Rita Kastrati isthe founder of Pioneering People, a socially responsible fintech platform shaking up the temporary staffing space.
Rita’s journey took her from working hospitality jobs to launching a platform connecting companies with temp staff, all while championing fair pay, inclusivity, and founder wellbeing. Her story is packed with lessons on building a business with purpose, storytelling without a marketing budget, and navigating the realities of burnout, fundraising, and leadership as a young female founder.
🚀 In this episode:
• Why founder-led marketing and storytelling matter
• How to embed social good into your business model
• The reality of burnout and how to avoid it
• When passion drives success—and when it’s not enough
• Finding co-founders, mentors, and resilience as a first-time founder
(00:00) – Intro & Rita’s mission
(00:29) – From hostess to founder
(01:01) – First job in hospitality
(01:42) – Learning resilience
(02:53) – Pioneering People explained
(03:55) – Building the founding team
(04:44) – Meeting co-founders on LinkedIn
(05:35) – Entrepreneurial beginnings
(06:32) – Lessons from 20+ jobs
(07:24) – Earning respect as a young founder
(08:06) – Finding mentors on LinkedIn
(09:00) – Standing out in a competitive market
(10:08) – Fundraising & attracting female investors
(11:03) – Building the team
(11:40) – Leadership & tough conversations
(13:12) – Red flag or green flag segment
(15:28) – UN Women delegate experience
(17:04) – Embedding social good in business
(18:06) – Expansion beyond hospitality
(18:42) – Founder-led marketing & storytelling
(21:02) – Paying interns & avoiding burnout
(22:03) – Managing burnout & balance
(24:08) – Is passion essential in business?
(24:37) – Defining success with Ikigai
(26:04) – Mindset shifts & networking
(27:28) – Women leaders & resilience
(28:27) – Knowing when to quit
(30:20) – Bootstrapping, quitting & impact stories
(31:22) – Building community & supper clubs
(33:07) – Celebrating wins & vulnerability
(35:03) – Coffee break & staying connected
(36:11) – Best advice not taken
(38:05) – Wrap up & farewell