Gen Z Girlies

This week's episode features Mariana Antaya, the founder at fintech startup quantifAI and a product manager at Microsoft Teams. She loves to mentor aspiring product managers and founders on their journey through their career. We talk straddling the corporate & startup world, what it's like to be a product manager, and how to get your start in both entrepreneurship and big tech. Connect with Mariana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianaantaya/

This week's episode features Aryaa, a student at the NYU Stern School of Business and the Founder & CEO of SparkTank, an immersive entrepreneurship accelerator removing systematic barriers to empower Gen Z to build, launch, and scale unicorn startups. She is an ISEF Finalist, DECA ICDC World Champion, and Stamps President's Scholar Recipient. We talk being a student, entrepreneur, founder, and what it's like to start a Gen Z startup accelerator. Get Involved: SparkTank (The Immersive, Gen Z Startup Accelerator. Built by Entrepreneurs, For Entrepreneurs) at thesparktank.org. Connect with Aryaa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aryaaagarwal/

This week's episode feature Zehra, the founder of The Z List and Head of Founder Community at Republic. As a Columbia alumni with a B.A. in Financial Economics and Art History, Zehra spent much of her early career working with startups (nearly 14 total). On this episode, we talk The Z List, founder community, VC, and so much more! This is one episode you definitley do not want to miss.

This week's episode feature Natalie Neptune, founder of The Group Chat Queen and a 2023 Top LinkedIn Voice for Next Gen. Studying civil engineering at Penn State, she relishes virtual coffee chats. Former VC intern at 7wireVentures and UC Berkeley startups contributor, she's completed three research projects and now consults on community engagement. On this episode, we talk group chats, global community, and breaking into venture capital.

This week's episode features Annie Long, a 16 year old Boston-based content creator who has managed to amass over 450,000 subscribers on YouTube. In addition to Annie's content creation, she is also an entrepreneur and high school student with the mission to help Gen Z young women leverage their youth through purpose-driven productivity. On this episode, we talk all things building a personal brand, content creation, being a high-schooler, the creator economy, and entrepreneurship.

This week's episode features Michelle Fang, Head of Social at Safara, a Sequoia-backed startup. In addition to Michelle's role as Head of Social at Safara and she is also a community builder based in San Francisco. She focuses on content, growth and community at Safara, a Sequoia-backed hotel cashback app. She was previously CMO at a consumer social startup, consulted Fortune 500 companies on marketing & digital strategy, and co-founded community group houses for founders & investors in LA/SF On this episode, we talk all things startups and social media!

This week's episode features Eve Halimi, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Alinea Invest. Eve Halimi is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Alinea, an investing app created for Gen Z's which allows users to grow their money by investing in what matters to them. She gained extensive experience empowering brands to build better digital experiences working in strategy at Contentsquare, a growth stage data analytics startup, bringing that expertise to Alinea. Prior to creating Alinea, Halimi held multiple positions at financial institutions and hedge funds such as Goldman Sachs and Boussard & Gavaudan. She founded her first community-based application at the age of 15. Alinea is backed by Y Combinator, Harvard, Kima, Goodwater and many other leading investors. On this episode, we talk all things startups and investing!

This week's episode features Steph Lechman, a Senior Talent Manager at Galaxy Racer North America. Steph is working with Galaxy Racer NA to discover creators to join the #HERgalaxy Initiative– an effort from GXR working to end the immense gender disparity in gaming. She works with these creators to develop their audiences, build their personal brands, and achieve their growth and engagement goals. On this episode, we talk all things gaming, talent management, and the creator economy!

This week's episode features Audrey Wisch, the Co-founder and CEO of Curious Cardinals (https://www.curiouscardinals.com/), a network of brilliant college mentors to guide and inspire k-12 students. Audrey Wisch paused her studies at Stanford University to pursue Curious Cardinals, chasing her dreams to help K-12 students unlock their greatest potential and to also provide college students with meaningful work. After teaching her first workshop on mass incarceration to high school students at the start of the 2020 pandemic, Audrey mobilized her most ambitious peers at Stanford and beyond to share topics they were passionate about to K-12 students. Since then Audrey has spoken on CNN (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHniFMV1j9k) and in Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereknewton/2020/12/11/these-young-entrepreneurs-are-turning-learning-fires-into-profit/?sh=467d2959352d) to share her vision to create a community of lifelong learners and doers. Curious Cardinals has now raised $6.8 million in seed funding led by Anthos Capital and Audacious Ventures. She was recognized in the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 Education and Youngest category (https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2022/education?profile=curious-cardinals).

This week's episode features Celine Chai, the Co-Founder/CEO of NinetyEight, a Gen Z Marketing Agency. Celine now leads all operational efforts at NinetyEight and specializes in account/project management, research & insights, and influencer marketing. Her work with NinetyEight has been recognized by publications including CampaignUS, Fortune, and BBC. On this episode we talk BTS of her company, how she balances everything, and her advice on the future of work for Gen Zers. Make sure you connect with NinetyEight on IG @ninetyeightla or at www.ninetyeightla.com. They also have a program called The Koi Pond where Gen Zers can partner with the agency and be entered to win money. Find out more here: https://www.ninetyeightla.com/koi-pond-gen-z! You can find a few articles that Celine is featured in below: https://fortune.com/2022/01/20/8-up-and-coming-gen-z-founders-to-watch-right-now/?t7df1k https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cg9m9d https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/744166-7-gen-z-entrepreneurs-look-inspiration

This week's episode features Annie Brown, a broadcast television anchor and reporter for ABC 36 in Lexington, KY. A graduate of Asbury University, Annie has a deep love for telling the stories of her community. On this episode, we talk news anchoring, reporting, work ethic, and setting boundaries. Make sure you connect with Annie on IG @annielbrown!

This week's episode features Paulina Gómez, a Product Design Engineer from Medellín, Colombia. She is currently doing her master's in Entrepreneurship while working as a co-founder of Gea, a startup whose mission is to develop solutions focused around the menstrual cycle. On this episode, we talk entrepreneurship, doing things even when you're scared, and all about menstruation. Make sure you connect with Paulina on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulina-g%C3%B3mez-1b0a7320b/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/paulinagomezv/!

This week's episode features Carolyn McMurray, a 22-year-old freelance copywriter. Carolyn spends most of her days holed up in bed writing stuff for brands in her PJs (think blogs, emails, and newsletters) but when she's not staring down a blank Google Doc in a Hello Kitty onesie, you can find her working on Word Tonic - a community & learning hub for young aspiring copywriters & GEN-Z copywriters. Oh, and she also surfs. On this episode, we talk imposter syndrome, what the hell copywriting actually is, building a community for Gen Z copywriters, and managing burnout. Make sure you check out Carolyn's Copywriting community at https://www.wordtoniccommunity.com/ and Carolyn on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-copywriter/ or on IG @thewordtonic!

This week's episode features Alana Kilmartin, the author of Unserious Careers: a book for how to navigate the first 5 years of your career. She is wildly passionate about how we can use work to create epic lives when we leave school and is a fan of all things gap years, travel and snowboarding! On this episode, we talk how Alana came up with the idea for Unserious Careers, taking gap years, and her advice for Gen Zers. Make sure you check out Unserious Careers at https://www.unseriouscareers.com/!

This week's episode features Yin Qi, a product designer and founder who fell in love with boxing. When she couldn't find boxing equipment that fit her right so she decided to design her own! Her love for design, marketing, and boxing manifested into KoStudio, a women's boxing brand that empowers female fighters in the male-dominated sport. Her mission is to provide the community and equipment for women to train at their best. On this episode, we talk the boxing world, product design, what being a founder is like, and staying focused. Make sure you check out KoStudio at https://kostudio.co/ or Yin Qi on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/yin-qi-xie/!

This week's episode features Sabrina Grimaldi, an Arizona-based journalist who created her own online magazine The Zillennial Zine in August of 2021. When she's not managing her own zine, she's probably editing a book, freelance writing for different newspapers and magazines, reading for fun, going to a workout class, or lighting a candle and watching Gilmore Girls. On this episode, we talk starting an online magazine, getting over imposter syndrome in your business, and building community. Make sure you check out The Zillennial Zine at https://thezillennialzine.com/ or on Instagram at @thezillennialzine!

This week's episode features Meera Santhanam, a Gender Equality Reporting Fellow for the Pulitzer Center and a former Justice Reporting Fellow. She is currently pursuing an MPhil in Race, Ethnicity, and Conflict at Trinity College Dublin. Previously, Meera worked as a paralegal in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago. On this episode, we talk journalism, resilience, finding ability within yourself, and cross-cultural experience. You can connect with Meera on LinkedIn or and find her reporting work for the Pulitzer Center at https://pulitzercenter.org/projects/through-her-lens-feminist-filmmakers-revolutionizing-lebanese-cinema.

This week's episode features Sydney Scheller, a former campaign specialist and current sales rep living in Louisville, KY. At work, Sydney spends her time making deals, making coffee, and making connections while her free time consists of sitting in the B terminal of the Louisville airport, making TikToks, or watching Doctor Who (lately) and New Girl (always) with a hot cup of single-origin coffee. You can find Sydney on TikTok and Instagram @thatsquidney. On this episode, we talk all about social media (both the positives and the negatives), building community, and life.

This week's episode features Sophie Riley, a writer and illustrator from Rockford, IL. Currently, she works as an elementary teaching assistant and a lead editor for a climate and sustainability website. She hopes to write full-time someday, as well as own a residency for fellow artists and writers. For fun, she likes to paint, learn languages, and hunker down in coffee shops for hours at a time. You can find Sophie on Instagram and TikTok @purely.sophia where she currently has over 20k followers and shares her art. On this episode, we talk all about what her writing and illustration process looks like, imposter syndrome, and getting into the publishing industry.

This week's episode features Sophie Diener, a poet, writer and teacher, currently living in Ohio. You can find Sophie on tiktok @sophiediener where she currently has over 225k followers and writes and shares poetry about topics such as body image, mental health, love, and heartbreak. In her free time, Sophie enjoys going to concerts, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. On this episode, we talk all about what her writing process looks like, dealing with anxiety and imposter syndrome, and being vulnerable on public platforms.

This week's episode features Raven Koontz, a legal assistant, currently living in Louisville, Kentucky. While Raven initially planned to become a doctor, life pushed her in the direction of the legal field where she has since developed a deep passion for law through working with Civil Rights Attorneys and advocating in the 'Free Britney' movement. Since joining her current team, Raven has helped grow a Twitter account dedicated to legal advocacy on behalf of the 'Free Britney' movement to over 60,000 followers and has been featured in both The New York Times and The Rolling Stones. On this episode, we talk all about what a typical day looks like for a legal assistant, how Gen Z currently approaches work, and what it's been like playing a major role in a legal battle that swept a nation.

This week's episode features Hannah Barlow, a filmmaker and director, currently living in Los Angeles, California. Hannah was born in Appalachia Ohio, where her interest in filmmaking first began after writing and directing her first fantasy short at the age of fifteen. Her passion for film continued to grow as she discovered her love for storytelling both on and off camera. Now, Hannah has worked most notably with Nike, The Jimmy Fallon Show, and Twenty-One Pilots to bring to life their projects. On this episode, we talk all about how to stay yourself in a typically male-dominated industry, what to expect from a typical day on set, and staying content while not being stagnant.

This week's episode features Kat Brown, a promoter representative, and J.D. Candidate at the University of Kentucky's College of Law. Working her way up from bartending to where she's at now, Kat has extensive knowledge and expertise about what it's like to work in the music industry when you aren't musically inclined. On this episode, we talk all about what a typical day looks like preparing for a show for a non-musician, concrete ways to network and make connections that will get you where you want to go, and why your mentality around building a career matters.

This week's episode features Esther Ellyn of Esther Ellyn Photography, a freelance branding photographer & designer currently working in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. Esther is passionate about helping small businesses thrive through strong visual stories and specializes in working with women-owned businesses. On this episode, we talk all about what it takes to go freelance, making your goals a reality, and that you CAN have anything (if maybe not everything).

This week's episode features Nari, a musician from California currently living in Lexington, KY. We talk how she got into the music industry, what playing a show is like, dealing with instant gratification, and about some pretty cool tattoos.

Introducing the Gen Z Girlies Podcast: besties helping you make your dream career and life a reality. Tune in on November 1st to get exclusive career insights and life advice from Gen Zers for Gen Zers.