fast during COVID
(42:43) How Little Sippers was born
(47:45) Motherhood’s impact on her work
(56:01) Learning to listen to her body

Margueritte Aozasa is the head coach of the UCLA Women’s Soccer Team and a  star in collegiate coaching. In just three seasons, she’s led the team to a historic national championship in her rookie year and two conference titles.

A former assistant coach at Stanford during their championship runs, and a standout player and captain at Santa Clara University, Margueritte brings a rare mix of tactical brilliance and emotional intelligence to her leadership.

In this episode, she reflects on her journey, from being a competitive 10-year-old to coaching on the biggest stage in college soccer.

For a deeper dive into the episode, check out Carly's Substack: https://carlymalatskey.substack.com/

Where to find She Leads:

• Apple Podcasts
• Website
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Instagram
• X (Twitter)
• Substack

Referenced:

• Albertin Montoya: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertin_Montoya
• Andi Sullivan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andi_Sullivan
• Margueritte Aozasa: https://uclabruins.com/staff-directory/margueritte-aozasa/6961
• Maricarmen Reyes: https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/maricarmen-reyes/8929
• Paul Ratcliffe: https://gostanford.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/season/2022/staff/paul-ratcliffe
• Santa Clara University: https://www.scu.edu/
• Stanford University: https://www.stanford.edu/
• UCLA: https://www.ucla.edu/
• University of North Carolina (UNC): https://www.unc.edu/

Timestamps:

(1:44) Growing up with lots of personality
(6:16) The source of a competitive streak
(9:33) Being a student of the game
(10:57) The impact of a great coach
(13:59) Playing for Santa Clara University
(14:48) The path from athlete to coach
(17:15) A career without a 5-year plan
(19:48) Growing out of competitive perfectionism
(24:49) Joining Stanford: Holding people to high standards
(31:25) Why coaches should read the room
(41:30) Starting the UCLA chapter
(47:41) Building culture with a new team
(57:40) Winning a national championship
(1:14:22) What does success mean to Marg?

Sara Cullen is the founder and CEO of GEM, a pioneering brand creating the first real food vitamins. Sparked by her own health challenges and a frustrating experience in the supplement aisle, Sara took a hands-on approach to nutritional science. Before launching Gem, she was part of the Venture for America Fellowship and previously started Plant Water, a CBD beverage brand.

In this episode, Sara shares how her upbringing on a farm shaped her maker mindset, lessons learned from a failed first startup, and why she believes true founders must be “delusionallyvely optimistic.” She talks candidly about navigating solo entrepreneurship, fundraising over $22M, hiring effectively, and the realities of building a company while raising a newborn.

For a deeper dive into the episode, check out Carly's Substack: https://carlymalatskey.substack.com/

Where to find She Leads:

• Apple Podcasts
• Website
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Instagram
• X (Twitter)

Where to find Carly:

• LinkedIn
• X (Twitter)

Where to find Sara:

• LinkedIn

Where to find GEM:

• Instagram
• GEM website

Referenced:

• Sara Blakely: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarablakely27/
• Venture for America: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venture-for-america/

In this episode, we cover:

(1:22) Growing up on a farm and childhood influences
(5:09) Pivoting majors at Cornell
(6:28) Being practical vs. the dreamer
(9:14) Joining Venture for America
(12:33) The lessons from founding Plant Water
(16:25) The health crisis that inspired GEM
(19:28) Finding the conviction to launch
(22:57) Balancing taste with nutritional function
(25:23) Operating as a DTC brand
(26:27) The greatest challenges working on GEM
(28:49) Remote work challenges and culture trade-offs
(33:35) Advice for CPG founders on venture capital
(39:36) Juggling motherhood and leadership
(41:34) Redefining success

Read Carly's deeper dive in her substack: https://carlymalatskey.substack.com/p/wtf-moments-delusional-optimism-failing?r=jt2na 

Celine Halioua is the founder and CEO of Loyal, a biotech company developing FDA-approved drugs to extend the healthy lifespan of dogs. In this follow-up episode, Celine discusses Loyal’s latest milestones, now with three longevity drugs in development and $150M in funding. This conversation covers the rationale behind building a multi-product biotech company, how she raised a Series B during a brutal fundraising climate, and Celine’s insight into building a mission-driven company culture.

For a deeper dive into the episode, check out Carly's Substack: https://carlymalatskey.substack.com/

Where to find She Leads:

• Apple Podcasts
• Website
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Instagram
• X (Twitter)

Where to find Carly:

• LinkedIn
• X (Twitter)

Where to find Celine:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/celinehh/

Referenced:

• Accel: accel.com
• Loyal: loyal.com/
• Moderna: modernatx.com
• SoftBank: softbank.jp/en

Timestamps:

(2:39) Loyal’s stakeholders

(6:28) Going multiproduct

(10:02) How the biotech industry gets funding

(18:30) Lessons from raising money

(20:28) Why constraints are useful

(25:34) How raising money affects you mentally

(29:16) Radical transparency

(33:22) The academic-founder paradox

(35:50) A small fish in a big pond

(43:33) Finding low-ego team members

(46:08) What does success look like?

Ashley Thompson is the co-founder and CEO of Mush, the ready-to-eat overnight oats brand redefining breakfast. After earning a degree in math and economics from Columbia, Ashley began her career as a trader at Goldman Sachs. But after three years on Wall Street, she left finance behind to chase a bigger mission: building Mush. Since then, she’s grown Mush into a multimillion-dollar brand with nationwide distribution. Along the way, she pitched Mush on Shark Tank and landed a deal with Mark Cuban. Through relentless focus, getting early consumer feedback, and her personal connection to wellbeing, Ashely has built a category-defining brand.

For a deeper dive into the episode, check out Carly's Substack: https://carlymalatskey.substack.com/

Where to find She Leads:

• Apple Podcasts
• Website
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Instagram
• X (Twitter)
• Substack

Where to find Carly:

• LinkedIn
• X (Twitter)

Where to find Ashley:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-thompson-50888626/

Referenced:

• Columbia University: https://www.columbia.edu
• Goldman Sachs: https://www.goldmansachs.com
• Mark Cuban: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-cuban-06a0751b
• Mush: https://www.eatmush.com
• Publix: https://www.publix.com

Timestamps:

(2:57) Ashley’s childhood

(6:54) The surprising childhood creations

(9:54) How mental health influenced the journey

(17:16) The early years at Goldman Sachs

(25:41) Why overnight oats?

(29:39) It’s important to quit

(34:35) What drew Ashley to San Diego

(36:59) Getting early consumer feedback

(39:05) Adapting to entrepreneurship

(43:37) Winning Whole Foods

(48:15) The story of Shark Tank

(52:01) Insights into the CPG industry

Kiki Couchman and Elan Halpern are the co-founders of Beny Yogurt, an organic, probiotic-packed yogurt brand born from their shared passion for health and nutrition. After meeting at Stanford, where Kiki studied human biology and Elan studied computer science, they went on to work in private equity and product management before teaming up to start Beny. Drawing on complementary skill sets, they’ve bootstrapped the business through smart financial planning, scrappy marketing, and a focus on building a product they genuinely believe in.

For a deeper dive into the episode, check out Carly's Substack: https://carlymalatskey.substack.com/

Where to find She Leads:

• Apple Podcasts
• Website
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Instagram
• X (Twitter)
• Substack

Where to find Carly:

• LinkedIn
• X (Twitter)

Where to find Kiki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Where to find Elan:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

🥣 Follow Beny Yogurt:

• Website
• Instagram

Referenced:

• Alchemy: https://www.alchemy.com/
• Alpine Investors: https://alpineinvestors.com/
• Beny Yogurt: https://eatbeny.com/
• Blue Apron: https://www.blueapron.com/
• Stanford: https://www.stanford.edu/
• Mandy Ginsberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-ginsberg-b37b701/

Timestamps:

(1:39) Kiki and Elan’s childhood 
(3:26) The influence Kiki’s father had on her
(6:32) The world of D1 rowing 
(20:24) A friendship is born
(22:04) Why Elan is drawn to data 
(25:32) Kiki’s experiences in private equity
(29:42) What Elan learned as an Alchemy PM
(32:39) The origin of Beny 
(36:42) The late-twenties life crisis
(38:52) The first steps to selling yogurt
(45:17) Mentors that shaped the early days 
(49:13) Navigating co-founder conflict 
(57:51) The secrets behind Beny’s marketing
(64:23) What’s been most surprising so far 
(71:07) How Kiki and Elan define success

Mandy’s a true trailblazer who transformed how more than half of people today find romantic connections – through online dating and dating apps. As CEO of Match Group after its 2015 IPO, Mandy led the company's expanding portfolio of dating apps including Tinder, Match.com, OKCupid and Plenty of Fish, while later adding Hinge to establish Match Group as the dominant force in online dating, that owns over 45 dating apps and services. 

During her tenure, Mandy broke new ground as the first female CEO to conduct a comprehensive organizational pay audit to address gender wage disparities. 

Mandy holds a Bachelors degree from UC Berkeley in Spanish and English literature, and then went on to earn her MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton.

Currently, Mandy also serves on the boards of Uber, ThredUp, Universal Music Group and Flow Health, while working as an Operating Partner at Advent International, a global private equity investment firm.

In this episode, Carly chats with Mandy Ginsberg (former CEO of Match Group and Princeton Review). Mandy covers her competitive nature from childhood, her transition from marketing roles to executive positions, and the remarkable gender pay audit she conducted.

The conversation highlights Mandy’s commitment to transparent, authentic leadership, showcasing why she’s such a compelling figure in the tech and business world.

For a deeper dive into the episode, check out Carly's Substack: https://carlymalatskey.substack.com/

Where to find She Leads:

• Apple Podcasts
• Website
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Instagram
• X (Twitter)
• Substack

Where to find Carly:

• LinkedIn
• X (Twitter)

Where to find Mandy:

• LinkedIn

In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Introduction to Mandy Ginsberg
(02:36) Mandy's Upbringing
(04:04) The Influence of Powerful Woman on Mandy
(07:00) Navigating Berkeley & the woman's soccer team
(11:51) You work for a person, not a company
(14:20) Leadership hack: support your team
(15:14) Psychology of consumer tech
(16:14) Wharton Business school lessons
(23:12) Early professional career at i2
(26:00) Joining Match.com's Chemistry
(35:25) Mandy leading Match Group
(37:58) Imposter syndrome
(43:28) How to evaluate new opportunities
(51:18) Building culture at Match Group w/ Shar Dubey
(56:30) Conducting the pay audit 
(01:00:08) Advocate for yourself at work 
(01:03:02) The power of vulnerability at work  

Mandy's craft that she's spending a lifetime honing? Learning new sports 🎾

Referenced:

• Edelman
• Flow Health
• Hinge
• Match Group
• Meta (formerly Facebook)
• OkCupid
• Plenty of Fish
• Princeton Review
• Salesforce
• ThredUp

Resilience, Leadership, and Redefining Success with Farnaz Azmoodeh, CTO of Linktree.

In this episode of She Leads, Carly sits down with Farnaz Azmoodeh, the Chief Technology Officer of Linktree. Farnaz shares her remarkable journey, from growing up in Iran to becoming a leader in the tech industry. Her story highlights resilience, adaptability, and the transformative power of diverse leadership.

Join us as Farnaz reflects on her childhood, her passion for engineering, and her transition from technical roles to executive leadership. She also shares valuable insights into building a supportive work culture, fostering effective collaboration, and navigating challenges with a positive, gamified mindset.

Whether you’re an aspiring leader, a tech enthusiast, or simply looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with wisdom, vulnerability, and practical advice.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:52 – Introduction
• 02:03 – Farnaz's Early Life and Childhood in Iran
• 05:44 – Academic Journey and Introduction to Coding
• 08:53 – University Experience and Gender Dynamics in Engineering
• 12:18 – Transition to the United States and Cultural Adaptation
• 15:29 – Entering the Tech Industry and Joining Google
• 17:24 – Career Growth and Leadership at Google and Snap
• 23:09 – Reflecting on Tough Times and Resilience
• 25:50 – The Concept of Wartime Leadership
• 26:35 – "Bull in a China Shop": A Unique Leadership Style
• 28:12 – Building Relationships with Kindness
• 29:18 – Transitioning from Engineer to CTO
• 31:09 – Joining Linktree: A New Adventure
• 37:18 – Navigating Challenges with a Gamified Mindset
• 39:03 – Addressing Gender Disparities in Tech
• 42:09 – Redefining Success and Embracing Struggle
• 45:50 – The Art of Loving and Caring

Key Takeaways:

• How resilience shaped Farnaz’s journey from Iran to the U.S.
• The importance of adaptability in career transitions.
• Building strong work cultures and effective executive relationships.
• Addressing gender disparities and fostering diverse leadership styles.
• The evolving definition of success and finding joy in challenges.

Tune in to hear Farnaz’s inspiring story and her advice for aspiring leaders navigating their own unique journeys.

🎙️ Listen now on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | She Leads website

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Past guests include Margaret Wishingrad, Kara Goldin, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, Ann Miura Ko, Linda Avey, Sarah Leary, and many more.

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Ossa is the President of Aurora – a public company that provides self-driving technology for safe, accessible, and efficient transportation - with a market cap of ~ $9 billion dollars.

Prior to Aurora, Ossa spent over twenty years at innovative technology companies in high-growth industries, serving in both strategic and operational functions. Most recently, she served as president & COO of Istation, a leading education technology provider serving millions of students across the United States. Prior to Istation, Ossa served as senior vice president of strategy and analytics at the dominant dating company Match Group, known for such brands as match.com and Tinder. In addition, she spent almost a decade at global consulting firm Bain & Co, ultimately serving as a partner in the technology, media, and telecom practice. She began her career as an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs. 

Ossa also serves on the board of directors for Instructure, a public edtech company serving over 30 million users, and Hometown Ticketing, a digital ticketing company.

Ossa is a member of the Yale Alumni Association Board of Governors and has a bachelor’s in economics from Yale University, an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a master’s in education from Stanford Graduate School of Education.  She holds both Swedish and American citizenship and is fluent in both Swedish and English. She is also married with two teenage daughters.

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Past guests include Margaret Wishingrad, Kara Goldin, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, Ann Miura Ko, Linda Avey, Sarah Leary, Becky Sauerbrunn and many more.

Follow us on Instagram | LinkedIn | Youtube

Check out the She Leads website

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In Today's Episode with Ossa Fisher We Discuss:
1. Ossa's Upbringing and Passion for School
2. Early Professional Years at Goldman Sachs 
3. Choosing To Go To Stanford Business Schools + Masters In Education
4. Joining Consulting at Bain for 10+ years 
5. Decision-Making Formula: Will I Regret It in the Future?
6. Self-Advocacy at Bain
7. The Biological Clock Women Face
8. Lessons in Transitions from IC to Manager
9. Choosing to join Match Group 
10. Goal-Setting 
11. Transitions into C-Suite Executive + Navigating Restlessness
12. Joining Aurora and Leading A $10Bn Company 
13. Honing the Craft of Influence

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