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Listen "Why putting people first and valuing community is everything with Nina Simone."
Episode Synopsis
In episode 2 of the Startup Confessions Podcast, host Yssamae Abdon sits down with Nina Simone, the founder of Pappus Agency and co-founder of SheSapiens. Nina shares her journey from journalism to entrepreneurship and explores the importance of community in the entrepreneurial world.
Nina was born in Germany and has lived in many places including Greece, Italy, Romania, Indonesia, and currently in Portugal. Nina highlights her passion for community building and desire to create an impact on society through Pappus and SheSapiens. Nina has always been an entrepreneur at heart, driven by her desire to challenge the status quo and address social issues around her. She also shares her dissatisfaction with traditional corporate roles and how they led her into entrepreneurship. Nina emphasizes the importance of community in her entrepreneurial journey and encourages entrepreneurs to seek community as they are an essential support system in building confidence and personal growth.
Host Yssamae and Nina also discuss the importance of horizontal leadership and collaboration in creating a supportive and enjoyable work environment. Nina's approach to leadership emphasizes collaboration, empowerment, and enabling those around her to thrive and be authentic.
However, Nina also discusses the challenges of maintaining a horizontal leadership structure at a larger-scale company. Nina acknowledges the complexities that come with scaling a business and maintaining a culture centred on empathy and respect.
Yssamae and Nina also explore the prevalence of impostor syndrome as a consequence of societal expectations and ingrained cultural norms, particularly among female entrepreneurs. In this episode, Nina emphasizes the need for authenticity and self-acceptance in overcoming
feelings of inadequacy.
Nina reflects on the sacrifices and rewards of entrepreneurship, highlighting the instability inherent in the early stages of building a business. She finds fulfillment in witnessing the growth and success of others within her community.
Nina shares valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, urging them to embrace their authenticity, prioritize financial stability, and focus on personal and professional development.
Empowering Women Through She Sapiens:
Yssamae and Nina discuss the mission of She Sapiens in empowering female entrepreneurs through community-building initiatives and educational resources. Nina emphasizes the importance of supporting women in their entrepreneurial journey and creating a safe space for
growth and collaboration.
This episode of the Startup Confessions podcast concludes with a call to action for listeners to continue their self-development, and learning journey, and encouragement from Nina to keep putting people and community first.
Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Startup Confessions podcast with our guest, Nina Simone. Be sure to check out Nina Simone’s social media, and website pages for Pappus Agency and SheSapiens.
Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll continue to explore the journeys and insights of inspiring entrepreneurs with our next guest, Afotey Odai, a software engineer based in London, UK and founder of a chore-tracking app called Nizz.
Check out Nina Simone on:
● Instagram @nina.simone_franke
● YouTube: Nina Simone
● Pappus Agency website https://pappus.agency/
● SheSapiens website https://shesapiens.com/
Make sure to check out our social media accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok:
● Instagram @thestartupconfessionspod
● TikTok @thestartupconfessionspod
● YouTube: The StartUp Confessions Podcast
Nina was born in Germany and has lived in many places including Greece, Italy, Romania, Indonesia, and currently in Portugal. Nina highlights her passion for community building and desire to create an impact on society through Pappus and SheSapiens. Nina has always been an entrepreneur at heart, driven by her desire to challenge the status quo and address social issues around her. She also shares her dissatisfaction with traditional corporate roles and how they led her into entrepreneurship. Nina emphasizes the importance of community in her entrepreneurial journey and encourages entrepreneurs to seek community as they are an essential support system in building confidence and personal growth.
Host Yssamae and Nina also discuss the importance of horizontal leadership and collaboration in creating a supportive and enjoyable work environment. Nina's approach to leadership emphasizes collaboration, empowerment, and enabling those around her to thrive and be authentic.
However, Nina also discusses the challenges of maintaining a horizontal leadership structure at a larger-scale company. Nina acknowledges the complexities that come with scaling a business and maintaining a culture centred on empathy and respect.
Yssamae and Nina also explore the prevalence of impostor syndrome as a consequence of societal expectations and ingrained cultural norms, particularly among female entrepreneurs. In this episode, Nina emphasizes the need for authenticity and self-acceptance in overcoming
feelings of inadequacy.
Nina reflects on the sacrifices and rewards of entrepreneurship, highlighting the instability inherent in the early stages of building a business. She finds fulfillment in witnessing the growth and success of others within her community.
Nina shares valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, urging them to embrace their authenticity, prioritize financial stability, and focus on personal and professional development.
Empowering Women Through She Sapiens:
Yssamae and Nina discuss the mission of She Sapiens in empowering female entrepreneurs through community-building initiatives and educational resources. Nina emphasizes the importance of supporting women in their entrepreneurial journey and creating a safe space for
growth and collaboration.
This episode of the Startup Confessions podcast concludes with a call to action for listeners to continue their self-development, and learning journey, and encouragement from Nina to keep putting people and community first.
Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Startup Confessions podcast with our guest, Nina Simone. Be sure to check out Nina Simone’s social media, and website pages for Pappus Agency and SheSapiens.
Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll continue to explore the journeys and insights of inspiring entrepreneurs with our next guest, Afotey Odai, a software engineer based in London, UK and founder of a chore-tracking app called Nizz.
Check out Nina Simone on:
● Instagram @nina.simone_franke
● YouTube: Nina Simone
● Pappus Agency website https://pappus.agency/
● SheSapiens website https://shesapiens.com/
Make sure to check out our social media accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok:
● Instagram @thestartupconfessionspod
● TikTok @thestartupconfessionspod
● YouTube: The StartUp Confessions Podcast
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