There’s nothing my husband and I love more than being home.
Before anything social, we bargain with each other like hostages.
“What if I said my car broke down?”
“What if we suddenly came down with a terrible head cold?”
“Do I really have to go?”
And every time, we shove each other out the door anyway.
Then we come home shocked that we had fun.
“How terrible,” he groans, taking off his shoes. “Friends. Invitations. Human connection.”
“It’s the worst,” I reply, already planning the next outfit I’ll wear somewhere other than the couch.
The urge to opt out feels stronger than ever post-pandemic. And I see it with founders constantly.
They delay the exploratory call.
Avoid the podcast invite.
Overthink the panel.
Disappear instead of pitching.
“Do I have to?” founders who have built entire companies ask me. “I just hate the dance of it all.”
But here’s the thing: visibility is part of the job now.
A lot of founders don’t have someone pushing them out the door. No one rallying them before the interview, the podcast, the awkward networking event, the first LinkedIn post.
And because of that, great opportunities — and often free PR — die quietly in drafts, ignored emails, and canceled calls.
Part of my job as a strategist is honestly just being pushy enough to drag people toward the moments that scare them a little. The podcast they think they’ll bomb. The interview they feel underqualified for. The story they aren’t sure anyone wants to hear. Because more often than not, that vulnerable, uncomfortable moment is the exact one that makes people finally pay attention.
Know a founder or CEO who needs a gentle shove into the spotlight? I’m basically a very well-dressed stage mom for vulnerable brilliance.
#founders #CEO #startup #thoughtleadership #femtech