Angel investing with Laurie Cecone and host Catherine Gray Ep. 414

In this episode of INVEST IN HER, host Catherine Gray welcomes Jessica Kamada, a seasoned investor and growth expert. Jessica is the Managing Partner of Swizzle Ventures, a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting businesses that empower women through life’s most challenging transitions. With a background in growth marketing, Jessica has led revenue strategies for top consumer tech companies such as Headspace, DoorDash, Peloton, and The New York Times. Her unique career journey, from figure skater in Michigan to venture capitalist in Seattle, is as inspiring as it is impressive. Catherine and Jessica dive into the world of venture capital, discussing what it takes to build a portfolio that aligns with a mission of empowerment. They also explore Jessica’s transition from founding Bamboo, a successful growth marketing agency, to managing investments that champion innovative solutions for women. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, an investor, or someone passionate about growth and innovation, this episode offers valuable insights into the intersections of business strategy, mission-driven investing, and personal growth. Tune in to learn how venture capital can be a powerful force for change.   www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels  

In this episode of INVEST IN HER, host Catherine Gray is joined by Shelin David, the dynamic CEO of SheBacks.Me, an innovative investment community dedicated to supporting Australian women entrepreneurs. With a mission to close the gender funding gap, SheBacks.Me provides alternative capital pathways, education, and a supportive network for women founders and new investors. Shelin's leadership has revolutionized funding opportunities through equity investments, revenue-based financing, and angel syndicates. Beyond her entrepreneurial impact, Shelin co-founded Women For Impact and has been instrumental in raising millions for SaaS startups. Shelin's story is deeply rooted in her passion for gender equity, inspired by the resilience of women in her life and her experiences as a CFO, mentor, and advocate for systemic change. In this engaging conversation, host Catherine Gray and Shelin David explore the mission of SheBacks.Me and its role in transforming funding opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Australia. Shelin shares the challenges women face in securing capital and how her community-driven initiatives are breaking barriers. From her early days in finance to her current role as a trailblazer in equity investments, Shelin offers insights on fostering inclusive ecosystems, scaling impact-driven businesses, and empowering women to thrive as both entrepreneurs and investors. Tune in for an inspiring discussion about innovation, resilience, and Shelin's vision for a more equitable future.   www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels  

In this episode of INVEST IN HER, host Catherine Gray is joined by Dr. Eva Balint, a dynamic physician executive, entrepreneur, investor, advisor, and executive coach. Dr. Balint is the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of EB Healthcare Consulting, where she specializes in driving excellence in healthcare delivery and empowering female physician leaders. With an impressive background that spans research at Stanford, leadership roles in major healthcare organizations, and advisory positions for tech startups, Dr. Balint has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share about transformational journeys in healthcare and beyond. Together, Catherine and Dr. Balint explore the transition from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, diving into the challenges and opportunities that come with building a business from the ground up. They discuss how Dr. Balint’s expertise in value-based care and organizational growth translates into entrepreneurial success and why healthcare innovation plays a critical role in shaping the future. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned professional looking for inspiration, this episode offers actionable insights and empowering stories. Tune in to discover how you, too, can harness your skills to make a meaningful impact.   www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels  

In this episode, host Catherine Gray sits down with Cammie Doder and Sandi Bragar of Aspiriant, a premier wealth management firm. Cammie Doder is the Chief Marketing Officer and a partner at Aspiriant. She is passionate about fostering client connections through thoughtful marketing strategies and empowering clients to make well-informed financial decisions. With an MBA from UCLA and a BS from USC, Cammie combines a strong educational background with years of experience in brand leadership. Her role centers on client advocacy, brand consistency, and connecting with new clients who align with Aspiriant's forward-thinking, fiduciary-focused values. Sandi Bragar, Aspiriant’s Chief Client Officer, leads the firm's Planning, Strategy & Research team, which offers an advanced wealth planning platform for personalized client support. With a background in tax consulting at Ernst & Young and numerous industry accolades, Sandi brings decades of expertise to Aspiriant, where she has been a partner since 2002. She is a Certified Financial Planner™ and has been recognized as one of Forbes America's Top Women Advisors. A dedicated mentor in the Financial Planning Association and a respected media contributor, Sandi is committed to helping families navigate complex financial landscapes with clarity and confidence. In this episode, Catherine, Cammie, and Sandi discuss the journey of building meaningful client relationships in wealth management, the importance of trust and transparency, and how Aspiriant supports individuals in achieving financial security. They also share insights on the evolving roles of women in finance and the power of mentorship. Join them for an inspiring conversation on creating impact and fostering a client-centered approach in financial planning. https://aspiriant.com/ www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels    

In this episode, host Catherine Gray sits down with Maggie Rose Macar, the inspiring CEO and Founder of zant. Driven by personal experience and the challenge of finding affordable therapy in college, Maggie channeled her passion into creating a platform to support mental health and coaching professionals. With a degree in psychology and multiple certifications in mental health, crisis intervention, and business, Maggie also co-hosts No Pressure Networking events in NYC to build a community for women founders and funders. Her impressive background and commitment to accessible mental health solutions make her a unique leader in the field. During the episode, Catherine and Maggie delve into how zant is revolutionizing practice management for mental health and coaching professionals. Maggie shares the journey of building zant, a platform dedicated to making mental health services more accessible and affordable for clients while streamlining operations for providers. From insights into the early stages of the startup to strategies for empowering professionals in the mental health space, Maggie provides valuable advice for entrepreneurs and practitioners alike. This episode offers a comprehensive look at how zant is making an impact, and what’s next for the mental health industry.   www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels  

In this episode of Invest In Her, host Catherine Gray sits down with Dr. Yi Sherry Zhang, a visionary leader and founder of GenoPalate, a pioneering company in the field of personalized nutrition and nutrigenomics. Dr. Zhang is a highly respected innovator in the health and wellness industry, known for her unique approach to helping people understand their dietary needs based on their genetics. Her impressive journey includes building a multi-million-dollar brand from scratch, creating sustainable revenue growth, and raising over $12 million in funding. With a background as a molecular biologist and a track record of impactful leadership, Dr. Zhang has earned recognition as one of Wisconsin's Titan 100 CEOs. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Zhang shares insights on her entrepreneurial journey, her passion for health equity, and the future of personalized nutrition. She discusses the challenges she faced while scaling GenoPalate and the strategies she used to grow a mission-driven team and create partnerships with major players in the health and wellness space. This episode offers listeners an inspiring look into how Dr. Zhang combines science, business acumen, and an unwavering commitment to empowering people to make informed choices about their health. Tune in for a compelling discussion highlighting the intersection of innovation, leadership, and wellness. www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels

Catherine Gray, the host of Invest In Her, interviews Mona DeFrawi. She has been a member of 12 startup teams over 3 decades, managing IPOs for the first 4 and serving as Founder & CEO of the last 4. She pioneered the first Private Market platform for institutional investors to restore venture liquidity and IPOs, and initiated the unicorn investing trend. That startup was acquired twice, then spun out as the standalone Nasdaq Private Market I 2021 with Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanly, Citi, and other leading financial institutions all investing. Radivision® is the new streaming and community platform for the startup world that helps everyone understand, participate in, and prosper with private market and IPO investing.  Mona has been recognized as one of Forbes’ “Most Powerful Women in Technology,” and one of the “Top 100 Women in Fintech."   www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels  

Catherine Gray, the host of Invest In Her, interviews Laurie Cercone, an angel investor with Central Texas Angel Network (CTAN), one of the largest and most active angel groups in the country where she served as former Board President and spent four years on the board. Laurie currently serves on the Investment Committee, Ecosystem Committee, and leads the Women in Angel Investing Committee. She participates in CTAN’s side car fund, and other funds within and outside of Texas. Laurie has a passion for the start-up ecosystem. She is a mentor at SKU’s CPG accelerator and served as Managing Director at a start-up accelerator and investment fund.      Having a background in food brands, Laurie has held leadership positions at multi-sized companies in the CPG and food industry. She helped scale sales and distribution at a former company leading its acquisition by a fortune 50 company, and currently leads the retail, foodservice and B2B sales division for food manufacturing company based in Houston.    www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels  

Catherine Gray, the host of Invest In Her, interviews Jill Johnson, the co-founder and CEO of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), based in Newark, NJ. Founded in 2002, IFEL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to eradicate the systemic barriers that prevent people from historically excluded populations from having access to the knowledge, networks, and capital required for entrepreneurial success and wealth creation. With over 30 years of experience as a business strategist, Jill is a pioneering voice for inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and is especially focused on creating a new paradigm for the access to capital conversation. Most recently, Jill led the acquisition of Pipeline Angels, an angel investing network focused on increasing investor diversity and funding for women. The acquisition unites two trailblazing organizations committed to increasing capital access to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.   www.sheangelinvestors.com  Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels  

Catherine Gray, the host of Invest In Her, interviews Dr Kristen Weatherby,  the founder of Breakthrough Labs, an accelerator and community supporting female tech founders seeking early-stage funding. Breakthrough Labs addresses the unique challenges that women encounter on their entrepreneurship journeys and offers research-backed support to ensure that more female-founded start-ups thrive. The new Breakthrough Labs online community supports women entrepreneurs globally by providing them access to the learning, connections, and resources they need to help their businesses thrive. Dr Weatherby is also a Scout for Ada Ventures, an impact-driven VC committed to funding diverse founders in the UK. She has a PhD in education technology from the UCL Institute of Education, and a Masters in Education from the University of Michigan. Her 25-year career has included leadership roles in some of the largest global public and private sector players in education, technology, policy, and research, including Microsoft, the OECD, and University College London.    https://www.breakthroughlabs.net/ www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn