Leah Solivan: The Entrepreneur's Journey to the Boardroom.

22/04/2024 56 min Episodio 134
Leah Solivan: The Entrepreneur's Journey to the Boardroom.

Listen "Leah Solivan: The Entrepreneur's Journey to the Boardroom."

Episode Synopsis

(0:00) Intro.(1:10) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(1:57) Start of interview.(2:40) Leah's "origin story." (3:41) Her time at IBM.(4:48) Her founding story of TaskRabbit (Boston, 2008).(12:43) The evolution of her board at TaskRabbit, and how to think about (startup) board composition and scaling. (20:31) First CEO succession (after $12m Series B in 2012).(25:10) Her return as CEO, raising a Series C, and adding 3 strategic independent directors.(26:13) On hiring Stacy Brown-Philpot as COO, and successor to CEO role.(30:45) Distinguishing between startup directors (management, investor, and independent directors).(36:01) Transitioning to investing as a general partner at Fuel Capital. Motto: "We're on your corner, not in your kitchen"(40:55) On the role of CEO coaches (vs board directors or advisors).(42:44) About YPO. "It has been a hugely influential organization for me."(45:21) Her thoughts on boardroom diversity. Reference to the LCDA.(48:42) Innovation in the boardroom, risks and opportunities of AI.(51:29)  Books that have greatly influenced her life: Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston (2007)Books by Adam Grant.(51:51) Her mentors.(52:25) Quotes that she thinks of often or lives her life by.(52:50) An unusual habit or absurd thing that she loves.(54:15) The living person she most admires.Leah Solivan is a General Partner at Fuel Capital, a Silicon Valley-based seed stage venture capital firm. Prior to that, she was the founder, CEO and Executive Chair at TaskRabbit.You can follow her on social media at:Twitter: @labunleashed
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