What It's Like To Be A Female Founder

What is it like being a female founder in a post-COVID business landscape, trying to raise venture capital while also trying to raise your kids? 

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Jean Smart is the founder and CEO of Penelope, a venture-backed 401(k) platform that's focused on serving the five million American micro and small businesses. 

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Those of us who have worked for a small company will know what a struggle setting up a 401(k) can be. And so, at the height of COVID, Jean gave up her salaried career as a Wall Street exec working in financial services to found Penelope and help folk (like her immigrant parents) invest in their retirement. 

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Like most business owners who work for themselves, the '9 to 5' quickly becomes a '6 to 6'. Compromises need to be made about who you spend your time with outside of work and how you break down the goals you are trying to achieve into a manageable maths problem of time best spent. 

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There's a self-confidence and self-esteem that Jean exemplifies as she has come into her own as a female founder, unafraid to raise venture capital, make big decisions, not dwell on her mistakes, and create impact with her business. 

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This inspiring episode provides valuable insight into the mindset we need to run our own businesses while still running our own lives. Please join us. 

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 "If everything's been easy, then starting a company's really hard. But if you've already been doing hard things, then you got this." ~ Jean Smart 

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In This Episode:

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• What's it like being a female founder?
• What's been the most surprising aspect of the job?
• Learning not to dwell on your mistakes as a business owner
• The advantages of being a female founder
• Jean's advice on how to secure VC funding 
• Reducing your goals to a manageable maths problem
• What are the keys to Jean's success?