From a market that was almost nonexistent in 2015, hitting double digits with a ~25% CAGR by 2018, Femtech and women's health industry have been long underestimated until the rise of Thinx and similar brands revolutionized the industry.Today’s guest is Shama Amalean Skinner, an entrepreneur, a trailblazer in the world of feminine care, and a business leader who has broken barriers and challenged societal norms with her previous position as COO at Thinx Inc. Shama played a pivotal role in transforming Thinx into a household name, ultimately paving the way for the mass adoption of reusable products in an industry dominated by single-use disposables.For the first time, Shama reveals how she would have done things differently from an operator's standpoint and expresses real frustration about how the Femtech market is still grossly underfunded, despite its massive potential. Whether you're looking to finally crack mass retail this year for your product or working through some challenging personal questions and navigating startup life, this is another episode I think you'll love.-TIMESTAMPS & Key Takeaways0:00 Intro03:15 Takeaway 1: Three potential opportunities Shama saw in Thinx04:48 Takeaway 2: Changing consumer behaviour and skepticism regarding period underwear #1: Create a movement destigmatizing periods 06:26 #2: Increase brand awareness with controversial subway ads08:32 #3: Converting followship into purchases and revenue with product education and word of mouth effect10:17 Takeaway 3: Changing mind and creating loyalty globally with advocacy work 13:01 Takeaway 4: Business model and revenue numbers for feminine care market14:05 Takeaway 5: Framework for a successful brand: branding, product, and team15:32 Takeaway 6: Shama’s take on what should COOs have in mind as priorities17:13 Takeaway 7: Strategies against supply chain issues19:44 Takeaway 8: Create redundancy in supply chain20:27 Takeaway 9: What makes a good COO?21:40 Takeaway 10: Business opportunities in Femtech and women health24:33 Takeaway 11: What needs to change for women to progress in the capital spectrum in getting that innovation funding?25:47 Takeaway 12: Founder’s lens: rejections at funding stage28:39 Takeaway 13: Key to decision-making as Thinx going into retail30:22 Takeaway 14: When is right time for founders or top performers to move on?31:46 Takeaway 15: 3 questions you ask yourself to decide if you were to step away 32:30 Billion Dollar Questions-About Shama Amalean SkinnerShama Amalean Skinner is an entrepreneur and executive working at the intersection of sustainability and consumer markets. She is the former chief operating officer of Thinx Inc, the revolutionary period and incontinence underwear company. At Thinx, she played a key role in launching, growing, and ultimately selling the company to a publicly listed corporation — effectively catalyzing the mass adoption of a reusable product in a category dominated by single-use disposables. Shama is an engaged consultant, board member, and advisor to innovative start-ups, venture funds, and nonprofit organizations. She is deeply committed to advocating for gender equity and helping solve the climate crisis.Shama | LinkedIn-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

The global economic uncertainty and a shift in focus towards sustainable growth are widely expected to impact the fundraising prospects for new vehicles, especially those focused on emerging markets or launched by first-time managers. As Asia continues to present key growth opportunities, how are dynamics between LPs and GPs evolving? In the current environment, how should emerging managers approach LPs? Will the going be tougher for first-time fund managers raising debut vehicles? Will operating across different cycles prove to be an advantage?Key Takeaways/Timestamps0:00 Intro3:12 Opening: Tsubasa Suruga (Moderator)3:46 Takeaway 1: Tendency to just go re-ups & familiarity as part of assessment for investment6:21 Takeaway 2: Bifurcation between first-time funds 7:40 Takeaway 3: Attributes of successful first-time fundraisers12:36 Takeaway 4: LP’s view on first- or second-time fund managers15:05 Takeaway 5: Diversifying strategies and portfolio: 2 types of LPs17:54 Takeaway 6: Takes on new investors venturing into Asia market20:04 Takeaway 7: How can GPs differentiate themselves in this current environment #1: Finding your niche24:15 Takeaway 8: How can GPs differentiate themselves in this current environment #2: Seek diversity in team26:03 Takeaway 9: Blending private sector capital with DFI capital in emerging market to create sustainable investments30:32 Takeaway 10: Takes on impact and sustainable investing32:11 Takeaway 11: How can GPs differentiate themselves in this current environment #3: Relationship building and identifying strengths33:50 Takeaway 12: Sarah's Takes on US market-This is a snippet from a panel took place at PEVC Summit 2022, titled Backing Emerging Market and First Time Managers in Adverse Time. An insightful discussion was carried out on the VC market trends in Asia, challenges and what it takes for first time managers in this ever changing environment.Speakers:Soo Yar-Ping, Partner, Primary Investments, Adams Street PartnersHuai Fong Chew, Regional Lead, East Asia & the Pacific PE Funds, IFCDave Richards, Managing Partner, Capria VenturesSarah Chen-Spellings, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Beyond The Billion (launched as The Billion Dollar Fund for Women)Tsubasa Suruga, Staff Writer, Nikkei Asia (Moderator)FULL VIDEO:The LP View - Backing Emerging Managers in Adverse Times | PEVC Summit 2022-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

As we step into the new year of 2024, we bring you a conversation that challenges the very essence of legacy. In this short and impromptu episode, Juan Pablo Escobar (now known as Sebastián Marroquín), the son of the notorious drug cartel leader Pablo Escobar, shares insights that will challenge preconceptions and spark hope.Join us as we explore how one man's choice to embrace a path of peace is reshaping the legacy that has defined his life. Key Takeaways:1/ Always seek your own identity; nothing grows under a big shadow.2/ Closing the cycle of violence by choosing peace and embracing forgiveness.3/ Define your legacy by choosing your path.Special thanks to Datuk Nicol David, Izzana Salleh and Mariana de Reyes for recording this in an impromptu moment over dinner in Tatler Gen.T Summit 2023, Hong Kong.-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

While many professionals have in the past belittled the creator economy, according to Goldman Sachs, the creator economy was worth about 250 billion in 2023 and is set to nearly double by 2027. And that is just one of the myriad reasons why you should tune in to our conversation today with Scott Clary, who is living this very trend. An entrepreneur, investor, author and podcaster today with a combined following of about 2 million! Join us as we dove deep into Scott's journey and the importance of personal brand monetizing influence and the nuances of the creator economy. Key Takeways1/ Focusing on things that really fit the “right now”.2/ Be proud of your own work; and stay long enough to see it through.3/ Building companies is more than building jobs - think about transfer of power, hiring the right person, and think beyond the face value.4/ Always validate product market fit.5/ Trust yourself more.About ScottScott D. Clary is a Canadian entrepreneur, business executive, author, educator, speaker & podcaster. He is the host of the 'Success Story' Podcast where he interviews inspirational people, mentors and leaders, and the founder of a weekly business newsletter with over 100,000 subscribers.He's sold and marketed to the most iconic F500 / F100 brands throughout his career. His work has been featured in over 100+ news sites and publications. He speaks globally at industry conferences and has had articles and insights featured in Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Hackernoon, The Startup and others.-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

In light of the nostalgic festive period, this week, we are diving back into one of our favorite episodes this year with the one and only Vivy Yusof.Social media platforms and creator-focused startups haven’t looked too hot coming into 2023, with companies like Meta, Snapchat waging layoffs along with the rest of the tech industry. BUT the creator and influencer economy are more than just buzzwords losing interest among venture capitalists. Despite challenges on a platform level, blogger-turned-entrepreneur Vivy Yusof is a case study of just how retained attention is a currency that will continue to be important in 2023 and beyond.FashionValet.com, an online marketplace that once stocked over 400 brands across Southeast Asia, became a major regional player in the fashion industry but, by 2022, she had wound the venture down, shifting her focus to her own in-house modest fashion brands, dUCK and Lilit. The silver lining? By 2022, Yusof had built a network of 14 physical stores across Malaysia and Singapore and sold more than 3 million scarves from just one of her brands. Today, we unpack Vivy’s journey, the cost of building a brand around herself, her regret on not acting on her gut and her BILLION DOLLAR AMBITIONS for her next decade in the modest fashion industry.Key Takeaways Grow your career by embracing your passion and the support of your loved ones. Engagement and loyalty come from authentic, organic growth with your audience. Fame comes with consequences; it’s a personal choice you made, so pick your battles. Ride the waves when they hit; obsession is really needed to make something successful. Pivot when it doesn’t make business sense. When you find a co-founder, try to find someone who's the opposite of you. Know your niche; never try to be like your competitor. -Originally aired: January 27, 2023Watch this on Youtube: https://bit.ly/3mPihUI-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comBuild like a CEO: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/ceoseriesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

Dr. Raj Shah's journey comprises numerous transformative endeavors, spanning his roles at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, to his current position as President of the Rockefeller Foundation. In his recent publication, "Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens," he illuminates the power of the big bet mindset—a belief that addressing problems boldly, rather than settling for incremental improvements, attracts partners capable of achieving transformational change. In this week's episode, we had the honor of exploring the significant big bets he made throughout his career. The shared big bet mindset aims to inspire leaders at every level to reimagine possibilities on a grand scale. You won't want to miss this.KEY TAKEAWAYS 3 key elements of big bets: innovative solutions, unlikely partnerships and alliances, and a real focus on data results, measurement, and tracking. It is realistic to be optimistic about grand-scale changes. We know we can be successful, but it takes a big bet mindset to embark on these efforts. Keep taking the risks you took in your twenties and thirties as you get a little older; so that you can give yourself a chance to earn those rewards. Crossing boundaries and taking risks to reach your goals, to make things work. --PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comBuild like a CEO: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/ceoseriesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

Rejection has been a recurring theme on this show, serving as a powerful catalyst for success.This week's Billion Dollar Bite features Kendra Scott's appearance in Austin, hosted by Beyond The Billion and Brown Advisory. From her initial setbacks in business to the journey of building a billion-dollar jewelry empire and the challenging decisions made along the way, we invite you to catch a glimpse of Kendra's success and the hardships she faced in this brief episode.Key Takeaways1/ Failure serves as a real-life business school: when you fail, you learn, and then you rise.2/ Prioritize hiring based on core values rather than titles.3/ Concentrate on building the best business; opportunities and resources will naturally follow.4/ Pivoting and taking risks are essential for achieving breakthroughs.5/ Select your investors as carefully as you would choose a spouse.--PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comBuild like a CEO: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/ceoseriesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

At Billion Dollar Moves, our ultimate goal has always been showcasing the often untold stories of what it really takes to achieve that coveted ‘unicorn status’ beyond what’s often humble-bragged about; to challenge today’s status quo of what ‘patterns of success’ looks like, that often does not look like you or me.Join us in our latest recap episode as we dive deep into the meaningful conversations that reshape the traditional definition of success. Let's embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment as we relive these beautiful inspiring snippets from this season. TIMESTAMPSNirvana ChaudharyInside a Billionaire's Mind: Nirvana Chaudhary, CG Group—Making Your Mark 8:51-9:51Rachel LimComing into her own: Rachel Lim, Co-Founder, Love Bonito 41:47-42:25Eric TodaMeta's Eric Toda on Building World-Class Brands & Rising with Authenticity 30:55-31:59GolaTurning Fear into Power: with Gola, Exiled Iranian Singer 21:14-21:39Nathaniel HardingInvesting in the Midcontinent with Nathaniel Harding, Cortado Ventures 44:56-47:29Jeff MaggioncaldaPivot or Persevere? | Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda 34:50-35:44Lisa Edgar Investing in Venture Capital Funds | Lisa Edgar, Top Tier Capital 09:38-10:14--PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comBuild like a CEO: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/ceoseriesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

In keeping with the theme of my material from Helsinki, Finland just as one of the biggest events in Finland happens: Slush, today’s episode is with my friend, Taneli Tikka, truly one of the OGs of the Finnish startup ecosystem, who also actually started the Foundation that owns Slush!Taneli founded his first startup Taika Technologies at the tender age of 21. Before going bankrupt, Taika akin to Silicon Valley startup General Magic, had patented technology that helped companies like Nokia and Linux in their core development.A serial entrepreneur and investor, Taneli has had more than 10 exits with several highlights in his career from schooling Mark Zuckerberg about social media when he was CEO of IRC-Galleria, then Finland’s largest youth social media platform; to serving as CEO of a State Development Company, which today is known as the Finnish Climate Fund with something like~3.5B Euros in assets. From being raised by a single mom, to building and bankrupting a company and rising from the ashes to become Finland’s favorite and trusted veteran entrepreneur, let’s just say Part One of my conversation with Taneli Tikka is nothing short of inspirational. --FOLLOW TANELI:Twitter: https://twitter.com/tanelitikka/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taneli_TikkaPODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comBuild like a CEO: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/ceoseriesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

What is our 'true dharma' and how can we build without burnout?--Once seen as the face of failure on the New York Times, Suneel Gupta understands the road to success is not always smooth and requires more than unrelenting grit. Things of course turned around for him, where as CEO of RISE Suneel helped thousands of people in their physical and mental health journey. The company was named “App of the Year” and partnered with then first lady Michelle Obama before being acquired by the NASDAQ-listed company One Medical Group. In 2022, with its acquisition of One Medical Group, RISE is now part of Amazon.Now, a bestselling author, renowned speaker, Harvard Medical School visiting scholar, Suneel helps others achieve sustainable peak performance by embracing simple habits to bolster emotional resilience and engagement. Core to that is what he captures in his book “Everday Dharma”; today we unpack the wisdom of the pages on mindfulness, play in work, and how we can rise to our essence as leaders. --Links:Everyday Dharma by Suneel GuptaFOLLOW SUNEEL:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneelkgupta/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneelgupta/ Website: https://www.suneelgupta.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comBuild like a CEO: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/ceoseriesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: twitter.com/sarahchenglobal