In this first episode of Work in Progress, hosts Paula Wehmeyer, Partner at General Catalyst, and Helena Meyer-Schönherr, Managing Director at Ten More In, introduce their new podcast exploring how work is evolving, the impact of emerging technologies, and the realities of different career paths.
The series sheds light on diverse professional journeys, uncovering the skills, challenges, and opportunities across various industries. Paula and Helena engage with experts, founders, and industry leaders to provide actionable insights on navigating career transitions, understanding market trends, and thriving in today’s dynamic job landscape.
Their first guest is Victoria Weller, Operations Lead at ElevenLabs, one of the fastest-growing AI startups. Victoria shares her career journey from astrophysics to leading operations in a high-growth company, offering a first-hand look at the challenges of structuring an operations team in a rapidly scaling environment.
Key Topics:
- How ElevenLabs grew from a small team to a leading AI company
- The role of operations in a high-growth startup
- Lessons from building scalable processes in a rapidly evolving sector
- Practical career advice for those interested in startup operations
About Victoria Weller
Victoria Weller is an experienced operations leader with a background spanning AI, quantum security, and space research. Currently, she leads operations at ElevenLabs, where she has played a key role in scaling the company from 10 to over 100 employees within a year. She has established company-wide operating principles, built hiring and HR processes, and optimized customer support.
Previously, Victoria was Chief of Staff at ElevenLabs, managing compliance, legal, and finance operations. Before that, she spent nearly four years at Palantir Technologies in various leadership roles, focusing on infrastructure, incident response, and customer enablement.
Her career began in research and engineering, including roles at Qrypt, the Charité – Centre for Space Medicine, and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. She holds expertise in structuring high-growth tech companies and aligning operations with strategic goals.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriaaaaa/
About ElevenLabs
ElevenLabs is a pioneering AI company specializing in advanced speech synthesis and voice technology. Founded in 2022, it has quickly become a leader in developing natural-sounding AI-generated speech. The company's core technology uses deep learning to create lifelike vocal emotions and intonations across multiple languages.
Website: https://elevenlabs.io/
About Helena Meyer-Schönherr & Ten More In
Helena Meyer-Schönherr is an experienced leader in venture building, organizational strategy, and scaling high-growth startups. As Managing Director at Ten More In, she focuses on launching and growing new ventures, leveraging her expertise in company building and strategic development.
Ten More In is a leadership platform for women founded in 2022 by Lea-Sophie Cramer and Lia Grünhage. The company's core mission is to ensure future leadership levels reflect gender representation proportionally across economic, political, and social domains.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helena-meyer-sch%C3%B6nherr-41160955/
Website: https://www.tenmorein.com/
About Paula Hübner Wehmeyer & General Catalyst
Paula invests in technology companies that enable or rethink large industries. Paula's focus is on startups in the areas of commerce tech, i.e. digital support for trade, as well as purchasing and logistics. Previously, Paula was a consultant in the Berlin office of McKinsey, where she supported well-known consumer goods and retail companies in matters relating to e-commerce, purchasing, and internal process optimization.
General Catalyst is a US-based venture capital firm that makes early-stage and growth-stage investments. The firm has invested in global companies including Airbnb, Kayak, Datalogix, Datto, Livongo, Gusto, Buildkite, Warby Parker, Oscar, Deliveroo, Lemonade, Stripe and Snap.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulasophiehuebner/
Website: https://www.generalcatalyst.com/
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