Four of a Kind Podcast

This week’s episode features an interview with Rachael Wolfner, the owner of The Little Rad Wolf Boutique and the #MAMAWOLF Blog! The boutique and blog stems from Rachael’s desire to increase awareness around the joys and challenges of motherhood and passion to build a sustainable business.In this episode, Rachael shares her journey from school teacher, to NFL cheerleader, dance and cheer teacher to business builder. She expands on how her friends, network, and mentors influenced her success. She also speaks about truths of motherhood – including the bonds she’s built with other moms – and balancing a small business while managing a family. Tune in to hear Rachael’s inspiring story of how she brings her authentic self while reaching for her aspirations.Here’s where you can find out more about Rachael’s boutique:Website: The Little Rad Wolf BoutiqueBlog: #MAMAWOLF BlogInstagram: @thelittleradwolfEmail: the littleradwolf@gmail.comRachael’s friends’, mentors’, and sponsors’ boutiques mentioned in the episode: Brooke and Arrow and The Southern Gypsy RoseQuestions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com.Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode is a check-in with some of the wonderful female founders we interviewed on prior episodes of Four of a Kind Podcast. We wanted to see how they were holding up during COVID and also how their businesses were faring with such a major shift in the way we are conducting business during the pandemic. We asked our guests to answer the same four questions about the impact of COVID-19 on their businesses, and during the episode we share their answers with you.How has COVID impacted your business? What changes, if any, have you had to make in the short term?What have you learned so far from this experience?What surprised you the most about your business / your team / yourself during this time?Is there anything that you have had to do differently that you might keep doing?Note: We recorded this episode earlier this summer - we know the entrepreneurs we discussed have been managing their response to COVID realtime, so please make sure to checkout their platforms for the latest on new projects, products, and updates. Here’s how you can get in touch:Shruti Joshi, CEO/Co-Founder, Compell'dInstagram: @compelldTwitter: @compelldnow Website: Compelld.com LinkedIn Company Page: Compell'dDownload the App!!Shruti on LinkedIn: Shruti Joshi, CEO and Co-Founder at Compell'dAshley Connell, CEO/Co-Founder, Prowess ProjectInstagram: @ProwessProjectTwitter: @ProwessProjectWebsite: ProwessProject.comLinkedIn Company Page: Prowess ProjectCassy Saba Shovak, CEO/Co-Founder, Cassy Saba JewelryInstagram: @cassysabajewelryWebsite: Cassy Saba JewelryQuestions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with Trang Pham, Executive Director, Venture Lab of the University of Pennsylvania. Venture Lab is a resource for students across all of the University of Pennsylvania interested in entrepreneurship and education.In this episode, Trang talks about her background as an immigrant to the US, and her path from consultant, to supporting innovation in the federal government, and to her role today as Executive Director of the Venture Lab of the University of Pennsylvania. She tells us about the perspective of Venture Lab in educating and exposing students to not only the topics of entrepreneurship and innovation, but also the practice of entrepreneurship. Trang also gives great perspective on how we can attract and promote female entrepreneurs. Listen to hear the great story of an inspiring female leader, and the work she is doing to set the stage for the future generation of entrepreneurs. Here’s how you can get in touch with Trang and learn more about the Venture Lab:Website: Venture LabTwitter: Venture Lab on TwitterLinkedIn: Venture Lab on LinkedInQuestions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this week's minisode, we answer the question "What is hobby have your started or what new thing have you tried during the Stay at Home orders?"In an attempt for some lighter content during everyone's time at home, tune in to the episode to learn more about the new things your pod hosts are trying out!Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

What a crazy few weeks it has been! (Do we all start every email with that now, or is it just us?). In this week’s episode, we address the topic du jour, COVID-19, and specifically how it is impacting women in the workplace. We discuss some of the challenges we have heard from our female friends and colleagues as well as some bright spots and potential opportunities to accelerate change and equality at work. There are so many facets to this topic, and we know everyone's situation is different and there are challenges no matter where or who you are, but we hope we can use some of this time of major change to reflect and just talk! Here are the articles we mentioned in the episode:"Life after pandemic: How will coronavirus change us?", by Mike Bebernes, Yahoo News, April 7, 2020 "What's the Surprising Leadership Lesson in the COVID-19 Crisis?", by Joan Michelson, Forbes, March 28, 2020 "I Feel Like I Have Five Jobs: Moms Navigate the Pandemic", by Jessica Bennett, The New York Times, March 20, 2020 Here is an interesting podcast on the Future of Work that we also learned a lot from (and we reference some of the ideas in our episode)."The New Future of Work - A Conversation with Matt Mullenweg", Episode 197, Making Sense Podcast by Sam Harris, March 24, 2020.Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this week's minisode, we answer the question "If you had a time machine, would you go back in time or into the future and why?" Tune in and learn more about your pod hosts! Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with Anna Ratala, CEO and Co-founder of Zvook, an Antler portfolio company leveraging AI to monetize the long tail of podcasting industry by matching brands with podcasts based on target groups, brand alignment and relevance.In this episode, Anna talks about her experience and advice on moving across the globe to build out a startup from scratch. She also talks about finding her co-founders through Antler, which is a global startup generator and early-stage VC firm, as well as how the idea of Zvook came about. Here’s how you can get in touch with Anna and learn more about Zvook:anna@zvook.coWebsite: ZvookInstagram: Anna and Zvook Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this week's minisode, we answer the question "What upcoming trip(s) are you most excited above?" -- a very fitting question for all four of us with busy travel schedules.From work trips to personal getaway, learn more about your pod hosts! Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with Shruti Joshi, CEO and Co-Founder of Compell'd. Compell'd is an app that changes the way we experience and share authentic, personal recommendations.In this episode, we talk to Shruti about how she built a career in marketing - working in corporate America, in startups, and in consulting - before founding her own company. We also discuss Shruti's journey from intrapreneur to entrepreneur and how she found ways to drive innovation before starting Compell'd. We finally of course dive into the world of Compell'd. You will definitely want to become an experience collector after this episode. We didn't hesitate to jump onto this bandwagon!Shruti began her career at Verizon Communications. She was a Partner at Altman Vilandrie & Company, a consulting firm where she built the firm’s Marketing Analytics practice. She holds board positions with a number of organizations, including TVision Insights, Facet Wealth, Syntactx and the David Lynch Foundation. Shruti has an M.B.A from Columbia Business School and a B.S. in Business from the University of Southern California. Here’s how you can learn more about Compell'd and get in touch with Shruti:Instagram: @compelldTwitter: @compelldnow Website: Compelld.com LinkedIn Company Page: Compell'dDownload the App!!Shruti on LinkedIn: Shruti Joshi, CEO and Co-Founder at Compell'dQuestions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this week's minisode, we answer the question "If you could go anywhere in the world for a week, where would you go?". No concern for cost or physical safety!Our answers were literally and geographically all over the place.Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this week's Mini-Sode, we discuss McKinsey and LeanIn's annual "Women in the Workplace" report, released at the end of last year. The 2019 report focuses on the "broken rung" for women, which is at the manager level - well before the CEO and C-Suite roles.We share our (candid) thoughts on the report - including what surprised us and what did not about the latest data. We also discuss the solutions presented in the report and how we have seen those solutions work or not work. Finally, we share some of our ideas for how to drive change. We would love to hear what you thought about the report - please reach out and share, especially if you have ideas on how to solve the "broken rung"!Here are links to the 2019 "Women in the Workplace" Report:"Women in the Workplace 2019", October 2019, by McKinsey and Company and LeanIn.OrgHere is a summary of "Women in Workplace 2019" if you want to get a quick view of the highlights. Here is the article Kelcy mentioned:"Fostering Women Leaders: A Fitness Test for Your Top Team" by Lareina Yee, from McKinsey Quarterly, January 2015 Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with Ashley Connell, CEO and Founder of Prowess Project.In this episode, we talk with Ashley about the founding of Prowess Project, and how she is working to meet the needs of women who are reentering the workforce after time away. Ashley jumped into this challenge after working in Marketing roles in Tech companies, and also at her own marketing consultancy, and hasn't looked back. As Ashley says, she found it harder to stop working on Prowess Project during that first year, than it was to build it, so she continued to go with her gut and get Prowess Project up and running. Ashley also tells us about her experience working with Founder Institute in Austin - an incubator for startup ideas. Listen in to hear great advice from Ashley on starting a business, and get energized by her clear passion for her work! Here’s how you can get in touch with Ashley and learn more about Prowess Project:Instagram: @ProwessProjectTwitter: @ProwessProjectWebsite: ProwessProject.comLinkedIn Company Page: Prowess ProjectForbes article here: "Social Entrepreneur Creates Unique Talent Algorithm To Ensure Seamless Onboarding and Increased Business Team Success"Built In Austin's 50 Startups to Watch in 2020 article hereHere's how you can learn more about Founder Institute:Website: https://fi.co/Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this week's Mini-Sode, it is another "What We Learned" episode marking the mid-point in Season 2! We have had an awesome crew of guests this season and we always find it valuable to pause and reflect on .... you guessed it .... what we learned. From how to approach venture opportunities, making the best of unplanned events, the many varieties of entrepreneurship, seeking inspiration from unique sources, and more - so much to discuss!Thanks again to our guests so far this season: Sabine Hairabedian, Shelby Kemper, Rachel Stern DeJong, Erin Papworth, Mike Annunziata, Stephanie Gould Rabin, and Mike Cardamone.Here is book Kelcy mentioned:Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein - available on Amazon or your local bookstore Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with Michael Cardamone, CEO and Managing Partner of Acceleprise, which is a top B2B SaaS-focused accelerator (finishing 2019 with $1B+ total enterprise value across its portfolio). In this episode, Mike sheds some light on how startup accelerators work - from sourcing companies, the initial screening and due diligence, to the actual accelerator program, including finding mentors, etc. He also talks about important considerations for founders thinking about going through an accelerator program. Lastly, he provides some tangible advice that female founders can take to their next pitch! Here’s how you can get in touch with Mike and learn more about Acceleprise:Email: mike@acceleprise.vcTwitter: @MGCardamoneWebsite: AccelepriseQuestions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with Stephanie Gould Rabin, currently the Founder and Managing Partner of ViridianNYC.Stephanie is a proven Operations Executive with 25+ years of experience in Senior Leadership, Strategy and Analytical roles in Insurance, Insurtech and Professional Services. Her breadth of experience as an Operations Executive, combined with her being a credentialed actuary and organizational psychologist, has inspired Stephanie to start two companies. ViridianNYC targets fundamental gaps that companies have and identifies ways to bridge those gaps to achieve successful strategic change and growth as their fractional and strategic COO. Ment To Be is a new goal-oriented mentoring platform that builds a one-one match between mentor and mentee through signature industry events. In this episode, we talk with Stephanie about how she knew it was time not only to start ViridianNYC but also why she started a second venture, Ment To Be, around the same time. Here’s how you can get in touch with Stephanie and learn more about her companies:ViridianNYCMent To BeMent To Be on LinkedIn Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this week's Mini-Sode, we answer the question "What is your Myers-Briggs type?". We all took the test in advance, so the question was not quite off the cuff this week, but there is still so much to discuss with Myers-Briggs (MB) tests, and personality tests generally. Tell us your Myers-Briggs type by sending an email to fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com!Given this mini-sode is a little longer than the others, we have some time markers below if you want to jump to a particular part of the episode!If you already know what all about MB personality types and you're just dying to learn about our results, feel free to skip through our introduction straight to 6:15.If you're really in a rush today and want to skip to the discussion, including how we think MB and other personality tests can impact women in leadership individually and holistically head to 18:25.Here are links to the Myers-Briggs test and the 16 Personalities test result descriptions - which both use the same E/I N/S T/F J/P format. Note you have to pay to take the official Myers-Briggs test, but we found the 16 Personalities test to be very similar (and it is free!).Myers Briggs FoundationMBTI BasicsMBTI Online Test - We suggest checking with your employer or if your career center if you are a student to see if they have an access code or other discount for the test16 Personalities 16 Personalities Free Test16 Personalities Type DescriptionsOther facts we mentioned:Approx 2% is ENTJ (https://www.truity.com/personality-type/ENTJ)Approx 1% is INTJ (https://introvertdear.com/news/infj-secrets/)Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with Mike Annunziata, Co-Founder and CEO of Farther Farms.In this episode, we talk with Mike Annunziata about all things investing and startups. Mike is the Co-Founder and CEO of Farther Farms, and they are building technologies to improve the way food is made. Before Farther Farms, Mike spent his career on the investing "side of the table". Mike also continues to do his own investing as well, as he says, paying it forward, and talks about one of the female-founded companies he has invested in, Atolla. Tune in to this week's episode to listen to our discussion with Mike and his unique perspective as both a Founder pitching his business, as well as an investor looking to bet on the right business partners. Here is the Lines, not Dots article Mike referenced during the episode, as well as some other useful links:"Invest in Lines, Not Dots" by Mark Suster of Upfront Ventures Dorm Room FundFirst Round Fast Track Mentor ProgramHere’s how you can get in touch with Mike and learn more about his company:mike@fartherfarms.comFarther FarmsHere’s how you can get in touch with Meg and Sid and learn more about Atolla (Atolla is a female-founded company that Mike is an investor in).@atollaskinlab on InstagramAtolla - Meg and Sid create personalized serum based on a proprietary skin evaluationQuestions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with Erin Papworth, Founder and CEO of fintech startup Nav.it.In this episode, Erin shares the genesis of Nav.it as she follows her passion to solve for the huge gap in women's financial wealth as a result of the infrastructure we inherited, including the impact of career pauses. She talks about the importance of financial stability, getting into investing early in your career, and being patient. She also talks about her experience fundraising as a female founder of a female-forward fintech startup, which has proven to be extra challenging. Here’s how you can get in touch with Erin and learn more about her company:Erin@Nav.it.comNav.itYou can also check out the crunchbase article that Grace mentioned here, which discusses the amount and level of venture capital funding being poured into startups with at least one female founder as well as female-only founded startups.Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this Mini-Sode, we answer the question “What was your first job and what did you learn from it?”We all learned valuable lessons from our first jobs before college that we took with us and continue to apply in our current "grown-up" jobs.Grace was unable to join our recording so we asked her to share it below. We tried to guess it, but we were only half-right. "Great guesses from my co-hosts! While I did coach basketball in the Winnipeg Minor Basketball league, it wasn't my first job so you guys are wrong! My first job was at an internet pharmacy company filling prescriptions for patients and filing physical files (tons of paper cuts!). What I learned? Well, I learned that physicians have the worst handwriting. More importantly, I learned early on a couple of things: 1) attention to detail and 2) coping with a fast-paced environment. Sometimes, the volume of orders we get was overwhelming. But because patients rely on you to get them their prescriptions on time, being able to work efficiently and under time-pressure was key."Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features Rachel Stern DeJong who co-owns Academic Tutoring Centers in Highland Park, IL. In this episode, Rachel shares her journey and discusses how she transitioned from teaching in Manhattan to becoming a business owner. Through the introduction by family members and the support of a mentor Patsy Prince, Rachel and her husband embody Patsy's philosophy of helping students translate their hard work into confidence and success. Rachel explores how following her passion allows her and her husband to achieve success in their careers and balance life and family pursuits. To get in touch with Rachel or to find out more about ATC visit the website here:https://academictutoringcenters.com/Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this Mini-Sode, we answer the question “What would you do with an extra hour in your day?”.This question is particularly relevant today (Friday, November 1) because this weekend is Daylight Savings! We did not even plan it (!!!) but it worked out really well. It can be hard to find that extra hour, or even few minutes, when days feel jam packed with obligations, but this question gave us an opportunity to think about how we manage our time. Even though we will have an extra hour this weekend, an extra hour to ourselves is probably something to strive for every week.Finally, we kept this episode short and sweet so that all of you can go find an extra hour in your day too!Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with Dr. Shelby Kemper.In this episode, Shelby tells us all about her experience founding both a non-profit health organization, as well as her experience leading a for-profit global health consulting firm, and all of the similarities (and of course the differences ... access to toilet paper is a big one) between the two.Dr. Shelby Kemper is the Board Chair and co-founder of CU Peru, a 501c3 organization, that educates rural community health workers in the Peruvian Amazon to triage patients and employ preventative public health practices to empower their communities. She is also a Founding Board Member of Bridge to Health USA. She works as a public health professional and pharmacist as a consultant with her business, Kemper Pharmaceutical Services, which focuses on health systems strengthening and the improvement of access and utilization of pharmaceuticals in low- and middle-income countries.Dr. Kemper received her MPH at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and her PharmD from the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She currently resides in Marina del Rey, CA and enjoys pilates, traveling and spending time at the beach. Here’s how you can get in touch with Shelby and learn more about CU Peru and Bridge to Health:Reach out to Shelby on LinkedInLearn more about CU PeruLearn more about Bridge to HealthQuestions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s Mni-Sode is a quick update on our wishes, hopes and dreams for Season 2 of the podcast.In this episode, we first have a very special announcement (hint: we may need to be called FIVE of a Kind Podcast). We then each share what we are most excited about for Season 2... but no picking a favorite guest! We would also love to hear what you are most excited about for Season 2, so please reach out and let us know.Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with Sabine Hairabedian, Founder and CEO of Abely LLC. In this episode, Sabine talks about her journey from engineering to spending a decade in finance to founding her own company. She faced a number of challenges, including losing her credit trading job and being diagnosed with breast cancer. After her experience recovering from a major surgery and successfully beating cancer, she was inspired to found Abely, a medtech startup aimed to help patients maintain their mobility and independence. Sabine also talks about how to best handle challenges and situations that are out of your control as well as her personal experience balancing running a company and being a mom. Here’s how you can get in touch with Sabine and learn more about her company:Sabine@theliftmeup.comAlternative to Hospital Bed? Medtrade Providers’ Choice Award Winner Offers InnovationAbelyQuestions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week marks our 25th Episode!!! It also marks our Season One Finale!It has been an honor to share our love of business and entrepreneurship with you. And while 25 sounds like a lot of episodes, we still have so much more coming your way for Season Two this fall.Our season finale is another "What We Learned" episode. In this episode, not only do we explore what we learned from our guests, particularly Rachna, MJ, and Zoi, but also what we learned as podcasters (i.e. baby entrepreneurs) starting a new venture and what we learned about ourselves taking on this new challenge.We have enjoyed every second of building our podcast community and can't wait to continue this fall. In the meantime, please continue to reach out, engage, and share ideas. Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram for updates! And finally, don’t forget to hit subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or Stitcher.Thanks everyone for your support and stay tuned for Season Two of Four of a Kind Podcast!

On this week's episode of Four of a Kind, we interview Bambino's Baby Food Founder and CEO Zoi Maroudas. Bambino's Baby Food is focused on creating healthy and organic meals with the key considerations of infant nutrition, reducing childhood allergies, and addressing obesity concerns. Hear about Zoi's journey starting the company, her insights into what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and her experiences as a female founder.Zoi has been involved in the food industry since she was a child, from growing up with parents who were organic farmers in Greece, to being part of the family restaurant business, to studying medicine and nutrition. She has a 360-degree view of the industry and is a leader in practices such as healthy conscious manufacturing, early childhood eating habits, and well-rounded infant and toddler meals.Zoi manufactures Bambino’s Baby Food in Anchorage, Alaska where she lives with her husband, Andreas and two small children. Get in touch with Zoi and Bambino's Baby Food!You can find Zoi's products on her website - Bambino's Baby FoodYou can connect with Zoi on LinkedInPress release on Infant ActQuestions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. And don’t forget to hit subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or Stitcher and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this Mini-Sode, Kelcy gets some advice. How do you track your accomplishments? Many companies have set review cycles, but would you be able to give a 3 minute update on your accomplishments to date if asked on the spot? Hear about some good tricks and tips for keeping track of accomplishments and positive feedback, so that it is never an exercise in testing your memory. As always, if you have any questions or comments, or suggestions on episode topics and/or guests, please email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to hit subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcast, Spotify or Stitcher and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with the very impressive Mee-Jung Jang (MJ) of Techstars, which is a top startup accelerator. In this episode, MJ talks about important considerations for raising venture capital, tips on finding potential investors and how founders can help drive the funding process. Last but not the least, she shares her story on how she landed her Techstars MD role.Prior to investing, MJ was a hedge fund analyst, a book author, a corporate lawyer, and a startup founder. She went to Harvard for undergrad and Yale Law. If you’d like to get in touch with MJ, particularly insurtech founders who want to pitch your startups, you can reach out to her on Twitter @MeeJungJang.Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. And don’t forget to hit subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or Stitcher and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this Mini-Sode, we dive into the skill sets we all wish we had, answering the question of what expertise we would ask for, with the snap of our fingers. None of us used the classic wish - wishing for more wishes - but just wait until our newfound expertise comes true, and then get yourself invited to Michelle's house!As always, if you have any questions or comments, or suggestions on episode topics and/or guests, please email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to hit subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcast, Spotify or Stitcher and follow us on Instagram for updates!

Happy 4th of July! We hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy the Thursday holiday (here in the US!). We are taking a little break this week too, but we will be back with our regular podcast schedule next Friday, July 12th. Talk soon!Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this week’s episode, Grace and Lauren interview Rachna Govani, founder and CEO of Foodstand. She talks about her experience building her foundation in corporate America before turning to entrepreneurship, fundraising for her startup (including helpful tips for entrepreneurs looking to raise capital), going through an accelerator program run by Backstage Capital, and finally getting acquired by digital health company Diet ID. Here are a few additional links you can check out:Download the Foodstand app here!You can connect with Rachna on LinkedIn or Twitter. Backstage Capital is a venture capital fund dedicated to underrepresented founders. Questions or comments? Email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this Mini-Sode, we talk about whether we are introverts or extroverts, or, most likely, somewhere in the middle. We also discuss how our perspectives may differ at work, and after all the back and forth, that self-awareness really is the key.You may (or may not) be surprised by what you hear, especially since we are talking about this on a very public podcast platform! Here is the book we mentioned:Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain available on AmazonCheck out some interesting articles on Introverts and Extroverts at Work and in Entrepreneurship:Fast Company 11/14/17: Introvert or Extrovert, Successful Entrepreneurs Share These 5 Traits by Harvey DeutschendorfEntrepreneur.com 9/11/17: Do Extroverts Have an Advantage in Entrepreneurship? by Jason DeMersInc. 7/9/14: Effective Management: Extroverts Versus Introverts by Rhett PowerAs always, if you have any questions or comments, or suggestions on episode topics and/or guests, please email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to hit subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcast, Spotify or Stitcher and follow us on Instagram for updates!

On today's inaugural What We Learned episode, the four of us are back together to discuss our biggest takeaways on starting a business based on the interviews with our guests so far this season.Is entrepreneurship in your blood? What did our guests have in common? We also discuss side hustles, taking the leap, raising capital, steep startup learning curves and constant networking ... just to name a few things.A few helpful links on topics/items we mentioned during the episode in case you want to read up on further details:Are Entrepreneurs Born -- or Made? Research Says 'Born.' But There's a Catch.9 Global Businesses That Began as Side Hustles and How They StartedThe Side Hustle ShowIn Q1 2019, 17% of venture capital dollars went to companies with at least one female founder. Of that, 2% was invested in only female founders.And of course, we are grateful to our first round of guests - Jen, Nicki, Cassy, Genienne, Pat, and Brendan - for joining us on our podcasting adventure and sharing their experiences with the Four of a Kind community. As always, if you have any questions or comments, or suggestions on episode topics and/or guests, please email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to hit subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcast, Spotify or Stitcher and follow us on Instagram for updates!

Time for another mini-sode! Kelcy asks the group "what other podcasts do you listen to?" While Four of a Kind Podcast is clearly our favorite, we listen to a wide range of other podcasts from quick 10-minute market news to venture capital-focused podcasts to murder stories (Kelcy is not a fan of this one). Check it out to discover other podcasts that you might want to listen to! After listening to ours ;) Send us an email and tell us your favorite podcast(s) at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com! Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates.

In this episode, Grace interviews former Major Leaguer, sportstech investor, and Wharton MBA grad Brendan Harris. He talks about his journey from playing on the field to his current career off the field, some of the most valuable lessons he learned from professional baseball that he’s been applying in the business world, as well as his thoughts on women in sports.Here are a few helpful links and ways to get in touch with Brendan:Brendan currently serves as an Athlete in Residence for venture firm SeventySix Capital. He is also an angel investor and advises sportstech startups so reach out to him if you would like to pitch your idea!You can reach out to Brendan on LinkedIn, Twitter, or through his website.Stay tuned for Brendan’s baseball clinic here and feel free to reach out to him if you would like to be one of the sponsors. Brendan mentioned an organization called WISE: Women in Sports and Events (a resource for professional women in the business of sports).As always, if you have any questions or comments, or suggestions on episode topics and/or guests, please email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to hit subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcast, Spotify or Stitcher and follow us on Instagram for updates!

Time for another minisode and this one does not feature a surprise question. As mentioned in our last minisode, we wanted to continue the discussion on what brought us together in the first place - and that is business school! Tune in to hear our stories and learn what drove us to get our MBA. Maybe we can do another mini-sode on why we chose Wharton ;)We are happy to answer questions or be a sounding board for those contemplating to go to business school. Feel free to email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

The Four of A Kind team will be back in action next Friday, so join in for a new episode then!Be sure to follow us on instagram @fourofakindpodcast for updates in the meantime. Also, email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com if you have any questions you would like us to address on future episodes.

In this episode of Four of a Kind Podcast, Michelle and Kelcy interview Patrick DePeters. We talk with Pat about how he made the transition from investment banking analyst to CFO to founding his first company. Pat tells us about the letter he wrote his parents asking them to "hold him accountable" to his dream of becoming an entrepreneur. He also shares some great advice on how to think about building a transferable skill set, and how to get up the learning curve for new skills quickly.Pat is the Founder and CEO of Owl Ridge Group, a boutique consultancy and venture investment company, working with startup and growth stage companies. Prior to founding Owl Ridge Group, Pat was the CFO of several startup companies, including BondIt Media Capital, a specialty lender to film and media industry, and Buffalo 8, a media production company. Pat started his career in investment banking, working for MUFG in both New York and London.If you have any questions or comments, or just want to share a story, please email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

On this mini-sode, we skipped the usual surprise question and decided to provide a quick bio of ourselves based on feedback we received from you, our listeners! It's never too late to do a formal introduction, right?While we have similarities such as our dedication to give back to the community, our love for sports and staying active, as well as getting our MBA from the Wharton School, we all come from different industries and have unique experiences that we bring to the table.If you have any questions or comments, or just want to share a story, please email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week’s episode features an interview with Cassy Saba Shovak, the founder and CEO of Cassy Saba Jewelry. She talks about how she started her company at the age of 12 and her journey from hustling in her home state Arizona, knocking on local stores, to expanding her business and working her way to NYC's infamous diamond district. She has been featured in over 80 magazines, including ELLE magazine, and has designed pieces for celebrities including Beyoncé, Jennifer Lawrence, and Melissa McCarthy. You can check out Cassy’s jewelry on her website or on Instagram. If you have any questions or comments, or just want to share a story, please email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

This week's episode features an interview with GeNienne Samuels, an accomplished businesswoman and serial entrepreneur. GeNienne is the President and CEO of both GS Consulting & Communications, Inc. a BPR (Business Process Reengineering), quality and process improvement management-consulting firm and Sideline Prep, an NFL/NBA professional cheer/dance coaching company. In her "spare" time, she is an Anchor and Reporter for Prince George’s County CTV-News in Maryland and the In Arena Host for the AFL’s Baltimore Brigade. Finally, GeNienne was a professional cheerleader/dancer for 11 years, for the NFL’s Washington Redskins Cheerleaders and the NBA’s Washington Wizard Girls. Here are a few things we discussed throughout the episode:Learn more about GeNienne's company, Sideline Prep! GeNienne mentions a few great mentors that have helped her along the way including: Ryan Levesque and Bill GlazerA few good books that are must reads: Success is Not by Accident and The Big Leap, both of which can be found on Amazon! If you have any questions or comments, or just want to share a story, please email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com.Don't forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In our fifth mini-sode, Michelle asks the group "what is the nerdiest thing you’ve done?" Only one of us pursued a STEM degree (Lauren was a Math major), but it turns out, we all love Math! Also, one of us got chess lessons as a kid (and no, it wasn’t Grace). Check it out to find out who did and learn more about your Four of a Kind Podcast hosts! If you have any questions or comments, or want to share your nerdy story with us, please email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In this week’s episode, Grace and Michelle interview Nicki Carrea, the founder and CEO of Genuine Glow. She talks about her experience working at a Fortune 500 company and how she applied that experience to building her own company and growing it to a $2M business in less than four years. She also shares two pieces of advice she received from her mentors that she thinks about frequently as well as a few tips for those looking to start their own companies. You can connect with Nicki on LinkedIn and/or check out Genuine Glow’s website here. Here are a couple of tidbits of information that we referenced during this episode in case you’d like to check them out:Great news! Two female-founded startups (Glossier and Rent The Runway) recently entered the unicorn status, being valued at $1.2 billion and $1 billion, respectively, as reported by TechCrunch. Not so good news… According to All Raise, only 9% of US VCs are women (this includes partners, GPs and MDs with check-writing abilities at firms with fund size > $25M). But the good news is… Your Four of a Kind hosts (especially Grace) and many others out there are very passionate about improving that! If you have any questions or comments, or just want to share a story, please email us at fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram for updates!

In our fourth mini-sode, Lauren asks the group "what is your favorite board game and why?" Check it out to learn a bit more about your Four of a Kind Podcast hosts and also learn about fun board games that you can try for game nights! Turns out we are all a little ... maybe a lot... competitive!Here are the Board Games we mentioned if you want to check them out:Ticket to RideTerra MysticaChess ... no link for this one :) TabooTravel Size BoggleIf you have any questions or comments or just want to share with us what your favorite board game is, please email us (fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com) or find us on Instagram (@fourofakindpodcast).

This episode is our first interview episode! In this episode, Lauren interviews our good friend Jen Vaziralli. Jen has awesome perspective on so many important topics, including a couple we have discussed already such as risk-taking and mentorship. She also shares her story as a young, female Chief Revenue Officer at three different startups, her transition to a new role as a college professor of management and accelerator advisor, and her journey to start her own company. Here are a few helpful tidbits of information we referenced throughout this episode:Angel Investing: What is an accredited investor... from the Angel Capital Association: "individual net worth or joint net worth with that person's spouse at the time of his purchase exceeds $1,000,000 excluding the value of the primary residence"; OR "Any natural person who had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with that person's spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year;"Some more sites to check out:Jen is on the Board of Directors of Women in Venture, an organization committed to closing the funding gap for women by increasing the number of and success of women led investments and businesses.This article from Fortune sharing quotes from 21 female venture capitalists on their experiences in the industry -- "21 Female Venture Capitalists on Investing, Diversity, and the Value of Independent Thought"If you have questions or comments or just want to share a story, please email us (fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com) or message us on Instagram (@fourofakindpodcast). PS - Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!

In our third mini-sode, Grace asks the group "when people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?" Check it out to learn a bit more about your Four of a Kind Podcast hosts and ask yourself the same question. That might help you recognize one of your strengths that you didn't realize you had! If you have any questions or comments or just want to share what type of advice or help your friends, colleagues, and family usually come to you for, please email us (fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com) or find us on Instagram (@fourofakindpodcast).

In this episode of Four of a Kind Podcast, we talk all about mentorship. Why it's important, what we have learned about the best way to go about finding a mentor, and what we might do a little differently if we could talk to our younger selves. Here are a few helpful tidbits of information we referenced throughout this episode:The different kinds of mentors you need - "5 Types of Business Mentors Who Will Help You Achieve Your Goals" by Tony Tjan at Inc.com Sponsors versus mentors - "Manager and Mentor - Knowing the Difference" on MentorCloudIf you have questions or comments or just want to share a story, please email us (fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com) or find us on Instagram (@fourofakindpodcast). P.S. In case you're wondering why Grace disappeared during the second half of this episode, she had to drop off for Big Night Out 2019 – an annual gala in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC, which happens to be an organization that provides mentors to underprivileged children!

In our second mini-sode, Kelcy asks the group a quick question ... when you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Spoiler alert, none of us thought we would be hosting a podcast! Check it out to learn a bit more about your Four of a Kind Podcast hosts.If you have questions or comments or just want to share what your career aspirations when when you were a kid, please email us (fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com) or find us on Instagram (@fourofakindpodcast).

Risk-taking is something that a lot of people struggle with, including us, in both business and their daily life. This week, we describe our comfort level with risk (we're all on different points of the spectrum!), our experience with some big decisions, and we provide some tips and frameworks that we have found helpful in assessing risk and making decisions. Here are a few helpful tidbits of information we referenced throughout this episode:Interview with Samuel Adams founder Jim Koch - “How I Built This” podcast with Samuel Adams founder Jim Koch Tim Ferriss on focusing on the worst possible outcome, and then how to mitigate it - "How to Push Past Your Biggest Anxieties and Act", by Tim FerrissThe Four Quadrant Approach - "How to Make Decisions with 4 Quadrants" (The Eisenhower box is actually slightly different - about how to delegate tasks... but also super interesting!).We didn't discuss this one, but here is another interesting article relating to risk and entrepreneurship - 7 Risks Every Entrepreneur Must Take by Jayson DeMers. If you have questions or comments or just want to share a story, please email us (fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com) or find us on Instagram (@fourofakindpodcast).

In our first mini-sode (i.e. mini-episode), Michelle asks the group a quick question ... if given the chance, what company would we start tomorrow? Given no prep time, our answers are a bit all over the place! From vineyards to healthtech, to insurance and sunscreen! Check it out to learn a bit more about your Four of a Kind Podcast hosts.

On this episode of Four of a Kind, we talk about the role of mission statements - creating them (and how long it took us to get ours nailed down!), the impact on strategy, and how they may or may not vary industry to industry -- we had some different views on that!We referenced a few things in our episode:The definition of "entrepreneur" according to this article at Business News Daily"The Originals" by Adam Grant - check it out on AmazonIf you have questions or comments or just want to share a story, you can email us (fourofakindpodcast@gmail.com) or find us on Instagram (@fourofakindpodcast).