The Co-Founder Myth: Building A Pet Genetics Company Alone From Scratch

The Co-Founder Myth: Building A Pet Genetics Company Alone From Scratch

Most founders won't tell you what it's actually like to build a company alone. Anna Skaya will. In this episode of the Influential Women Podcast, Anna sits down with host Jodie O'Brien to talk about the eight years she spent solo-founding Basepaws, the pet genetics company that created the first DNA test for cats and ultimately sold to Zoetis. From her early Groupon days to a failed social network called Breakup Buddy, from a brutal co-founder split twelve months in to a defining moment on Shark Tank, Anna walks us through the parts of entrepreneurship that almost never make it into the highlight reel. She talks candidly about fundraising as a single female founder, the male "co-founder" she brought in just to be taken seriously in pitches, what “Shark Tank” actually does for a brand (and what it doesn't), the identity crisis that arrives after a successful exit, and what she now looks for as a Managing Partner at AniVC. In this episode: * Why most co-founder partnerships break (and the 18-month rule) * Fundraising as a single female founder in Silicon Valley * Bringing in a male "co-founder" just to be taken seriously in pitches * What Shark Tank actually does for a business, and the behind-the-scenes truth * Building a category from zero when cat DNA testing didn't exist * Selling to Zoetis during COVID * The identity crisis nobody warns you about after a successful exit * What she looks for in founders now as an early-stage investor Whether you're building solo, navigating an exit, or sitting in the quiet that follows a sale, Anna's story is a master class in grit, reinvention, and the courage to keep creating categories nobody else sees yet.

From Imposter Syndrome to Force of Nature: Breaking the Unwritten Rules of Advancement | Chitra Nawbatt

Every space has two sets of rules: the written ones, and the ones nobody puts on paper. In this episode of the Influential Women Podcast, host Jodie O'Brien sits down with Chitra Nawbatt to talk about what really happens behind closed doors when promotions get decided, why so many qualified women feel invisible in rooms where they belong, and how to reposition yourself for the opportunities you've already earned. Chitra Nawbatt is the author of The CodeBreaker Mindset, a USA TODAY best-seller, and creator and host of the podcast by the same name. She is a Partner at General Catalyst, one of the world's leading multibillion-dollar global venture capital firms, where she serves as Global Head of Health Assurance and Innovation. Before venture capital, Chitra was a TV news anchor in New York City for Reuters, BNN Bloomberg, and CCTV, conducting in-depth interviews with global leaders including the Citigroup CEO and the Governor of the Bank of England. She holds a CPA designation and is a graduate of Harvard Business School, Harvard University, and the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. In this conversation, you'll hear: * Why what most women call imposter syndrome is actually "imposter treatment" * The three signals hiring managers are watching for right now, beyond your resume * Pattern recognition as a leadership skill, and how to develop it ▪ The framework Chitra calls "octagonulating" a decision * The difference between data, perception, and manipulation * The two kinds of people in every workplace: those who want to win, and those who are afraid to lose * How to read whether your environment is built to support you or limit you * One concrete skill to start practicing this month to reposition yourself * How grief became fuel for purpose, and what "living in creation" looks like * Why no one else gets to define your ceiling "It's not imposter syndrome. It's imposter treatment. You are born a force of nature. Hang onto your force of nature self." – Chitra Nawbatt "Who is another human to define what my trajectory is? Your limit is the solar system, which means no limit." – Chitra Nawbatt CONNECT WITH CHITRA NAWBATT Website: https://www.chitranawbatt.com [https://www.chitranawbatt.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chitranawbatt/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chitranawbatt/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chitranawbatt/ [https://www.instagram.com/chitranawbatt/] Order The CodeBreaker Mindset: https://www.chitranawbatt.com/codebreaker-mindset-book [https://www.chitranawbatt.com/codebreaker-mindset-book] ABOUT THE INFLUENTIAL WOMEN PODCAST The Influential Women Podcast features honest, thoughtful conversations with women shaping their industries and building meaningful careers. Each episode goes beyond titles to explore the real stories behind leadership, the lessons learned along the way, and the pivotal moments that shaped these women's journeys across business, leadership, and creative fields. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0x6V5bV1hwEAD0VCHxkhI0 [https://open.spotify.com/show/0x6V5bV1hwEAD0VCHxkhI0]Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/influential-women-podcast/id1850947661 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/influential-women-podcast/id1850947661] Visit our website: https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts [https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts] FOLLOW INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/influentialwomen [https://www.linkedin.com/company/influentialwomen] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/influential_women_official [https://www.instagram.com/influential_women_official] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Influential-Women/61579362114580/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Influential-Women/61579362114580/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Influential_Women_Official [https://www.youtube.com/@Influential_Women_Official] Subscribe to the channel for new episodes three times a month, plus masterclasses, leadership conversations, and stories from women shaping the future of business.

From Zero Budget to Viral: Why Every Founder Needs a PR Strategy | Jenna Guarneri | Influential Women Podcast

What if visibility isn't a luxury for entrepreneurs? What if it's infrastructure? Jenna Guarneri is the founder and CEO of JMG Public Relations, bestselling author of You Need PR, and host of Call Your Publicist—a rapidly growing podcast that's been recognized as a 2025 Most Shared Show on Spotify and is now expanding to television on Roku. But here's what makes her different: she didn't build this empire with a big budget. She built it by democratizing PR and proving that visibility is something any entrepreneur can create. Jenna has been featured on Good Morning America four times. She's sparked viral conversations that caught the attention of Kim Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan. She's proven that you don't need celebrity status or deep pockets to build credibility and visibility. You need strategy, authenticity, and the willingness to tell your story. In this powerful conversation with host Jodie O'Brien, Jenna reveals exactly how to build visibility strategically, whether you have a six-figure PR budget or you're bootstrapping with zero dollars. She talks about the difference between chasing trends and building an authentic narrative. She shares why women specifically struggle with self-promotion and visibility. And she proves that by saying yes to opportunities, you never know where they'll lead. Podcast hub: ⁠https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts⁠ [https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts] IMDb: ⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt42561398/⁠ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt42561398/] In this episode, we explore: * Why you need PR—and what it actually means for your business * How women are taught to be quiet and how to break that pattern * Building visibility with zero budget: where to start (hint: go local) * The difference between telling your story and just talking about what you do * Why being authentic with trends matters more than jumping on every one * How to leverage pop culture conversations without feeling opportunistic * Building a narrative that makes people actually listen * The cost of staying invisible (to your business, opportunities, and income) * What happened when she launched a podcast without expecting it to go viral * Why you should say yes to opportunities you don't expect * Celebrating wins at every stage—from your first media placement to your 10th year as CEO KEY TAKEAWAYS ✓ Visibility isn't a luxury—it's infrastructure for business success ✓ You don't need a massive budget to start building visibility ✓ Regional press and local media are the perfect entry point ✓ Your story is what makes you stand out, not your credentials alone ✓ Women are taught to be quiet—you have to intentionally break that pattern ✓ Never jump on trends just for clicks; stay authentic to your brand ✓ Building your narrative takes time and consistency (Jenna built for 11 years before viral moments) ✓ Saying yes to unexpected opportunities (like a podcast) can change your business trajectory ✓ Success looks different for everyone—celebrate the wins at every stage FIND JENNA GUARNERI * JMG Public Relations: www.jmgpr.com [http://www.jmgpr.com] * Book: You Need PR (bestseller) * Podcast: Call Your Publicist (387k+ streams, 2025 Most Shared Show on Spotify) * Roku Channel: Call Your Publicist (expanding to television) * Social Media: * Instagram: (26K followers personal, 21K+ JMG PR page) * LinkedIn: (active with thought leadership) * Forbes: Contributor on Forbes Business Council WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS Jenna represents something rare: a woman who's proven that PR success doesn't require massive budgets or celebrity status. She's not gatekeeping. She's not telling you to hire a big agency. She's saying: here's how I did it, here's the template, now go build your own visibility. She's building her company, hosting a podcast, appearing on national TV, launching on Roku, and still has time to mentor the next generation. CONTENT NOTE This episode is tactical, inspirational, and grounded in real business strategy. It's for entrepreneurs who want results, not hype.

The Self-Worth Equation: How Understanding Yourself Changes Everything | Anna Morgenstern | Influential Women Podcast

What if the reason you keep dating the same type of person isn't luck? What if it's a pattern you're choosing—unconsciously—because of an old wound? Anna Morgenstern is NYC's top matchmaker and dating expert, having spent over a decade helping men and women worldwide find real partnerships. But here's what makes her different: she's not just a matchmaker. She's a pattern-breaker. She's someone who understands that most people aren't stuck because they're unlucky. They're stuck because they're dating from a wounded place—and they don't even know it. Anna's own journey proves it. She was a matchmaker who couldn't find her own match until she did the deep self-work she now helps her clients do. She spent years feeling turned off when men treated her well, pausing to ask herself why consistency and kindness felt wrong. She had to retrain herself to recognize a real partnership. In this honest conversation with host Jodie O'Brien, Anna reveals what actually keeps people from finding lasting relationships—and it's not what you think. Podcast hub: ⁠https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts⁠ [https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts] IMDb: ⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt42561398/⁠ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt42561398/] In this episode, we explore: * Why you're not a victim to your type—and how to change it * The patterns high-achieving women keep repeating * How to recognize when you're dating from a wounded place * Why superficial qualities lead to divorce * What actually matters in finding a real partner * The cost of accepting less than you deserve * How to use travel and stress situations to evaluate partnerships * Doing the self-worth work that changes everything * Why your professional success doesn't guarantee relationship success * Breaking patterns and finding real partnership Anna brings data, research, and lived experience. She's worked with hundreds of clients and lived through her own pattern-breaking. She doesn't offer inspiration without substance. She offers a strategy: understanding your attraction triggers, recognizing your patterns, and doing the work to retrain yourself to recognize real partnership. KEY TAKEAWAYS ✓ Attraction isn't fixed—it's a pattern you can change if it's not working ✓ Your type tells you where your wounds are coming from ✓ High-achieving women often attract unavailable men because it validates their drive ✓ Superficial qualities (looks, status, money) don't predict lasting relationships ✓ What matters: kindness, consistency, genuine friendship, shared goals ✓ You're likely dating from a wounded place without knowing it ✓ Stress situations reveal who someone really is (travel, delays, conflict)  ✓ Self-worth work means retraining yourself to recognize good treatment ✓ Patterns tell you everything about how you got here ✓ Your past doesn't define your future—and you can meet someone tomorrow who changes everything FIND ANNA MORGENSTERN * Anna Morgenstern Matchmaking: www.annamorgenstern.com * Social Media: * Instagram: @annamorgenstern  * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annamorgenstern * Email: datingrehabnyc@gmail.com

Redefining Leadership: Empathy and Authenticity As Competitive Advantages | Sarah Burlew | Influential Women Podcast

What if the secret to business success wasn't productivity, efficiency, or profit maximization? What if it was joy? Sarah Burlew walked away from a stable career in consulting to launch Omlie during the pandemic. Someone told her she didn't understand her market value. She proved them wrong by hitting $1.9 million in revenue in year one. Now, just a few years later, her woman-owned consulting firm has earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list, been recognized as a Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplace, and earned Sarah recognition as a Most Admired CEO. But what makes her journey remarkable isn't the accolades. It's what she's built: a consulting firm that centers joy, empathy, authenticity, and psychological safety as core business strategies—not soft perks or nice-to-haves. In this candid conversation with host Jodie O'Brien, Sarah reveals what it takes to bet on yourself when everyone doubts you, build a people-first culture at scale, and pioneer a completely different kind of leadership. In this episode, we explore: * Why she walked away from consulting despite success * How she identified what was missing in the way we work * Building $1.9M in revenue in year one on conviction * What "people-first culture at scale" actually looks like * Why joy matters at work (and why most companies are missing it) * Leading with values even when it costs you business * The difference between entrepreneurs and calculated risk-takers * Building a company intentionally designed around women's needs * How she reframes feedback and self-worth * What legacy she hopes to leave for future women leaders Sarah brings honesty about the hard moments, clarity about her values, and infectious passion for proving that business can be built differently. She doesn't offer inspiration without substance. She offers proof: through her Inc. 5000 listing, through her team's engagement, through the fact that people genuinely want to work there. Podcast hub: ⁠https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts⁠ [https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts] IMDb: ⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt42561398/⁠ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt42561398/] KEY TAKEAWAYS ✓ Work was designed 175 years ago for factory efficiency—but we're knowledge workers now  ✓ Joy, empathy, and authenticity aren't soft perks—they're competitive advantages  ✓ Building with values costs some opportunities. That's a price worth paying  ✓ Someone else's assessment of your worth is not truth—it's a reflection of their limitations ✓ Calculated risk-takers de-risk their decisions with small wins that build confidence ✓ Most businesses fail because leaders give up when it gets hard  ✓ Leading for the rising tide: decisions that create paths for others to follow ✓ Pioneers don't need playbooks—they create them  ✓ Fear and scarcity are constructs you can choose not to operate within  ✓ Your gut is data. Don't silence it. FIND SARAH BURLEW * Omlie: https://omlieconsulting.com/ * Social Media:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/omlie-consulting/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/omlie-consulting/]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OmlieConsulting [https://www.facebook.com/OmlieConsulting]IG: https://www.instagram.com/omlieconsulting/ [https://www.instagram.com/omlieconsulting/]YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omlieconsulting [https://www.youtube.com/@omlieconsulting]