Serial entrepreneur Ara Katz joins us on the podcast to share her startup experiences and her courageous methods for creating a company culture that encourages authentic communication.
Ara’s breastfeeding experience led her to the microbiome and inspired a personal mission to explore the importance of microbes and how they can impact the health of our bodies, our children and our planet. A serial entrepreneur, Ara previously Co-Founded and served as CMO of Spring, mobile commerce marketplace. Ara was also on the Founding Team of social commerce company, BeachMint, where she launched six direct-to-consumer, influencer subscription brands.
Ara has been a fellow at the MIT Media Lab’s Center for Future Storytelling and CCA’s DesignMBA program, and was named in Marie Claire’s “The New Guard: The 50 Most Influential Women in America”, listed on Business Insider’s “Silicon Alley Top 100” and “36 Rockstar Women in NYC Tech”, and was recently included in Create + Cultivate’s 100 List for STEM.
Ara also advises various startups across the health, tech, and consumer verticals. She lives in Venice, California with her husband and two-year-old son, Pax–without whom Seed wouldn’t exist. Oh, and she’s the proud owner of several tardigrades who now live at Harvard’s Museum of Natural History.
3 Key Points
- Tell your story with clarity. When you speak clearly, you cut through the noise of a crowded market and stand out.
- Give regular feedback, take regular feedback, and be a transparent leader.
- Incessantly search for truthfulness and accountability.
Quote
Ask yourself, “[Can] I create a company that reflects how I wish the world was more?”
What We Talked About
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- 01:30 – On becoming an entrepreneur
- 02:20 – Does being an entrepreneur give you more impact than other career paths?
- 04:05 – What is your definition of hustle? How can you be mindful while hustling?
- 06:23 – Introduction to Seed Health
- 10:15 – On cutting through the noise
- 12:48 – How did you balance product development and distribution?
- 16:45 – How does a non-scientist lead a science-focused company?
- 20:00 – Co-founder and co-CEO dynamics
- 24:15 – On how to instill a healthy and forward-thinking company culture
- 32:30 – How have you consciously developed your own leadership?
- 37:00 – Funding in a high-capital, high-risk, high-regulation industry
Actionable Tips
- Explore your principles; know what guides you.
- Detach from the notion that there’s only one way to do something.
- Double down on your path.
Resources Mentioned
- Ara’s companies: Seed and parent company Seed Health
- Ara’s social media: Twitter | Instagram
- Book: Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
Resources for Your Business
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Ursula Jorch, Host of The Impact Interviews
Ursula Jorch is a business coach, speaker, and podcaster who shows women leaders how to turn their businesses into profitable agents for lasting change, global impact, and a force for good in the world.
