Scaling Hawaiʻi's Economy with Mana Up | Meli James | Shangri La x HumanizeHer

Redefining Prenups as a Power Move with First | Libby Leffler - Founder & CEO, First

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Libby Leffler [https://www.linkedin.com/in/libbylh/], the Co-Founder and CEO of First [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thisfirst/] (affectionately dubbed the "TurboTax for prenups"). Libby spent two decades helping build the world's most powerful rocket ships - from Google [https://www.linkedin.com/company/google/] and Facebook [https://www.linkedin.com/company/facebook/] to SoFi [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sofi/] and Compass [https://www.linkedin.com/company/compassinc/]. But at the height of her corporate career, with a newborn at home, she chose to step away and finally do the thing she was scared to do. Libby built an innovative legal-tech platform that cuts out months of stress and thousands in fees to make prenups simple, cozy, and collaborative. By taking the awkwardness out of money, she is proving that a clear agreement isn't a breaking point - it's a powerful joining point that strengthens the marriage bond. Because true transparency gives you the ultimate freedom to build your future together. Key Takeaways From the Conversation * "Personal Stack" Identity: Libby explains how First is transforming prenuptial agreements from a taboo relationship breaking point into a collaborative, cozy, and foundational joining point. She shares fascinating user trends - including the rise of the "pet-nup," protecting digital IP, and why 50% of their prenups are initiated by women. * Reality of the Founder Journey: Stepping away from the "LinkedIn highlight reel," Libby pulls back the curtain on the raw financial and emotional sacrifices of leaving corporate safety to build a startup from scratch. * "Balance is Bullshit": Rejecting the traditional myth of work-life balance, Libby advocates for alignment - unapologetically owning your ambition while structuring life around your core values. * Grief, Resilience, and Metamorphosis: In a deeply moving segment, Libby opens up about the sudden, tragic loss of her father at 33 weeks pregnant while simultaneously fundraising. She discusses how the rhythm of her mission-driven work served as a grounding compass during a season of profound grief. "Reinvention is possible at every stage and every part of the journey. Push yourself into uncomfortable situations because that is where you learn the fastest." - Libby Leffler

Building a Mindful Tech Ecosystem in Hawai'i with Blue Startups | Chenoa Farnsworth

HumanizeHer x Shangri La "Visionary Voices" brings HumanizeHer's signature conversations to Shangri La [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hi-shangrila/], a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai'i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai'i. In this episode, we are sitting down with one of the most powerful forces in venture capital building from the Pacific. Chenoa Farnsworth [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenoafarnsworth/] is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Blue Startups [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluestartups/] - consistently ranked as one of the Top 20 accelerators in the entire United States, built in Honolulu, Hawai'i. In her 25 years in venture, Chenoa has been the architect of the tech ecosystem in Hawaii. She has invested in over 150 companies, helped lead the Hawai'i Angels [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawaiiangels/] network, and founded East Meets West [https://emwhawaii.com/] - the premier conference that has spent the last 12 years connecting technology leaders across the Pacific. Working alongside Tetris [https://www.linkedin.com/company/tetris-official/] CEO, Maya Rogers [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayarogers/], Chenoa is proving that the islands are a world-class hub for tech. She believes Hawaiʻi is a strategic bridge between Asia and North America - and she is betting on women founders to deliver her the best returns. This conversation will change how you think about where innovation happens and who gets to lead it, from the vanguard of redefining Hawaii not just as a destination, but as a thriving global innovation hub. Key Takeaways: * "Bridge to Asia" Thesis: Discover how Hawai'i leverages its unique geographic and cultural proximity to act as a crucial link between Western and Asian tech markets, shifting the perspective on what makes the islands a competitive place to build a global business. * Tech with a Heart: Chenoa is on a mission to redefine innovation and tech culture from the ground up. Moving away from typical "bro-tech" dynamics, Chenoa infuses her leadership with Hawaii's deeply rooted values of 'Ohana (family) and community. It's a refreshing look at how grounding a business in family-style collaboration can drive true, impactful innovation. * Future of Tech in the AI Era: Hear Chenoa's insights on navigating the rapidly commoditized world of AI software and why human relationships, community trust, and a "whole-person" approach will become the ultimate differentiators for successful businesses moving forward. * "Kamaʻāina Come Home" Initiative: Learn about the growing movement to draw Hawai'i's best and brightest talent back to the islands to build sustainable, high-paying tech jobs that diversify the economy without sacrificing the local environment. Listen in to discover how Chenoa and her network are bringing the human back to the center of technology, all while proving that a small island community can punch far above its weight on the global stage. Mahalo to VToku [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vtoku/] for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life. Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericalockheimer/] and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethwendorf/].

Solving Climate Anxiety with Elemental Impact | Dawn Lippert | Shangri La x HumanizeHer

HumanizeHer x Shangri La "Visionary Voices" brings HumanizeHer's signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai'i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai'i. In this episode of HumanizeHer, we sit down with Dawn Lippert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnlippert/] - and this conversation might just change the way you see the planet. It started with a childhood instinct, charging her family a quarter for leaving the lights on. Two Yale [https://www.linkedin.com/school/yale-university/] degrees later, that instinct is a global mission. Today, Dawn leads as the CEO of Elemental Impact [https://www.linkedin.com/company/elementalimpact/], her non-profit platform that has deployed over $105 million into climate innovation, while also leading Earthshot Ventures [https://www.linkedin.com/company/earthshot-ventures/], a $94 million private fund. Together, these two engines have unlocked more than $11 billion in additional funding for global solutions. To date, her portfolio has created 17,200 jobs and avoided 20 million metric tons of CO2. We caught up with her in Hawai'i - her home and the testing ground for everything she believes about clean energy, community, and the relentless belief that we can build a better world. Key Highlights Include: * Power of Entrepreneurship: How the non-profit, Elemental Impact, has invested in over 160 companies to bridge the "capital gap" for risky but essential climate solutions. * The AI x Climate Paradox: A deep dive into how AI is simultaneously increasing energy demand and providing the "three-fold" acceleration needed to solve complex problems in energy, materials, and infrastructure. * A "Circular" Future: Insights into groundbreaking startups like Super Circle [https://www.supercircle.world/] (fashion recycling) and Nth Cycle [https://nthcycle.com/] (domestic mineral recycling) that are making sustainability profitable. * Action as the Antidote: Addressing "climate anxiety" by empowering individuals to leverage their pocketbooks, their votes, and their careers to build a lasting world. Dawn also discusses the launch of Earthshot Ventures [https://www.linkedin.com/company/earthshot-ventures/], her sister venture fund, and her mission to prove that underrepresented founders are the competitive advantage the climate tech industry needs. It is an inspiring look at how ingenuity and community are coming together to "bring down the carbon curve." Mahalo to VToku [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vtoku/] for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life. Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericalockheimer/] and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethwendorf/].

Visionary Voices of Hawai'i | Shangri La x HumanizeHer IRL

For the first time, we crossed the ocean and brought HumanizeHer to Hawaiʻi, gear in tow, women to meet, and a community to build. HumanizeHer [https://www.humanizeher.com/] x Shangri La [https://shangrilahawaii.org/] brought HumanizeHer's signature podcast conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, for our Visionary Voices event, celebrating culture and building community during Women's History Month in March 2026. What you're about to experience is a live panel held on the breathtaking grounds of Shangri La, opened by Leilani Farinas [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leilanifarinas/], Director of Content & Engagement, and brought to life through a powerful partnership with HumanizeHer. Together, we hosted a live outdoor gathering that brought women together across sectors; because community doesn't just live online; it lives in the spaces we create together. Erica Lockheimer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericalockheimer/], founder of HumanizeHer, moderates a conversation with three visionary voices of Hawaiʻi, exploring leadership, entrepreneurship, and impact across business, technology, environment, and culture - amplifying women's stories and perspectives shaping Hawaiʻi's future. Featuring three special visionary women leaders from Hawai'i: Chenoa Farnsworth [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenoafarnsworth/] | Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Blue Startups [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluestartups/] Dawn Lippert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnlippert/] | Founder & CEO, Elemental Impact [https://www.linkedin.com/company/elementalimpact/] & GP, Earthshot Ventures [https://www.linkedin.com/company/earthshot-ventures/] Meli James [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melialani/] | Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Mana Up [https://manauphawaii.com/] Check out photos from the event [https://www.humanizeher.com/events] and past events and join our community here [https://www.humanizeher.com/joinher].

Scaling Hawaiʻi's Economy with Mana Up | Meli James | Shangri La x HumanizeHer

HumanizeHer x Shangri La "Visionary Voices" brings HumanizeHer's signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai'i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai'i. In this episode of HumanizeHer, we sit down with Meli James [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melialani/] - born and raised in Hawai'i, she left for Cornell University and caught the entrepreneurship bug in Silicon Valley during the early era of iPhone apps where she co-founded Nirvino, the number one wine app on iTunes - and then came back home to Hawai'i and changed everything. As Co-Founder and General Partner of Mana Up [https://www.linkedin.com/company/manaup/], she has helped over 100 Hawai'i-based brands - like Kō Hana Rum [https://www.kohanarum.com/], the first class beverage on Hawaiian Airlines [https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/]. She has scaled to global markets, generating over 113 million dollars in revenue and creating hundreds of jobs right on the islands. Her mission: keep the talent, the opportunity, and the economic power in Hawai'i - where it belongs. Episode Highlights: * Silicon Valley Blueprint: Meli shares her "quarter-life crisis" at 25 and how life coaching led her to launch Nirvino, a mobile wine app that dominated the iTunes platform for five years following the launch of the iPhone. * Birth of Mana Up: Driven by the desire to ensure local entrepreneurs don't have to leave Hawai'i to find success, Meli discusses the founding of Mana Up. She addresses the skepticism she faced when pivoting from tech to product-based companies and her goal of creating 100 Hawai'i-headquartered companies generating over 113 million dollars in revenue. * Scaling the "Hawai'i Brand": The conversation delves into why Hawai'i is one of the world's most aspirational and trusted brands. Meli explains how Mana Up helps local makers navigate the "not-so-sexy" side of business - HR, governance, and global scaling - to get products like Kō Hana Rum and LexBreezy [https://www.lexbreezyhawaii.com/] onto the global stage. * De-Risking Investments: Meli introduces Mana Up Capital, a venture fund that invests in accelerator graduates. She explains how their retail initiatives, including the House of Mana Up [https://houseofmanaup.com/] stores, allow them to de-risk investments by observing real-time consumer data before funding. This episode is a masterclass in "ownership mentality," illustrating how authentic storytelling, mentorship, and regional pride can turn local products into global powerhouses while keeping jobs and wealth within the community. Listen in and join the conversation with host, Erica Lockheimer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericalockheimer/] and co-host, Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethwendorf/].