Seed Stage Stories

Sarah Joyce Franklin recently stepped into the role of CEO at Lattice. During her 16-year tenure at Salesforce, Sarah served as the President, CMO, and Chairwoman Advisory. Sarah is also a runner, space enthusiast, snowboarder, and mom. Her professional success speaks for itself, but what stands out to me — and is not necessarily the norm for tech executives — Sarah has a lot of fun at her job. During our podcast conversation, we talked about her journey from individual contributor to executive and the lessons she learned along the way. She shares: How to make decisions from a place of confidence, not fear The story of her midnight memo to CEO Marc Benioff How she approaches motherhood with such a demanding job Her advice for aspiring leaders in tech To see my four main takeaways from the conversation, check out the Seed Stage Stories blog!

Nikil Viswanathan, Co-Founder and CEO of Alchemy, talks about speed and consistency in entrepreneurship, the future of blockchain, the best time to start a company, his favorite memories at Stanford, and his advice for college students.

Kristina Saffran, CEO of Equip, discusses her personal experiences with anorexia, the industry inflections in healthcare, the importance of aligning incentives, the role of healthcare investors, and the impact of grit as an entrepreneur. She also shares advice for college students and talks about navigating mental health in college. Finally, she touches on turning anxiety into adrenaline and provides closing advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Joseph Woodbury, Co-Founder and CEO of Neighbor, discusses scaling a consumer marketplace and strengthening local communities through Neighbor, a hyperlocal marketplace for storage. Topics include his experience building the company as a college student, staying true to your values as an entrepreneur, the growth curve of consumer marketplaces, and the importance of great co-founders.

Sam Corcos, Co-Founder and CEO of Levels, discusses developing the CEO skillset, approaching college for aspiring entrepreneurs, building an all-star team, the future of U.S. healthcare, and becoming a great communicator. He also shares his journey from being a CrossFit trainer to developing a tool for understanding the impact of food on health, and highlights the potential of wearable technology in healthcare.

Kara Goldin, entrepreneur who disrupted a billion-dollar industry as a first-time founder, shares her journey of starting Hint, the largest independent beverage company. They discuss advocating for oneself early in their career, leading during crises, finding fulfillment in work. They also explore the evolution of the mission, creating a new category in the beverage industry, prioritizing health, and the importance of exploring different fields.

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, a leading technology executive and venture capitalist, shares pivotal moments in her career and offers advice on risk-taking, decision-making, and pursuing high-impact opportunities. She emphasizes the value of sales skills, discusses her journey from college to Silicon Valley, and highlights the importance of aligning one's job with making a meaningful contribution. Additionally, she explores the power of mentorship and encourages listeners to find their own path to success.

Eric Rea, a high-energy, gritty leader who took an unconventional path to entrepreneurship, discusses challenges of being a CEO, developing communication skills, and finding success in building Podium.

Davis Smith, serial e-commerce entrepreneur and CEO of Cotopaxi, discusses risk-taking, building a brand, prioritizing people, and finding purpose in entrepreneurship. He shares his journey, the power of storytelling in building a brand, efforts to fight poverty through outdoor products, and empowering workers and inspiring innovation. The podcast also explores the need to reconstruct capitalism and do good in business.