Elaine Zelby, a spectacular investor, advisor, entrepreneur, podcaster, and writer discusses her Shiny Object Syndrome, being a VC Partner at SignalFire, her solo journey in China, and the growth in giving away time.
Embracing failure and learning from setbacks is crucial for personal growth and success.
Prioritizing happiness and following your own unique path can lead to fulfillment and success in your career.
Constantly seeking new learning experiences and embracing curiosity can open doors to unexpected opportunities and growth.
Deep dives
Importance of Highlighting Struggle and Failure
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of highlighting struggle, hardship, and failure in success stories. It discusses how these setbacks and defeat can provide valuable lessons and growth opportunities. The host interviews Elaine Zellby, an investor and entrepreneur, who shares her mindset and journey. They explore her shiny object syndrome, which allows her to follow her intuition, explore different topics, and learn from various sources. The episode encourages listeners to reflect, embrace failure, and keep learning and growing.
Elaine Zellby's Non-Traditional Path to Success
Elaine Zellby's mindset and career path are discussed in this podcast episode. It highlights her ability to deviate from traditional routes and focus on projects and people that bring her joy. Elaine's energy, enthusiasm, and self-reflection are highlighted as key factors in her success. The episode mentions her two maxims for success and her seven-week solo journey in China, where she imposed three rules on herself. Elaine's story serves as inspiration for listeners to follow their own unique paths and prioritize happiness in their careers.
From Engineering to Investing: Elaine Zellby's Journey
Elaine Zellby's journey from an engineering background to becoming an investor and advisor is explored in this episode. She shares her passion for building mechanical objects from a young age and how it led her to study mechanical engineering at Stanford. Elaine discusses her experience in the software industry and her decision to leave Slack for an opportunity in the blockchain space at ConsenSys. The episode highlights her adventurous spirit, love for solo travel, and her fluency in Mandarin. Elaine's story showcases the importance of embracing curiosity and continuously seeking new learning experiences.
Reflections on Traveling Alone in China
The podcast episode explores the speaker's experience of traveling alone in China. They embarked on a seven-week journey with no data plan, no VPN, and relied solely on public transit. Despite language barriers and different cultural norms, the speaker had a fantastic experience. They encountered challenges in communication, but found that people were friendly and helpful. The speaker visited various outdoor destinations, including national parks and a famous filming location from Avatar. Overall, the trip provided unique insights and a sense of adventure.
Career Decisions and Growth
The podcast delves into the speaker's career journey and pivotal moments. After leaving Slack, the speaker had the opportunity to join a startup as a co-founder. However, after careful consideration, they realized their heart was not fully invested in the opportunity. Ultimately, they decided to join ConsenSys, a blockchain company, before eventually transitioning to their current role at SignalFire. The speaker highlights the importance of being all-in and following one's passion. They also discuss their experience with personal angel investments and their involvement in venture capital at SignalFire.
This is the story of Elaine Zelby, the spectacular investor, advisor, entrepreneur, podcaster and writer who infuses so much energy into every project she works on.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Elaine's Shiny Object Syndrome
- Why she left Slack and what it's like to be a VC Partner at SignalFire
- The (Un)Sexy Podcast
- Her 7-week solo journey in China
- Growth in giving away your time
Please enjoy this interview with the fantastic, Elaine Zelby. For more information on Elaine, please go to:
