Trailblazers

This week we chat with Christie Pitts! In this episode, Christie and Erica talk about the maternal health crisis that's facing the United States and is significantly worse among POC. Christie has taken this passion and kickstarted an ops role at the startup Mahmee and co-founded VCs for Repro to build a coalition of VCs who are united to support access to abortion. She's a wealth of knowledge on the topic and was open about her journey into the tech world.Christie Pitts is VP of Operations at Mahmee, a maternal healthcare company on a mission to make the US the best place in the world to give birth. She co-founded the VCs for Repro initiative, focused on the intersection of the economy and reproductive justice, and hosts the Moms at Work liveshow to build community, raise awareness, and advocate for better experiences for working moms.She is also an experienced early-stage investor formerly at Backstage Capital having invested in more than 200 companies led by underrepresented (women, people of color, and LGBTQ) founders. Christie led company sourcing, diligence, portfolio management, and investor relations for the firm. Additionally, Christie led the launch of the first global accelerator for underrepresented founders. Backstage Capital’s Accelerator operated in London, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Detroit. Christie is a high-achieving mom, and hosts the live show Moms at Work, where she speaks on a weekly basis with people who are achieving amazing things while raising amazing humans. Christie is motivated by representation, and is dedicated to amplifying unheard stories in her work.Follow Us!Christie Pitts: @imchristiepittsMahmee: @joinmahmee, website hereVCs for Repro: @VCsforrepro, website hereErica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

This week we chat with Steph Mui! In this episode, Steph and Erica talk about how Steph was an inventor/entrepreneur from a VERY early age (shoutout to her school system for encouraging it!) and why she accidentally fell into being a founder after starting a community-based fund at business school. She has an amazing story and she's just getting started!Steph is the founder of PIN (Power in Numbers), a VC-backed company that enables communities of people (including people from Stanford, YC, Coinbase, and more) to invest in startups together. She's passionate about enabling more people to become founders and startup investors by increasing access and education with PIN. She was formerly on the venture capital investing team at NEA and helped invest over $150M. She studied at Stanford GSB for her MBA and at UChicago for her BA in Economics. Follow Us!Steph Mui: @stephmuiPIN: @getpinxyz, website hereErica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

This week we chat with Robbie Shattuck! Robbie Shattuck is the Founder & CEO of ATHOS Private Wealth, a multi-family office and premier financial services community for innovative venture-backed early-stage founders. ATHOS guides entrepreneurs and venture investors through the multiple stages of building their family offices by advising on estate planning, financial management, and other personal financial needs well before others are willing to work with them. Robbie is an active private investor, managing four hybrid venture funds and investing in dozens of venture funds, companies, real estate projects, web3 businesses, and private credit funds per year. Prior to founding ATHOS, Robbie was an early employee at ICONIQ Capital, an $80 billion+ multi-family office for the tech elite. Robbie managed $2 billion in assets and oversaw more than $20 billion in net worth for over a dozen family offices for some of the most influential minds of our lifetime. In Robbie’s career he has worked with the founders and CEOs of Twitter and Dropbox and helped guide them through some of their largest financial decisions. Before that, Robbie cut his teeth in his investment career at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah with a Bachelors Degree in Actuarial Science, and Minors in Business Management and Portuguese. Robbie’s greatest joys in life are spending time with his wife and three daughters and spending time outdoors, away from screens.In this episode, Robbie and Erica talk about Robbie's windy journey from a small town in NorCal to the wild world of managing money for billionaires. Robbie is open about the the mysterious world of family offices and tells us all the details behind why he decided to take the plunge and start his own multi-family office. So refreshing to hear from an investor who doubles as a founder! Enjoy!Follow Us!Robbie Shattuck: LinkedInATHOS Wealth website: hereErica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

This week we chat with Dr. Catherine Chang! Dr. Catherine Chang, a board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and craniofacial specialist, takes an uncommon approach to cosmetic surgery, combining artistry with technical expertise to produce the most natural, harmonious results. In her private practice at Privé Beverly Hills, Dr. Chang describes her work as “surgery that doesn’t look surgical.” She hides incisions to make them undetectable to the naked eye. She is a powerful female surgeon with an incredible roster of clients in an industry filled with men. In March 2023, Dr. Chang launched NakedBeauty MD with the debut product; Damask Rose Revitalizing Eye Masks, developed from her patients' need for a post-procedure regiment that would help heal the skin effectively. Since launch the eye masks have become a beauty authority favorite being used by names such as Hung Vanngo while working with Cara Delevingne during the 2023 Oscars. Dr. Chang earned degrees from Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard Medical School. She is also a student of art history, a concert pianist who performed at Carnegie Hall, and a competitive tennis player.In this episode, Dr. Chang and Erica talk about how she pivoted into the world of plastic surgery, what it's been like to grow two businesses - her own practice and her beauty line, and how the world of plastic surgery and beauty are interconnected. They also coincidentally recorded this episode on the same day Erica's sister was taking her medical boards in hopes of becoming a plastic surgeon herself, so good vibes were sent to her sister Danielle throughout!Twentysomethings, listen now for an hour of thought-provoking chats about becoming a physician with the inspiring, Dr. Catherine Chang!Follow Us!Dr. Catherine Chang Instagram: @catchangmdPrivé Beverly Hills website: hereNakedBeautyMD Instagram: @nakedbeautymdErica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

This week we chat all things CRMs (aka customer relationship management platforms), with our host, Erica Wenger!It's hard to keep track of your personal and business contacts when you're meeting so many new people all the time. That's where a CRM comes in handy! You can keep track of all contacts with detailed notes, to do items, and all synced up with email, calendars, social platforms, and more.On this episode Erica offers the detailed walkthrough of how she uses her CRM platform, Close. For anyone kickstarting a fundraising process or just wanting to get a better handle on their contacts, this episode is for you!Follow Us!Erica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

This week we chat with Dr. Shereene Idriss! Shereene is unlike her peers. In a time when top-name dermatologists have signed on as corporate-brand figureheads, joining in on false marketing hype to appear relevant, Dr. Idriss has become a household name for doing just the opposite. She rose to organic fame through her #PillowtalkDerm series on Instagram, Tiktok, and YouTube for candidly speaking about skincare, sharing the science-based truth behind it all. In doing so, she amassed a following of 1 million+ “skin nerds” across IG, YT and TT, who called on her to create her very own skincare line minus any of the B.S. and with that, PillowtalkDerm was born. In this episode, the talk about what led to the start of Shereene’s world of dermatology. The two uncover stories from studying days, her journey to Tiktok, and the jumpstart that fueled her entrepreneurial approach to skincare! Conversations on challenges, choices, and determination are just the beginning…Twentysomethings, listen now for an hour of pure entrepreneurial spirit with the incredible, Dr. Shereene Idriss!Follow Us!Shereene Idriss Instagram: @shereeneidrissShereene Idriss Tiktok: @shereeneidriss & @pillowtalkdermShereene Idriss Youtube: @pillowtalkdermPillowtalkDerm: website hereErica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

This week we’re talking sobriety with the incredible Brooke LeBlanc. Brooke is the Founder & CEO of Edge, a consumer health tech startup on a mission to help you cut back or quit drinking. Through her experience in tech sales and 2+ year sobriety journey, she's helped coach dozens of people to abstain from drinking. Now she's building a team to productize her learnings and using technology to allow you to track your Blood Alcohol Content in realtime to tell a fuller picture of your drinking consumption and patterns. Edge is in stealth, currently raising their first round and you're getting a sneak peek into her background as the Founder and insight into the future of drinking. Brooke shares content around her sobriety journey online and has built a community and following around her mission.In this explained episode, the pair dive deep into the experiences that led to the formation of Edge, highlighting personal challenges as well as obstacles in business. This week we’re bringing you a story of inspiration and a business idea made reality, centered in service. Twentysomethings, listen now for an hour of inspiration with Brooke LeBlanc!Follow Us!Brooke LeBlanc: @mbrookeleblancEdge: @joinedgeappBrooke's viral essay: HEREErica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

This week we chat all things Broadway, with our host, Erica Wenger!While we hear Broadway praise all the time, what exactly is it all about? Broadway is a boulevard of famous theaters where people from all over the world travel to experience the 'pinnacle of theatrical artistry'. It is a luxury of an experience and our host is here to share all about it!On this episode Erica offers an inside scoop into her recent Broadway experience, sharing favorite moments, reflections, and suggestions. Twentysomethings, listen now for an hour of inspiration for your next trip to NY with our host, Erica Wenger!Follow Us!Erica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

This week we chat with childhood best friend, Lindsay Feder.Lindsay is the childhood best friend of our host, Erica! We're bringing you a special and heartfelt episode this week as the two talk all about 'female friendships.' Conversations of overcoming obstacles, sustainability, and shared memories are just the beginning.Twentysomethings, listen now for an hour of friendship and tips for women in their twenties who are aiming to maintain friendships for a lifetime with our host, Erica Wenger, and special guest, Lindsay Feder!Follow Us!Lindsay Feder: @lindsayfederErica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

This week we chat with the innovative, Katharine Lau!Katharine is the CEO and Co-Founder of Stuf, one of 'Fast Company’s' World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2022. She was named to 'Inc. Magazine’s' Female Founders 100 list in the same year. Katharine is passionate about reinventing consumer experiences in the physical world and leads the company’s strategic vision and overall strategy in transforming the self-storage industry. From 2015-2020, Katharine led supply growth at Industrious, the nation’s largest premium shared workplace provider. As VP of Real Estate, she pioneered an "industry first” asset and liability-light growth strategy which generated $150M in annual managed revenue and prompted CBRE to acquire Industrious in early 2021. Katharine hired and managed a 20+ person team and oversaw the company’s 14x expansion in under 4 years while developing go-to-market strategies for new digital products and tenant experience services.  In this episode, the pair go back to Katharine's prior employment experiences having worked at Equinox as Manager of Development. Conversations on the experiences that shaped her entrepreneruail mindset and the space she's created to pioneer her way are just the beginning.Twentysomethings, listen now for an hour of inspiration and motivation with the impressive, Katharine Lau!Follow Us!Katharine Lau: @katharine_lauStuf Storage: @stufstorage (and website here)Erica Wenger: @erica_wengerDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething