Episode 123: Harnessing Your Superpower with Fran Maier

We all have a superpower, but we don’t always know what it is, how to use it, or even when to use it. But when you get this right, and learn to harness your superpower, your impact becomes exponential.

Meet Fran Maier, serial entrepreneur, known for growing iconic businesses like TRUSTe and Match.com. 

Fran shares how her superpower as a brand builder made her such a huge success and helped her create global impact. Fran is now the CEO of BabyQuip and her superpower as a brand builder has already made the company the leading baby gear rental service for traveling families. Fran is a legendary entrepreneur and has won numerous awards and accolades. She was honored by the Stanford Graduate School of Business with the Jerry I. Porras Latino Leadership Award, named one of “100 Most Influential Women in Technology” by Hot Topics. San Francisco Business Times named Fran among the 150 Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business and AlwaysOn named her among the Top 25 Women in Tech to Watch in Silicon Valley. In this episode, Fran shares why it’s important to know your strengths and take ownership of what’s in your control. She also reveals the lessons she has learned in her career and the principles she follows as a leader. Fran is applying all of these principles as she leads BabyQuip in changing lives and improving the way families travel.

 

Highlights:

[02:47] Fran’s superpower

[05:54] The story of Match.com

[09:04] Keeping brand values in alignment with business decisions

[10:40] Defining company culture

[13:07] Biggest lessons learned

[18:39] The pros and cons of being early to market

[20:23] How does BabyQuip serve the community

[30:47] The effects of the pandemic on BabyQuip

[33:41] Empowering women as independent business owners

[37:17] Who should female entrepreneurs listen to for advice

[41:20] Lesson learned from working with investors

[42:38] Taking ownership of what’s in our control

[46:35] Vision for BabyQuip

[48:02] The question brand builders should be asking

 

Quotes:

“Be confident and allow yourself to be vulnerable and ask for help.” – Fran Maier 

“Always be open to listening to everyone’s advice, but have the conviction to decide for yourself.” – Fran Maier

 

About Fran Maier:

Fran Maier is CEO and Founder of BabyQuip, the leading baby gear rental service for traveling families and now offering local cleaning services too.

She is a serial entrepreneur and brand builder with over 25 years experience in B2C and B2B internet businesses. She is best known for her 10+ years leading TRUSTe (now TrustArc), the leading privacy trustmark and compliance provider, and as Co-Founder and first General Manager of Match.com.

Fran speaks widely on several topics relating to women in business, including opportunities for women in the collaborative economy, addressing the lucrative family travel segment, women in entrepreneurship and on boards. She serves as an advisor to many start-ups including Portfolia, Women’s Start-up Lab, Sign-up.com, Kango, and Dabbl.

Fran is featured as an expert in the documentary film about entrepreneurship entitled “She Started It.” With Emmy Award winning journalist Kym McNicholas, she hosted a radio show/podcast called "Female Seeking Start-up" which featured interviews with female entrepreneurs. In 2016, Fran was honored by the Stanford Graduate School of Business with the Jerry I. Porras Latino Leadership Award. In 2015, she was named one of “100 Most Influential Women in Technology” by Hot Topics. In 2011, San Francisco Business Times named Fran among the 150 Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business and in 2010, AlwaysOn named her among the Top 25 Women in Tech to Watch in Silicon Valley. 

She served on the board of GE Capital Bank until it was sold in 2016. In addition, she is a Member of Women Corporate Directors and is former Chair of the Steering Committee for Stanford Women on Boards. In 2012, Fran completed the Stanford Rock Center for Corporate Governance Director's College.

Fran holds a BA and MBA from Stanford University. She lives in San Francisco and Santa Fe and is the mother of two grown sons.

Links:

Website: https://www.babyquip.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franmaier/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/franmaier