Podcast appearances and mentions of liz wessel

Adit Abraham is the co-founder and CEO of Reducto, which helps leading AI teams extract and structure data from complex documents and spreadsheets in their pipeline. Within 6 months of launching, Reducto went from 0→7 figures in ARR. Reducto has grown to process tens of millions of pages monthly for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 10 enterprises. They just announced a $24M Series A. Before Reducto, Adit was a Product Manager at Google, working on Ads and Search, and conducted machine learning research at MIT's Media Lab. --- In today's episode, we discuss: How listening to customers revealed an opportunity to pivot The weekend project that became Reducto's breakthrough Landing a Fortune 10 customer A technical founder's guide to sales Key insights from Reducto's fundraising journey Advice for founders: “You're going to fail” Much more --- Referenced: Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/ Chetan Puttagunta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetanputtagunta/ Diana Hu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sdianahu/ Liz Wessel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethwessel/ Raunak Chowdhuri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sauhaarda/ Reducto: https://reducto.ai/ Scale AI: https://scale.com/ Stripe: https://stripe.com/ Textract: https://aws.amazon.com/textract/ Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/ --- Where to find Adit: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aditabraham/ --- Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson --- Where to find First Round Capital: Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast --- Timestamps: (00:00) Hackathons, YC, and an unexpected pivot (05:23) The weekend project that became Reducto's breakthrough (09:11) How customer signal led to PDF processing (14:46) Landing a Fortune 10 customer (22:42) Building “transferable features” (25:58) How caring beats sales skills in startup growth (30:28) The strategy behind Reducto's horizontal expansion (36:18) Hire slow, go-to-market fast (41:45) A technical founder's guide to sales (43:45) “You're going to fail” (46:27) Why startups win (48:30) Key insights from Reducto's fundraising journey (51:43) Less structure, more impact (55:00) How frustrations shaped Reducto's culture (57:35) The question you should always ask in meetings

This week we chat with Liz Wessel!Liz Wessel is a Partner at First Round Capital, a pre-seed and seed venture fund, based in San Francisco. Prior to joining First Round, she was a Visiting Group Partner at Y Combinator, where she worked directly with over 110 early-stage startups. Liz has also been investing as an angel since 2016, backing over 60 startups, including Ramp, ScaleAI, Ro, Artera (fka WELL Health), FreeWill, Snackpass and others.Before becoming a full-time investor, Liz was the co-founder and CEO of WayUp, an early-career recruitment platform used by over 7 million candidates and thousands of companies. She launched WayUp in 2014 and ran it for seven years — during which time she raised over $40 million in venture and was with the company as CEO through its M&A exit in 2021.Prior to WayUp, Liz worked at Google as a product marketing manager. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's in Political Science, Mathematics and Japanese. Follow us!Liz Wessel: @lizwesselFirst Round Capital: @firstroundErica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

Reflection by Liz Wessel about her Pilgrimage to Le Puy en Valley, France with The Family of Joseph by St. Joseph Health, Home Care Services

Listening to Christmas, By Allan Harris Have you ever heard Snow? Not the howling wind of a Blizzard not the crackling of snow underfoot, but the actual falling of snow? We heard it one night in Wisconsin quite unexpectedly while walking up a hill toward our cabin in the woods, a soft whisper between footsteps. We stopped, switched off our flashlights, and just listened. All around us in the darkness we heard he gentle fall of snow on snow. No wind, no sound but the snow. Have you ever heard Christmas? Not the traffic noises in the city, not the bells and hymns and carols, beautiful as they are, not even the laughter of your children as they open their presents- but Christmas itself? Have you been by yourself and just sat and listened to the silence within, patiently, without letting the mind race to the next Christmas chore? Perhaps if you have, you felt the pulse of all humanity beating in your own heart. Perhaps you noticed an outflowing of love for all your brothers and sisters on the earth, a soft sense of Oneness with all that lives. In this silence of a snowy night, listen intently, holding your breath, and you may hear snow on snow. Serene, alone, undisturbed by thought, listen to the silence in your heart, and you may hear Christmas. -Allan Harris

3-17-2021 Universal Prayers- St. Patrick Day Hello fellow caregivers, Liz Wessel here and today it is my joy to share in a spirit of celebration, St. Patrick’s Day. Whenever St Patrick’s Day rolls around I am mindful of my Irish heritage and my love of blessings. In a spirit of hospitality for which, the Irish are best known we ask that our hearts and minds be open and welcoming. We come in a spirit of prayer to receive and in return bless others generously. Unique to blessings, is the way they help us to connect with the sacredness of our life’s journey. A blessing creates a pause for us to honor and celebrate our being together. John O' Donohue fashioned, “The language of a blessing is a calling forth, a recognition of the miracle of being here, on the shoreline of pure arrival. Blessings are also an acceptance of the transitory nature of all the gifts that have arrived; for they need not come.” As natural as the movement of our breath, a blessing connects us in Spirit. As we breathe in, we can savor, affirm, and acknowledge what has been. Then as lightly as the next breath, what must, can float free on a blessing of kindness and Love. In reverence, we ready ourselves to cross the next threshold, trusting as we move forward. Our connectedness to one another bonds us to our world, amidst the grandeur of our evolving universe, and of all that lies within and without us. At this time, I would like to share this beautiful 2 min musical blessing by Sara Thomsen (2 min) I invite you to settle in , close your eyes and receive her blessing. Deep Peace by Sara Thomsen https://youtu.be/kb-FAOe396U And in closing this blessing by the late John O’ Donuhue May the light of your soul bless the work you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart. May you see in what you do, the beauty of your own soul. May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light, and renewal to those who work with you and to those who see and receive your work. May your work never weary you. May it release within you, wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration, and excitement. May you be present in what you do. May you never become lost in the bland absences. May the day never burden. May dawn, find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities, and promises. May evening find you gracious and fulfilled. May you go into the night blessed, sheltered, and protected. May your soul calm, console, and renew you. - John O'Donohue, Anam Cara Offered by Liz Wessel Artwork by ~liz

3-9-2021 Universal Prayer & Reflection: Love of Neighbor Good morning, this is Liz Wessel and thank you for joining in prayer and communion as we journey together. We begin by centering ourselves and settling into a comfortable position. I invite you to close your eyes and focus your awareness of your breathing. Together we take 3 deep breaths, one to come as you are, two to welcome whatever emotions you may feel. Perhaps feelings of peace, happiness or sadness, anxiety and stress. Offer even these unwanted guests’ hospitality and say yes, that these too belong. You may wish to place your hand over your heart and offer loving kindness for yourself and to all who are gathered here today. Ring the bell To the God of our understanding, the spirit with whom we gather this morning – we ask that our minds be open, our hearts welcoming, and our arms embracing to our dear neighbor. (adapted Chrystal Hogan) Take a moment to reflect in the spirit of prayer for loved ones, our neighbors near and far who need our thoughts and prayers. We name them silently in our hearts.... Pause 3-5 seconds A few words of encouragement from Morgan Harper Nichols: May this be a season of believing beyond what you see. Trusting that even though you have not felt brave, you have still managed to be. You still trust that you can carry on, despite uncertainty. And amidst all of that uncertainty, there is still so much take delight in. Slow down take it in let gratitude remind you that you are coming forth like gold from within. Trust in the Slow Work of God Above all, trust in the slow work of God We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability- and that it may take a very long time. And so I think it is with you. your ideas mature gradually – let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste. Don’t try to force them on, as though you could be today what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) will make of you tomorrow. Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete. - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. (1881-1955) Prayer Teach me to listen, O God, to those nearest me, my family, my friends, my co-workers. Help me to be aware that no matter what words I hear, the message is, “Accept the person I am. Listen to me.” Teach me to listen, my caring God, to those far from me– the whisper of the hopeless, the plea of the forgotten, the cry of the anguished. Teach me to listen, O God my Mother, to myself. Help me to be less afraid to trust the voice inside — in the deepest part of me. Teach me to listen, Holy Spirit, for your voice — in busyness and in boredom, in certainty and doubt, in noise and in silence. Teach me, Lord, to listen. Amen. —Adapted by John Veltri, SJ, as published in Hearts on Fire: Praying with the Jesuits Our closing prayer is by Sr. Christine Hilliard CSJ: May we recognize each neighbor as gift from our creator who only gives us what we need. May we be grateful for each neighbor however we met them. May we not be afraid to be a neighbor, dependent on the kindness of others. (Sr. Christine Hilliard CSJ.) As you go about your day may you be blessed abundantly as you bless others in the sacredness of your work. Amen

Good morning, fellow caregivers this is Liz Wessel and it is my honor to share in this time of reflective prayer with you in our little community of mutual support and caring. We all come with a wealth of experience and wisdom and diverse backgrounds. It is our diversity that adds to the richness and beauty of our lives. Being together in community and sharing in a few minutes of intentional prayer strengthens us. Our heartfelt intentions multiply and carry far and wide, rippling out in boundless ways, beyond our ever knowing to bless others in unforeseen ways. So, thank you for bringing your healing energies to this moment to heal others and to be healed in the process. Healing is what we do, each and every day, especially when we bring our wholeheartedness into whatever we are doing, in our family life and work life, regardless of the task at hand, when we approach our work in a conscious and intentional manner it opens us to the scaredness that exists in all things. So, let us settle in to a comfortable position and begin with a few with deep centering breaths. As you breathe in repeat to yourself, I am at peace, and with each out breath allow tension to release from your body, Breathing in…. Peace I receive, and on your next in breath, repeat, peace I offer. Ring the bell In the spirit of prayer offer your own prayer intentions in the silence of your hearts, for loved ones, for co-workers, for patients and families, for our wounded world and all of God’s creation. Pause… 5 seconds Our Value of Integrity: We pursue authenticity with humility and simplicity. Fr. Richard Rohr offers these thoughts on Lent, which is the religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that began on Feb 17th Ash Wednesday and ends the night before Easter. There are two moments that matter. One is when you know that your one and only life is valuable and alive. The other is when you know your life, as presently lived, is entirely pointless and empty. You need both of them to keep you going in the right direction. Lent is both. The first such moment gives you energy and joy by connecting you with your ultimate Source and Ground. The second gives you limits and boundaries, and a proper humility, so you keep seeking the Source and Ground and not just your small self. (Richard Rohr) And I’d like to share the wisdom is offered by Chief Yellow Lark of the Lakota Sioux Oh, Great Spirit, Whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives life to all the world. Hear me! I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever hold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people. Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. Help me remain calm and strong in the face of all that comes towards me. Help me find compassion without being overwhelmed. I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother or my sister, but to fight my greatest enemy: myself. Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes. So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame. (Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark Richard Rohr invites us to spend some time this week contemplating the rhythm of your own life. Without judgment, reflect on how you spend your time, what you pay attention to, and where your energy goes. Does the rhythm of your life honor the relationships and values that are most important to you? Is there some degree of balance between work and rest, solitude and community? Be open to the movement of the Spirit. How might God be inviting you into greater freedom, integrity, and love through the rhythm of your daily life? This concludes our prayer for today. Be well and be blessed. Shared by Liz Wessel

2-23-2021Univeral Prayer Offering -Infinitely Loved Good morning, this is Liz Wessel, and as we gather, we come just as we are and we are welcomed as we join in a brief time of reflection. We may come as stranger but we will leave as friends. Let us center ourselves, while sitting comfortably, take a few slow deep breaths and quietly repeat to yourself "I am" as you breathe in and "at peace" as you breathe out. Feel your entire body begin to relax. You may wish to focus on your breathing throughout this time together. In this sacred space we reconnect with the source of all that is. Gavin Thomas Murphy offers the following insights to think and pray about throughout this week. We are invited to rest awhile among the green meadows and flowing streams, to relax in God’s presence, and be nourished, strengthened, and renewed. In this place, we may turn from a closed fist of denial, frustration and turmoil to an open hand of acceptance, relaxation and serenity. (Gavin Thomas Murphy) Too many of us gravitate towards distress and anxiety: we say it is the way of work and the world. Just 5 minutes of silence seems pointless. But we get in touch with our ‘inner teacher’ when we find times to be still in our day, connecting us with deep peace and balance. It is available to tap into as we live in the moment. This can be discovered in talking with people, working on a single task, walking and feeling a fresh breeze on our face. This invitation has stirred Gavin to stop fixing his eyes on the ground and see the beautiful ordinary. (Gavin Thomas Murphy) After resting, we may be invited to walk more closely in Love’s presence, freer and more confident and better able to navigate the hazy path of our lives. It is true that we all need to work on maintaining balance in our lives, but we are not alone. We can learn so much from modern and contemplative wisdom to live life with greater richness, and when all is done, we can rejoice knowing that we are infinitely loved. (Gavin Thomas Murphy) In the spirit of prayer, let us pray I rest in you, Spirit of Life, and give to you my worries, my fears, my doubts, my hopes, my joys, my pains, my anger, my love, and allow you to take in all that I am. And as I give all that I am, I find the place of truth and stillness, l where you and I are one. (Karem Barratt) A Prayer for Resting in God's Love God of Goodness, I come into your presence so aware of my human frailty and yet overwhelmed by your love for me. I thank you that there is no human experience that I might walk through where your love cannot reach me. If I climb the highest mountain you are there and yet if I find myself in the darkest valley of my life, you are there. Teach me today to love you more. Help me to rest in that love that asks nothing more than the simple trusting heart of a child (unknown author) A closing prayer by Thomas Merton: O God, You have made us one with you. You have taught us that if we are open to one another, you dwell in us. Help us to preserve this openness and to fight for it with all our hearts. Help us to realize that there can be no understanding where there is mutual rejection. O God, in accepting one another wholeheartedly, fully, completely, we accept you, and we thank you, adore, and love you with our whole being, because our being is your being, our spirit is rooted in your spirit. Fill us then with love, and let us be bound together with love as we go our diverse ways, united in this one spirit which makes you present in the world, and which makes you witness to the ultimate reality that is love. Love has overcome. Love is victorious. Thanks everyone for blessing us with your presence and may you be blessed as your go forth to bless others with your love. Shared by Liz Sorensen Wessel

2-9-2021 Universal Prayer World Day of the Sick Good morning, this is Liz Wessel and it is an honor to be with you and to share in a short time of prayer and reflection. I have woven together a compilation of prayers from various sources. I will share the name of author after each one. First let us begin to center ourselves and settle into a comfortable position. Take 3 deep breaths, one to let go of stress, another to let go of worry and the third breath to become fully present. To the God of our understanding, the spirit with whom we gather this morning – we ask that our minds be open, our hearts welcoming in this shelter of belonging. For Pope Frances and others before him, February 11 is a day of recognition and prayer for the sick and for the ministry of health care, both professional and family caregivers. He reminds us, “The commandment of love that Jesus left to his disciples is also kept in our relationship with the sick. A society is more human to the degree that it cares effectively for its most frail and suffering members, in a spirit of fraternal love. Let us strive to achieve this goal so that no one will feel alone, excluded, or abandoned.” -Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 29th World Day of The Sick This year’s theme from the Gospel of Matthew calls us to remember, “You have, but one teacher, and you are all brothers” (Mt 23:8). However, each of us understands God; we are created in the same light. Even as the pandemic separates us, remakes the world around us, our shared humanity continues to bind us in as one family. As the pandemic continues to surge, wane and wear us down, Christians find support in Jesus, who knows our illnesses and strengthens us to serve. This year we cannot escape the ongoing effects of the worldwide COVID pandemic, and our prayers are offered for those most impacted by the virus. (CHA) Please take a moment to reflect in the spirit of prayer and to offer our own silent intentions. (Ring the chime and pause for 3 seconds) Loving God, you fill all things with a fullness and hope that we can never comprehend. Thank you for leading us into a time where more of reality is being unveiled for us all to see. We pray that you will take away our natural temptation for cynicism, denial, fear, and despair. Help us have the courage to awaken to greater truth, greater humility, and greater care for one another. May we place our hope in what matters and what lasts, trusting in your eternal presence and love. Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our suffering world. Knowing, good God, you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God. Amen. (Fr. Richard Rohr) God of our understanding, How often we find ourselves thinking that it is impossible to make a difference in the world in which we live in. There are difficulties, challenges and injustices that can seem too big for our attempts to try and conquer them. Help us to focus on our vision, instead of the problems. Inspire us to think beyond our thoughts of the impossibilities and to focus instead on what our own contributions might be. Help us to live within the power that You have given us and to believe that the way we look at problems can, and will, make a difference. Inspire us to give gifts of love and gifts of kindness as we move about this day. Help us to recognize, and to extend the gift of unconditional love. May we model Your unlimited love for all people as we give, and receive, today. Above all else, may Your love be expressed and all people blessed. Amen -Samantha Gilbertson, PNMC Mission Integration and Spiritual Care We are deeply grateful to each of you for your service and for making a difference.

2-2-2021 Universal Prayers in Honor of Black History Month 2021 Good morning and welcome, Liz Wessel here, and as we gather together, taking a moment out of our busy lives as we share in a brief time of prayer and peacefulness. Resist the temptation to multi-task and instead gift yourself with 5min of peace and prayer. Find a sitting position that allows you to be alert—and also relaxed. Close your eyes and rest your hands in an easy, effortless way. Together we will take in a deep breath and as you exhale release your cares, again breathe in and honor those whom we hold in our hearts. Listen to the wind it talks Listen to the silence it speaks Listen to your heart it knows (Native American Proverb) Ring the chime: God of our understanding, we come to you in these quiet moments, seeking that which is beyond ourselves. In this sacred space; we join in solidarity and prayer, as we lift up our brothers and sisters of color and express our hopes and our dreams for a better world. God of each Heart and Mind, We are reminded this morning, of the importance of listening. In the wind, and in the silence, there is a voice that speaks. Help us to remember that it isn’t necessarily the human voice where wisdom springs forth and communication lies. May we quiet ourselves in order to hear. May we quiet the exterior and the interior so that we can connect with our own heart. For within the heart, it knows. May the messages heard from the wind and the silence be instilled into our hearts today. (Samantha Gilbertson) Spirit of the Living God, As we gather this morning, allow your spirit to fill our very being. Most gracious and loving God, we remember the struggles of our people, black people, people of African descent, your people and we thank you for your grace, your love, and your mercy. We thank you for leaders that you continue to place in high places and ordinary places. Inspire each of us to work more faithfully for justice and dignity of life everywhere. Lord God, we remember the hurts of exclusion and prejudice, but we know that you can raise our vision above all barriers and give us wisdom and courage to make this a better world. Spirit of Abundance, God of Grace, Mother of Hope, We pause now to remember those stories that are all around us, But so often passed over, Those stories that when told are shared because Of what someone is, not who they are. This month in our nation's character Is Black History month. Help us to realize that Black history is All our histories. May the day come when these stories Are so wildly taught that no month need Be separately divided. We know this day will not come until we as a people Make different choices. We pray now for those new choices. May we come to see a day where the prison system Becomes redemptive, not punitive. A day where the legal system learns to focus more squarely on the facts, And the not colors of our skin. A day where our schools are as well funded, as the needs demand. May our role models be allowed to excel when they thrive, And not be taken down for their rich heritage. We know this will require a shift in power. And this can be scary for some. Give those full of fear - hope. May we come to know grace, So that our hearts will not be hardened to the pain around us. There are so many beautiful stories needing to be told. And we need to get the chance to hear them. Widen our vision so that the history that is shared this month, And every month, Come to be known as our history too. We are most human when we see the humanity in others. (Author Unknown) We conclude our time together with thoughts of truth and justice which stir us from our ease and move us to acts of goodness, and for the contemplation of life which fills us with hope that what is good and lovely cannot perish. Amen. May you feel Love’s presence with you as you navigate through your day. (New Union Prayer Book)

Good morning, this is Liz Wessel and it is joy to be with you and to share in a short time of prayer and reflection in this community of great belonging. These prayers are a compilation from various sources and todays theme is called, “Help Me to Rest in Love.” Let us take a moment to center ourselves and find a comfortable position. take 3 deep breaths, one to let go of whatever you are holding, another to listen deep into your heart and the 3rd to arrive in this moment. Dear Love, Please help me to rest, I place my list of things to do in your hands. Just for one moment, I let go. I place my thoughts about how someone else should be Different in your hands. Just for a moment, I let them go. Right now, just for a moment, I allow things to be as they are, I allow someone else to be as they are, I allow myself to be as I am. And so, I rest. To the God of our understanding, the spirit with whom we gather this morning We lift up those whose lives are touched by sadness, by illness, by worry, or by loneliness. May all find comfort, hope, and healing strength in this community and the larger community. And let us take a moment to silently reflect in the spirit of prayer and to offer our own silent intentions. (Chrystal Hogan) Our Loving God, How difficult it can be to let go- of things that we believe we must hang on to and of the things that we are unable to let go of. Give us the courage we need to release everything into Your very capable hands. Help us to trust You completely as we do so. Give us the patience we need as we wait, knowing that someday we will see how Your hand was a part of everything during the process. Amen Chaplain Samantha Gilbertson, PNMC Mission Integration and Spiritual Care May we have the power of vision to look past both the specks in our own eyes and the outward appearance of other people in order to see that divine spark of life - of Love - which is present in all human beings. We pray today particularly for those who are marginalized within our society - those whose inherent divinity is so often unrecognized - and for those who live or work in conditions we ourselves could not accept. For them, and for all people who find life difficult, we pledge ourselves to the task of helping to make this world a better place - even if it is simply by a smile or a welcoming word. As we pause now in the quietness of our own thoughts, let us consider both the blessings and the trials of our lives, and dedicate ourselves to sharing our blessings and to doing what we can to ease the trials of others. Dear Love, We give thanks for places of simplicity and peace. Let us find such a place within ourselves. We give thanks for places of refuge and beauty. Let us find such a place within ourselves. We give thanks for places of nature’s truth and freedom, of joy, inspiration, and renewal, places where all creatures may find acceptance and belonging. Let us search for these places in the world, in ourselves, and in others. Let us restore them. Let us strengthen and protect them, and let us create them. May we mend this outer world according to the truth of our inner life and may our souls be shaped and nourished by nature’s eternal wisdom. (Michael Leunig) O Great Love, thank you for living and loving in us and through us. May all that we do flow from our deep connection with you and all beings. Help us become a community that vulnerably shares each other’s burdens. Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our world. We ask for continued blessings on which to draw as we go about our work. When we are weary, energize us. When burnt out, infuse us with the light of your spirit. May the work that we do bring hope, life and courage to all whom we serve, and in the day’s most stressful moments, may we pause for that “quiet within” and rest in you. (Adapted from Richard Rohr) The need to center ourselves in love and to renew our spirit in order to love others effectively is a universal call to wholeness.

1-19-2021 Universal Prayer in Remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. Good morning and welcome, Liz Wessel here, and as we gather together, taking a moment out of our busy lives let us share in a brief time of prayer and peacefulness. Resist the temptation to multi-task and instead offer the gift of your loving presence to this community. Find a sitting position that allows you to be alert—and also relaxed. Close your eyes and rest your hands in an easy, effortless way. Ring the chime: Allow your awareness to scan through your body and, wherever possible, soften and release obvious areas of physical tension. Because we so easily get lost in thoughts, let’s begin with attention to the breath. Using the breath as a primary anchor of mindfulness helps quiet the mind so that you can be awake to the changing stream of life that moves through you. (Tara Brach) God of our understanding, we come to you in these quiet moments, seeking that which is beyond ourselves. In this sacred space; we join in solidarity in the prayers of Reverend Martin Luther King to express our hopes and our dreams for a better world. Eternal God, out of whose mind is this great cosmic universe, we bless thee. Help us to seek that which is high, noble and Good. Help us in the moments of difficulty. Help us to work with renewed vigor for a brotherhood that transcends race or color. (MLK) A way in which every man will respect the dignity and worth of all human personality. A way in which every nation will allow justice to run down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. A way in which men will do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. (MLK) God grant that we will be participants in this newness and this magnificent development. If we will but do it, we will bring about a new day of justice and brotherhood and peace. And that day the morning stars will sing together and the sons of God will shout for joy. (Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.) MLK’s mission for equality resonates with our organizational values of compassion, dignity, justice, excellence, and integrity. Creator God, may we view our work as vocational; a ministry of whole-person healing. May we advocate for those who are poor and vulnerable as we serve our dear neighbor without distinction. (Nancy Jordan) And in closing, as you go about your day continue to reflect on how your role in our organization is not limited to your wise experience and skills. Every time you ask how a patient is feeling or assist a co-caregiver with a task, you are making a positive difference in the lives of others. Building each other up one interaction at a time builds our up our communities. Building up our communities exemplifies Martin Luther King’s vision for equity and equality. (Nancy Jordan) In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., thank you for your steadfast service to all. May God bless you and all those you love. Painting form the CHA website

Liz Wessel is the Cofounder and CEO of WayUp, a venture-backed company and platform used by millions of early-career professionals to get hired. Liz has also been featured in Business Insider and Fast Company about her success with and recommending cold emailing for help. You will learn job search advice and cold emailing, and how Liz has been building her Portfolio Career.In this episode, you will learn:- one the best cold emails that Liz got- the importance of follow-up after you receive advice- how Liz got passionate about cold emailing - how angel investing makes Liz a better leader- job searching advice during the current work-from-home environment  As always, this episode with notes is available on my websiteConnect with Liz on Twitter!

In this episode of HR Works we tackle the so-called résumé black hole: the place where job applicants’ resumes vanish to without hiring managers ever seeing them. What is this mysterious place? Why does it exist? And most importantly: is it really doing anyone any good? We have two experts with us to speak about this. The first is Liz Wessel is the Co-Founder & CEO of WayUp (https://www.wayup.com), a venture-backed startup based in NYC that transforms how employers recruit students and recent grads—helping them hire diverse and qualified early-career talent. Liz has been featured in Forbes 30U30, the “18 Coolest Women in Silicon Valley” by Business Insider and NY Business Journal’s “Most Influential Women.” Liz has also been a speaker at TEDx, TechCrunch Disrupt, SXSW and more. Prior to WayUp, Liz worked in marketing at Google in Mountain View and India. We also have Steve Flook, CEO of iHire (https://www.ihire.com). A technologist focused on software systems and information architecture, Steve has been at the forefront of the HR and recruitment technology space for nearly a decade. Since 2011, Steve has served as a change agent with many operational roles at iHire, including president, VP of product development, and director of engineering. As president, Steve helped iHire reach record revenue in 2018 – a feat achieved by continuously improving iHire’s products and services while appealing to both the employer and job seeker market segments.

Liz Wessel, Co-founder & CEO at WayUp Liz Wessel loves helping people get hired. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of WayUp, the go-to platform used by millions of early-career professionals to get hired, and by thousands of employers to scale their early-career recruiting without scaling their recruiting teams—all with an emphasis on diversity and candidate experience.  Founded in July 2014, WayUp is a venture-backed startup based in NYC that has raised over $30M and was named by CNN as one of the 30 most innovative companies changing the world. WayUp has worked with top companies—including Fortune 500s, startups, and nonprofits—to help them attract and hire diverse and qualified early-career talent. Liz has been featured as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30, named one of the “18 Coolest Women in Silicon Valley” by Business Insider, and one of New York Business Journal’s “Most Influential Women.” Liz has also been a featured speaker at TEDx, the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit, Advertising Week, TechCrunch Disrupt, SXSW, NACE, and several other notable events. Before founding WayUp, Liz worked at Google as a Product Marketing Manager in California and India.

A limited series podcast where Liz Wessel, Co-Founder and CEO of WayUp, asks industry leaders and innovators to take listeners on a journey through their careers, from where they started to how they got to where they are today. The show explores the working world, from side hustles to first jobs, across industries and trades, and what it means to rise through the ranks on your own terms. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Liz Wessel shares the Providence St. Joseph mission statement.

Liz Wessel shares a touching story called "Information Please" and how small actions can affect someone's life.

Mission moments with Liz Wessel

Mission Moments with Liz Wessel

Mission Mission with Liz Wessel

Liz Wessel is the cofounder and CEO of WayUp. WayUp is a job and internship platform for college students and recent graduates. They were part of the Winter 2015 YC batch.Read the transcript here.The YC podcast is hosted by Craig Cannon.

Hello desk deterers, cubicle closers, open space offenders, corner office combatants, home den defenders and coffee shop conquerors. My name is Brock Armstrong and I am… not the Workplace Hero. You see, the goal of this podcast is to make you and me and anyone else we can hooked into a Workplace Hero. You can think of me as your dealer… of helpful ideas. I don’t know who actually said it first but I first heard it from Derek Sivers (the guy who started CD Baby and then later sold it for like a bazzilion dollars). He wrote in Aug 2009: There is no “yes.” It’s either “HELL YEAH!” or “no.” Use this rule if you’re often over-committed or too scattered. If you’re not saying “HELL YEAH!” about something, say “no”. When deciding whether to do something, if you feel anything less than “Wow! That would be amazing! Absolutely! Hell yeah!” — then say “no.” When you say no to most things, you leave room in your life to really throw yourself completely into that rare thing that makes you say “HELL YEAH!” Every event you get invited to. Every request to start a new project. If you’re not saying “HELL YEAH!” about it, say “no.” We’re all busy. We’ve all taken on too much. Saying yes to less is the way out. I love that. And I try to use it in my life as often as possible but what about at work? Can we apply the same rule there? Aren’t we required to say YES when we are getting paid to basically do what we are told? Turns out, the answer is much more complicated than that. If you feel weird saying no at work, you are seriously not alone. You may think people will dislike you, think you are entitled or question whether you are a team player but as paradoxical as it may seem, saying no at the right time and place can help your career. Elana Lyn over at Forbes.com spoke to successful women to find out when to say no at work (and why it’s crucial). “If you aren't getting paid to do something and the task will take away time from accomplishing what you are paid to do, saying no demonstrates your commitment to your role and the value of your time.” — Eileen Carey, CEO of Glassbreakers “My best tip for saying no is to be straightforward and not dance around the subject. Explain that the task, project or activity doesn’t align with your current priorities and, if the situation changes, you will revisit the topic. Also, sometimes you can suggest an alternative solution. Remember, everyone has to say no at some point, so the person will respect your candor.” — Johanna Lanus, CEO and founder of Work With Balance “Asking why is a good substitute for saying no because it forces the opposite side to explain and justify her point of view. Asking why allows you to present your side too. While you might not agree with the justification, you will better understand where your boss is coming from.” — Liz Wessel, CEO and cofounder of WayUp “Part of doing any role well is hearing out any and all opportunities that come your way, such as proposed partnerships, co-marketing or cross-functional projects. At the end of the day, however, you have a limited amount of time and resources, and it's your job to make sure you're spending these resources on the highest-impact endeavors.” — Alexandra Friedman and Jordana Kier, cofounders of LOLA “You should say no when it is going to set a precedent that you aren't comfortable with or that might be harmful moving forward. It is also important to say no when you know that you won't be able to deliver.” — Amanda Greenberg, CEO and cofounder of Baloonr Saying no will provide you with the time and energy to focus on the work that will move your career forward. Remember, as Elana Lyn over at Forbes.com says: No is a complete sentence. As pithy as that thought is, I think it is extremely important to not be flippant or careless with your no. As some of the quotations I just read highlighted, the manner in which you say no is as important as the reason you say it. So, here are some tips to say no with style and respect. It can be a little intimidating to push back when your boss asks you to do something. So, skip the flat, “ no ” or an awkward, passive aggressive, “Well, umm, see I would, it’s just you’ve assigned me so much work in the past two weeks that I’m busy working on everything else you asked, so I, uhh, don’t think I can.” Instead, try, “Thank you so much for thinking of me for this, but I was planning to spend this week working on X,Y and Z projects.” This approach works for a couple of reasons. First, it’s flattering that your manager thought of you (after all, you want to be top of mind when new, exciting projects come along!). Second, if your boss knows this new task is more important, it invites her to say, “Let’s push those other projects to the backburner,” and make sure you’re on the same page as far as priorities go. When saying no to your employees or the people you manage, you want to encourage brainstorming and love when your employees come to you with new ideas. However, sometimes you already have a clear plan in mind, and what you’d really like is for your employees to execute and follow it. Of course, “No, we’ll be doing it my way,” never put anyone in the running for the Best Boss in the world award. Instead, you want your message to be that while you appreciate employee input in general, this is a project where it is really important that everyone follow the plan exactly. Remember: You always want to offer a “why” in addition to your “no” so that it doesn’t just sound like you are being an A-hole. Try this: “Thanks for sharing those suggestions, buddy. For this particular project, we need to follow the directions exactly as they’re outlined if we want to meet our deadline. We’ve gotten approval on this plan, and any changes might send us back to the drawing board. As always, please let me know if something is unclear or if you have any questions.” When you are saying no to a client you don’t want to come off as patronizing to someone who is by definition your patron. Yes, they hired you because you know what you’re doing but they’re also paying you, unfortunately That means they get a say in the direction of your work. The first thing you should do is let the client share their thoughts—fully. You may be tempted to cut them off as soon as they start into an idea that you know would be unpopular or infeasible, but if you stop them there, they’ll think you might not get it. As they speak, listen for key concerns they’re mentioning or key issues they think the new approach is solving. Then, when you respond with your plan, emphasize how you’re addressing the same issues (as opposed to how you’re shutting down their plan). It should go like this, “I hear your concern that you aren’t sold on the proposed new hoojamawhatzit. However, I worry the one you suggested is very similar to the competition, and I know one of your main goals is to stand out in the field of hoojamawhatzits. May I walk you through how we came to this one and a few other hoojamawhatzits variations you may want to consider?” In general, before you even consider saying no, you need to first affirm for yourself that this is an appropriate time to say it. Your inner voice of doubt will make you feel guilty or wrong but if you access your inner voice of reason, what would it say? Would taking on more work jeopardize the quality of your performance, the goals of the team, or most importantly your well being? To that end, here are some ideas on how to say ‘no’ from a Globe and Mali article by Eileen Chadnick called “Five ways to say 'no' without jeopardizing your work reputation”: 1. Speak from a voice of responsibility: It is your responsibility to ensure others are aware of the assignments you are already committed to – especially since you get assigned work from different people. Such as, “I’d normally be able to do this but you may not realize I’ve been engaged on project X and it wouldn’t be responsible of me to take this on as well as I’d be unable to invest the attention required…” 2. Engage your boss in prioritizing. Given she is unaware of what is on your plate, engage her in a conversation about prioritizing. For example: “I’m currently working on project X and Y, however, if you feel this new project is more important, are you comfortable with me prioritizing this over the others or prefer we consider other alternatives such as assigning this work to someone else?” 3. If appropriate make another feasible offer. Saying ‘no’ doesn’t necessarily have to be a flat-out ‘no.’ If there’s a part that you can contribute then make that part of your dialogue. “While I can’t take on the whole assignment given the other work you asked me to do by end of week, I’d be happy to offer some ideas or do part of it or help you find someone else who can help. How does that sound to you?” 4. Acknowledge and show empathy. Before rushing to the ‘no’ part, acknowledge the request appropriately. Such as, “I recognize this is an important assignment and you need it done well. I’d like to take it on but I recognize that given other deadlines I’m dealing with, I am concerned I would not be able to….” 5. Buy time to respond versus reacting: Sometimes we say ‘yes’ because we are put on the spot and we react negatively to the prospect of saying ‘no.’ To avoid agreeing to something on the spot, try to buy a little time to gather your focus and to respond more appropriately. For example, “I would like to talk to you about this but I am on deadline with something this morning. Can I talk to you just a bit later?” Then later, “I’ve thought about this and…” (see the above strategies.) You might find after some practice, saying ‘no’ is not as unpalatable as you first thought. It may even earn you more respect and trust as others will appreciate your responsible and honest responses. Let’s see if we can create a shift for you because learning to say ‘no’ is an important skill – both for work and life. So for your homework this week, I want you to practice saying no to a random something at work to help take the sting out of it when you really need it. Remember that scene in the movie Fight Club when Tyler tells all the Space Monkeys to go pick a fight with a total stranger? Well, I feel like this is similar but less painful. Perhaps you can say no to a weekly meeting that you can easily miss without falling behind. Maybe it is going for lunch with the same group of people you always go out with. Or maybe it is something that has been nagging at you for a while. This is the week to finally do it! Say NO and be proud. If you can find more than one thing to say no to, you get to skip next week’s homework. Can you do that? Wait? Did you just say NO to me?! Why I oughta! Sometimes saying ‘no’ can help manage expectations and your work load, improve your work performance and even relationships. While the consequences of saying ‘yes’ when you are over capacity and really unable to perform at the necessary standard of work can be worse than had you initially been honest and said ‘no.’ We often only think of ourselves when we say ‘no’ and forget that every time we over extend ourselves we rob our friends and family of not only our time but our energy, devotion and our sunny disposition. Remember that next time you feel selfish for wanting to say “no” because you truly don’t feel a “Hell YEAH”. ** Workplace Hero is researched, written, narrated, and recorded by me Brock Armstrong in Vancouver Canada. Logo by Ken Cunningham. Music is courtesy my old band, The Irregular Heartbeats. Now go out there and make this week a Hell YEAH kind of week.

Liz Wessel talks with Don about her journey from college student, to successful business founder, her experience at google, and the hidden art of Cold Emailing. She highlights how cold emailing has exponentially grown her network and success, especially among the entrepreneur/startup world.

Liz Wessel is the cofounder of WayUp, an app that helps college students find jobs and internships. After graduating from Penn, she worked at Google, first in Mountain View on the Partnerships and Grants team and then in India to lead brand initiatives. After her tour of duty in India, Wessel returned to the U.S. and cofounded WayUp. Season 3 Host Erica Duignan and Liz chat about the inspiration for WayUp, how much money you should raise for your seed round, and her secret to finding mentors and advisors. Show Notes UniEats Gives College Students 10% Restaurant Discounts Peter Cohan, Forbes Money Millennials: Liz Wessel and J.J Fliegelman Making Job Hunting Easier by Kofie Yeboah, The Huffington Post An ex-Googler turned startup CEO asks all her employees to 'cold email' their idols — here's why by Jacquelyn Smith, Business Insider How To Change Your Startup's Name: A Checklist by Brian Solomon, Forbes Do Things That Don't Scale by Paul Graham Guest bios & transcripts are available on www.broadmic.com.

Liz Wessel, Co-Founder and CEO of WayUp.com gives us a glimpse into what the life of a CEO of a startup is like. CNN named WayUp one of "30 innovative companies changing the world in 2015" and Liz herself was featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list in Jan 2016. Some of the areas we touch upon in this episode include: 1. The role of a CEO of a startup 2. How do you define a startup 3. Tough decisions you have to make as CEO 4. Common mistakes made by young founder CEOs 5. What differentiates the best CEOs 6. How being a CEO is "lonely" 7. Useful resources Thank you for listening!! Follow the show on Twitter @LED_Curator Website www.learneducatediscover.com/ Like us on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/learneducatediscover/ Email us at hello@learneducatediscover. We will reply!! Subscribe to the show on iTunes itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/learn…ver/id1049159321

Liz Wessel, CEO and Co-founder of WayUp, leads us into battle with fierce values and inspiring stories about a team fighting to democratize hiring for students and employers.

Our national student debt is sittin' pretty at $1.3 trillion, and the number is rising by $3,000 every second. Can technology help solve the problem of ballooning student debt? Evan is joined by Liz Wessel, CEO of WayUP, a company whose mission is to get every college student the job — or jobs — they need to pay off student debt and have a fruitful career. What makes WayUP different? How is technology impacting the policy debate over student debt? What does this have to do with labor laws on the sharing economy? All that and more on today's show.

Episode 112: Liz Wessel – Why You Should Cold E-Mail Your Heroes Liz Wessel is a remarkably talented leader… I found her to be extremely interesting and dynamic during this conversation on The Learning Leader Show.  I also admire her guts, will, and determination to create, grow, and sustain her company.  We had a fascinating conversation on this episode of The Learning Leader Show. Liz Wessel is the CEO of WayUp.  WayUp is the largest online marketplace exclusively for college students and recent grads to find employment.  Their mission is to connect students with awesome opportunities.  Liz and WayUp have since raised $9.1 million in funding. Liz is a University of Pennsylvania graduate who’s had the entrepreneurial bug since birth.  Initially after graduation she took on a leadership role at Google and famously told them on her first day, “Consider this my 2 years notice.”  Liz stayed true to her word and exactly two years after starting at Google, she left to launch her own business. Episode 112: Liz Wessel – Why You Should Cold E-Mail Your Heroes Subscribe on iTunes  or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show “A Learning Leader Is Positively Skeptical” In This Episode, You Will Learn: A positive attitude and being fearless leads to sustained excellence How working for Google in India helped prepare her to lead WayUp How she was able to raise over $9M in funding The decisions she has to make in regards to spending all of that money Why she pushes her employees to cold e-mail their heroes How she manages to only sleep a few hours a night Advice she has for millennials The fear of burn out?  Does she have it? Why not? How reading auto-biographies can help you be more creative A learning leader is positively skeptical  “You Need To Understand What You Love AND What You Don’t Love” Continue Learning: Go To: WayUp.com    Follow Liz on Twitter: @lizwessel Read More About Liz: Cold E-Mail Your Idols To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 001: How To Become A Master Connector W/ Jayson Gaignard From MasterMind Talks Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 082: Dan Pink – The Science of Motivation, Legendary Writer & Ted Talk Episode 086: Seth Godin – How To Become Indispensable & Build Your Tribe Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Liz Wessel on the show, please don’t hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell Bio – Liz Wessel Liz Wessel is the CEO of WayUp.  WayUp is the largest online marketplace exclusively for college students and recent grads to find employment.  Their mission is to connect students with awesome opportunities.  Liz and WayUp have since raised $9.1 million in funding. Liz is a University of Pennsylvania graduate who’s had the entrepreneurial bug since birth.  Initially after graduation she took on a leadership role at Google and famously told them on her first day, “Consider this my 2 years notice.”  Liz stayed true to her word and exactly two years after starting at Google, she left to launch her own business

Oh what's in a name? Your startup's name and branding become objects that represent your passion, pride, and determination. But startups change their names more often than their founders or teams might like, despite all the love for their current incarnation. So ... why? What causes that? What influences should you listen to as a founder? And how the heck do you DO it? That's what we'll explore today. Follow twitter.com/LizWessel and visit wayup.com to learn more. For WayUp's hilarious announcement video after their rebrand, check out this video:www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGK5-lVLwjU And let me know what you think of the show -- tweet me (Jay Acunzo) twitter.com/jayacunzo. You can also subscribe to receive every episode plus weekly insights and resources about gaining startup traction: goo.gl/4eP9Ch

Liz Wessel is the CEO of WayUp, a company with a novel approach to getting college students onto the first rung of the career ladder. She is a passionate believer in the significant effects that physical environment can have on office culture, and WayUp's office simply has to be seen to be believed. Listen to this eye-opening interview and learn: How Liz defines company culture How she approaches being young and female in a male-dominated environment Liz's advice for budding entrepreneurs And much, much more To get the full show notes, transcripts on this episode check us out at www.befurniture.com/episode67 You can also connect with us on Twitter @BeFurniture or personally to me, @BEJohnGardner Click the links to subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher

Episode 4 of Startup School Radio: Host Aaron Harris interviews Tracy Young, Ryan Sutton-Gee, and Ralph Gootee, the founders of PlanGrid. Also on the show: Liz Wessel and JJ Fliegelman, the founders of Campus Job.

Liz Wessel, co-founder of Campus Job, talked about how they're growing both sides of their marketplace - appealing to both students and companies looking for part-time employees. She shares what they learned coming out of Y Combinator and how they're scal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the thirty-seventh episode of Hack To Start. Your hosts, Franco Varriano (on Twitter @ FrancoVarriano) and Tyler Copeland (on Twitter @ TylerCopeland), speak with Elizabeth Wessel (on Twitter @ LizWessel), the co-founder and CEO of Campus Job. Prior to starting Campus Job, Liz launched a few startups while in college before working for Google on some major campaigns. In June 2014, Liz and her co-founder started Campus Job and raised a seed round in less then a month. They are now part of the W15 cohort at Y Combinator. Liz shares her insights on startups, managing partnerships, and making a difference.