She Leads with Carly

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 Sourmilk 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 Sourmilk. 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 Sourmilk Yogurt:

• Website
• Instagram

Referenced:

• Alchemy: https://www.alchemy.com/
• Alpine Investors: https://alpineinvestors.com/
• Sourmilk Yogurt: https://www.sourmilk.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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Maureen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Baobab Studios, a 10-time Emmy winning interactive animation company that blends cutting edge technology (AI, metaverse, mixed reality) with storytelling. 

Baobab Studios was named Fast Company’s 2018 Most innovative company and the industry leader in merging gaming and Hollywood after winning 4 interactive Emmys. 

With Baobab, Maureen has created projects that have attracted incredible talent - including Oprah. John Legend, Kate Winslet and Ali Wong. 

Before founding Baobab, Maureen earned her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in a self-designed major that combined arts, computer science, and psychology. After Stanford, she held senior product and UI roles at ebay and also helped birth the social casual games revolution as Zynga’s VP of Games, overseeing the original Farmville franchise.

She also interned at Pixar while completing her master’s degree at Harvard Business School.

Maureen’s work has earned her recognition as one of Ad Age’s Most Creative People of the Year, Gold House’s Top 100 Influential Asians, and Variety’s Executive to Watch and Top Digital Creative lists.

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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 Maureen Fan We Discuss:
1. Maureen's Upbringing and Values Instilled 
2. Early Adversity in Assimilation with Asian Identity
3. Conflict between Passion and Job Security 
4. Attending Stanford University: Creating Her Own Major 
5. The Power of Champions and Mentorship
6. How To Ask for a Mentor
7. The Value of Business School: Is It Worth It?
8. Doing the Dirty Work in Hollywood
9. Transition into Tech at Ebay and Zynga 
10. Founding Baobab Studies 
11. Building Self-Esteem + Confidence as a Founder 

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Lara leads all things marketing, partnerships, business development and communications at Linktree, a platform that allows creators to build personalized landing pages with multiple links to all of their content.

Before joining Linktree, Lara spent a decade at Twitter (now known as X), where she served as Global VP of Partners & Marketing. In her early days at Twitter, she was the Head of Entertainment and Lifestyle Partnerships, where she shaped and redefined Twitter’s narrative for talent and entertainment partners.

One of her standout achievements in this role was spearheading the iconic activation of Ellen DeGeneres’ selfie at the 2014 Oscars.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Rochester and began her career as Editorial Director at US Weekly, back when it was owned by Wenner Media.

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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 Lara Cohen We Discuss:
1. Lara's Upbringing
2. Career + College Aspirations in Political Journalism
3. Early Career at US Weekly - Entertainment Journalism
4. Entertainment Media Pre-Social Media
5. Journalism Culture: Deadlines, Constant Grinding, Hustle.
6. Transition from Conventional Journalism into Tech at Twitter
7. The Genesis of the Iconic Ellen Degeneres Selfie at the Oscars
8. The Value of Being the Non-Technical One in the Room
9. The Power of Storytelling in Marketing
10. The Rise and Implications of the Creator Economy
11. Twitter Under Elon's Takeover
11. Linktree's Campaign for Voter Registration is LIVE! To find out more information, check out the Linktree blog and this USA Today article

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Renee is the Founder & CEO of Amazi Foods, a mindful tropical-fruit food company that works directly with small businesses and farmers groups in Uganda to make these delicious snacks that are bringing some much-needed excitement into the dried fruit category. 

Amazi originated largely from Renee’s college trip to Uganda where she completed her thesis research. She noticed that there were many delicious local organic fruits - something that wasn’t prevalent in the states. However, the local markets had very limited access outside Uganda. The supply chains were broken. Now, Renee is dedicated to building a better supply chain and supporting economic development in Uganda. 

Fast forward a few more years, Amazi has sourced from over 300 farmers in Uganda with more than half being women, and is in top retailers like Amazon, Wegmans and soon to be Whole Foods Market. 

Renee earned her Bachelors degree in Economics and the College of Social Studies from Wesleyan University. A fun fact: on the side, Renee has also been a fitness guru for most of her life  – working as a lead strength trainer and yoga teacher. 

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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 Renee Dunn We Discuss:
1. Renee's Upbringing + Family Values 
2. Study Abroad Experience at Uganda 
3. Forming a Thesis Around Local Entrepreneurship
4. Challenges and Gaps in the Local Ugandan Food Markets
5. Navigating the Quarter-Life Crisis at 25yo
6. Transition from Yoga to Founder
7. Knowing Nothing About the Food Industry to Being a CPG Founder
8. Amazi Foods Founding Story
9. The Challenges and Lessons of Founding as a Solo Founder
10. Life and Entrepreneurship is an Infinity Sign

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