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On this episode of She's So Suite, host Kristi Faltorusso talks with Lauren Goodell, founder and CEO of Zinnia, about her journey from Nebraska to the world of tech and entrepreneurship.
Lauren shares how she went from wanting to be a hairstylist to landing a job at Microsoft at 21, and eventually building Zinnia. She opens up about the challenges of starting a company, fundraising as a female founder, and leading with authenticity in male-dominated spaces.
They also dive into big topics like financial independence for women, building joyful work cultures, and making tough decisions while scaling a business.
Timestamps
0:00 - Preview
0:50 - Meet Lauren & learn about Zinnia
5:55 - Childhood dreams and realizations
7:05 - Lauren’s early career & self-discovery
9:44 - Moving from Microsoft to Salesforce
11:07 - Financial independence as a foundation
14:05 - Experience at Salesforce
17:22 - Being the only young, female team member at Microsoft
18:45 - How Lauren embraced authenticity in the workplace
21:07 - The challenge of fundraising as a female founder
23:45 - Celebrating success & building positive culture
27:05 - Overcoming imposter syndrome & CEO mindset
28:10 - Staying focused as an entrepreneur
31:12 - Work-life balance versus integration
32:32 - Evolving friendships and social circles
36:25 - Growth mindset and continuous learning
38:55 - Create your own table
Connect with the guest:
Lauren Goodell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-goodell/
Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:
Website: https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/
Follow the Podcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499
To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their
Website: https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/
Connect with the Show Producer:
Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/
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About She's So Suite Podcast:
Embark on a journey with Kristi in each podcast episode as she engages in insightful conversations with accomplished women in the C-suite. Explore their unique stories, triumphs, challenges, dreams, and valuable advice that will inspire and empower you. Tune in for an enriching experience as Kristi delves into the depth of their professional journeys and brings you closer to the dynamic world of female leaders at the top.