From Start-Up to Grown-Up #85: Isabelle Freidheim, Founder of Athena Capital — The benefits of being an only child, creating opportunities for women in finance, and unlocking hidden talent
16 snips
Feb 11, 2025 Isabelle Freidheim, founder of Athena Capital and the youngest chairman of a publicly traded company in the U.S., shares her inspiring journey. She discusses the unique challenges women face in finance and the importance of creating opportunities through SPACs. Freidheim emphasizes the benefits of empowering women in leadership roles and shares personal anecdotes of overcoming self-doubt. Her early entrepreneurial experiences shaped her innovative approach to investment, highlighting the value of resilience and collaboration in building successful, women-led teams.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Tiger Balm Business
- At 12, Isabelle Freidheim sold Tiger Balm at her Catholic school.
- The school wasn't pleased with her profits, not the selling itself.
Boredom and Creativity
- Freidheim believes boredom fosters creativity, citing her childhood.
- As an only child, she invented games and goals due to a lack of structured activities.
Thinking Outside the Box
- Freidheim emphasizes thinking outside the box to reach goals.
- She learned adaptability and unconventional thinking through a chaotic childhood with frequent moves.
