Breaking Precedent podcast

54:15

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan dives deep with Founder of Trulia, Pete Flint. Pete opens up about his early days studying physics at Oxford and how his curiosity eventually led him into the fast-paced world of startups. He talks about his experience at lastminute.com, one of the UK’s hottest tech companies at the time, and what it was like navigating through the chaos of the dot-com crash and the aftermath of 9/11. After moving to Silicon Valley to attend Stanford, Pete shares the story behind the lightbulb moment that sparked Trulia—and how he broke into one of the most tightly regulated industries in the U.S. Now a partner at NFX, Pete reflects on what he's seeing in the next wave of startups, especially around AI, and how the rules of building and scaling companies are changing in real time. Guest Bio and Links: Pete Flint is a serial entrepreneur and investor who co-founded Trulia, steering the company through its IPO and a multi-billion-dollar merger with Zillow. Today, he's a General Partner at NFX, investing in early-stage companies that leverage network effects and cutting-edge technologies. Listeners can learn more about Pete Flint at NFX , and on LinkedIn @PeteFlint Trulia Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (2:00) Leah introduces guest and founder of Trulia, Pete Flint (2:30) Pete gives a brief background of himself (5:00) Pete's childhood and early influences (9:30) How studying physics shaped Pete's thinking (12:00) Internships, London startups, and lastminute.com (17:30) Dot-com crash lessons (20:30) Transition to Silicon Valley and Stanford (24:40) The birth of Trulia (26:30) Launching during a market collapse (38:00) The role of technology in disrupting industries (42:00) The Zillow merger (44:00) Becoming an Investor (47:30) The future of startups and venture capital --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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Breaking the Food Chain: Pat Brown's Mission to Transform the Meat Industry with Impossible Foods 56:06

28 days ago56:06

56:06

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan dives deep with Dr. Patrick Brown, the founder of Impossible Foods, who left a celebrated career in science to take on one of the most urgent issues of our time - animal agriculture. Together, they discuss how a plant-based alternative could dismantle an outdated, destructive food system and catalyze planetary restoration. Brown shares the origin story behind Impossible Foods, recounting his bold pivot from Stanford professor to food-tech pioneer. He unpacks the global environmental costs of livestock farming and o Guest Bio and Links: Patrick Brown is a biochemist, former Stanford professor, and founder of Impossible Foods, a company revolutionizing the way meat is made by eliminating animals from the equation. Through science, sustainability, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship, he is working to replace the global animal agriculture system by 2035. Listeners can learn more about Patrick Brown on his website , on LinkedIn @PatrickBrown , and on Stanford Profiles Resources: Impossible Foods Origins Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (2:30) Leah introduces guest and founder of Impossible Foods, Patrick Brown (3:30) How Patrick challenged the status quo (4:30) ”Impossible Foods has been called a game changer, a disruptor, it's even been called a threat by the traditional meat industry.” (7:30) Early life and growing up with a father in the CIA (12:30) Patricks early career life (19:30) Patrick takes a sabbatical that sparked a revolution (24:00) ”The basic problem is not that people love meat. It's that we're using the wrong technology to produce it.” (26:30) Reversing climate damage through food system reform (32:30) Mission over market - a scientist's radical path (37:00) Launching a meat revolution - Impossible Foods (39:00) Winning over chefs - Dave Chang and strategic launch (44:30) Declining Google’s buyout (45:30) Barriers to scale - cost, regulation, and disinformation (51:30) The 2035 vision - what it will take to succeed (53:00) Final thoughts --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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Party Crashers: How Selina Tobaccowala created Evite, scaled SurveyMonkey, and is transforming where you live with HomeBoost 54:08

6 weeks ago54:08

54:08

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Selina Tobaccowala, a pioneering tech entrepreneur whose journey began with co-founding Evite and scaling SurveyMonkey to new heights. Selina shares how her childhood fascination with computers, combined with an insatiable drive for problem-solving, led her to break boundaries in Silicon Valley. From navigating the dot-com bubble to her latest venture, HomeBoost , she reveals the principles that have guided her success, including her father’s three essential questions for career decisions. Leah and Selina explore the intersection of technology and impact, the challenges of raising venture capital as a female founder, and how AI is transforming residential energy efficiency. Guest Bio and Links: Selina Tobaccowala is a tech entrepreneur and innovator who co-founded Evite, served as President and CTO of SurveyMonkey, and is now revolutionizing home energy efficiency with her latest company, HomeBoost. Selina has a deep passion for using technology to solve real-world problems and she has built and led companies that have transformed industries. Listeners can connect with Selina Tobaccowala on her IG @sootle HomeBoost SurveyMonkey Evite Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (0:00) Leah introduces guest and entrepreneur, Selina Tobaccowala (4:30) “ I think it's like different between how you might perceive yourself versus how others might perceive you.” (6:00) Selina’s early life and childhood inspirations (7:30) Discovering computer science (9:00) The accidental basketball captain (11:45) Choosing Stanford for college (16:00) The birth of Evite (22:00) Navigating rapid growth, venture capital, and the reality of selling a startup (28:30) Evite's unconventional sale (30:30) Joining SurveyMonkey (35:00) Lessons from SurveyMonkey (37:30) ”There's always this culture act like an owner, but if people don't feel empowered to take that risk, you can't act like an owner. And so you have to balance those things together.” (39:45) New project: HomeBoost (46:00) The simplicity and future of home energy (51:00) Advice for non-traditional founders --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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Rompiendo Precedente: Bismarck Lepe on Breaking Barriers from the Fields to Google to Founding Mi Salud Health 59:59

8 weeks ago59:59

59:59

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Bismarck Lepe, a serial entrepreneur who has shattered conventions at every stage of his life. From growing up as the child of Mexican migrant workers to becoming a Stanford graduate and an early Google employee, Bismarck shares his incredible journey of resilience, innovation, and leadership. He discusses his early entrepreneurial ventures, the lessons learned at Google, and the groundbreaking work of his companies, including Ooyala, WiseLine, and MiSalud. With profound expertise in business, technology, and seizing opportunity, Bismarck provides an inspiring perspective on how vision and perseverance can transform industries. Guest Bio and Links: Bismarck Lepe, founder and Executive Chairman of Wizeline, is a seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor. As an early Google employee, he left to start Ooyala, an online video platform that sold for $400 million to Telstra in 2014. Passionate about economic growth and education, he has helped transform Guadalajara into a thriving tech hub through Wizeline Academy and StartupGDL, generating over 1,500 jobs and attracting significant investment. Under his leadership, Wizeline expanded to seven countries, with talent spanning 15 nations. For over a decade, he has been a key force in fostering Mexico-Silicon Valley collaboration in technology and entrepreneurship. Listeners can learn more about Bismarck Lepe on LinkedIn @BismarckLepe WizeLine in the Press MiSalud Health - Designed For Spanish-First Teams on the Move Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (2:45) Leah introduces Bismarck Lepe, (4:00) Bismarck’s early life and background (8:30) Educational journey and parental sacrifices (10:15) Starting roots in Southern California and Mexico (14:00) Learning English through Sesame Street & Mr. Rogers (17:00) Cultural identity & navigating assimilation (23:30) Path to Stanford University and a life-changing conversation (30:30) Joining Google and the Acquisition of YouTube (35:00) Founding Ooyala (35:30) Early failures and lessons learned (41:00) The 2008 financial crisis and its impact (46:00) WizeLine - building tech talent in Mexico (51:15) ”Talent is evenly distributed around the world. It's just opportunity and experience that isn't.” (53:30) Founding MiSalud - revolutionizing healthcare access (1:04:30) Changing perceptions of Mexico & Latinx talent (1:06:30) ”Here we were, as a brand, we were a vehicle to change the perception of Mexicans. People weren't talking about soccer players or tequila or mariachi, they were talking about intellectual property that Mexicans were building.” --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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Breaking the Spell: Jes Wolfe of Rebel Girls on Climbing Higher, One Step at a Time 53:40

10 weeks ago53:40

53:40

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Jes Wolfe, CEO of Rebel Girls, adventurer, and precedent-breaker. Jes shares her experience summiting Mount Aconcagua, one of the tallest mountains in the world, and how she found the strength to keep going after facing an unexpected tragedy on the climb. Jes then discusses the birth of Rebel Girls, and the importance of sharing real-life stories of strong women and how early biases in media, education, and parenting contribute to the confidence gap in girls. Jes shares Rebel Girls’ ambitious mission to reach 100 million girls, the launch of Rebel Girls Sport, an ESPN-style platform designed to engage young fans in women’s sports, and the one major societal norm she would change if she could. Guest Bio and Links: Jes Wolfe is the CEO of Rebel Girls, a global storytelling company on a mission to inspire and empower young girls. A lifelong adventurer and leader, Jes has a background in finance, international business, and entrepreneurship. Before joining Rebel Girls, she held roles at Morgan Stanley, the World Bank, and various startups, bringing a wealth of experience in scaling purpose-driven companies. An avid mountaineer, Jes recently summited Mount Aconcagua, demonstrating her philosophy of resilience and ambition. Under her leadership, Rebel Girls continues to break barriers, reaching millions of girls worldwide with stories of fearless women and redefining representation in children’s media. Listeners can learn more about Jes Wolfe on her website , and on LinkedIn @JesWolfe Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (2:45) Leah introduces Jes Wolfe, adventurer, dog mom, and CEO of Rebel Girls (5:00) Climbing Mount Aconcagua (7:15) Jes shares a personal tragedy while on Mount Aconcagua (8:30) ”It started out as a journey for me and it ended up as a thing for him.” (10:00) The physical and mental challenges of summiting (13:55) ”To be successful to do this is you have to break everything down into the smallest parts.” (15:00) A little background into Jes’s adventurous childhood (18:00) From finance to finding purpose (26:00) The next chapter - Rebel Girls (27:30) Empowering girls through storytelling (31:00) How Rebel Girls is rewriting history and inspiring a new generation (35:00) Norms that still need to be challenged (37:30) ”94 percent of parents say that their kids were inspired because of our storytelling and 86 percent said that their daughter's confidence increased because of our storytelling. And to me, that's the ultimate measure of success is, are we achieving what we're setting out to do, which is to help raise a generation of girls that are going to go forth and be awesome and believe in themselves.” (40:30) Expanding Rebel Girls' impact (42:30) Future goals and inspirations (46:00) Rebel Girls Sport (51:00) Closing thoughts --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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A Water Break: The Undaunted Journey of Kara Goldin and Hint 1:13:28

12 weeks ago1:13:28

1:13:28

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Kara Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint Water, to talk about her journey from AOL exec to beverage industry disruptor. Kara shares how her father’s influence, a knack for asking the right questions, and a fearless approach to problem-solving led her to create an entirely new category in drinks. She also opens up about learning from visionaries like Jeff Bezos, balancing entrepreneurship with family, and refusing to compromise on product integrity—despite having no industry experience. Guest Bio and Links: Kara Goldin is the founder and CEO of Hint, Inc., the pioneering brand behind unsweetened flavored water. Before launching Hint in 2005, she was a Vice President at AOL, where she helped grow its e-commerce business to over $1 billion. She is the author of the bestselling book Undaunted and has been recognized as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year and one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs. Listeners can learn more about Kara Goldin at her website , on LinkedIn @karagoldin , on IG @karagoldin Kara’s Book: Undaunted Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (3:00) Leah introduces guest, Kara Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint Water (5:00) Early life for Kara (10:00) Creating Hint - a new beverage category (13:00) Lessons from Dad (19:30) Challenges in retail and distribution (24:00) Joining CNN and meeting Ted Turner (26:30) Making the move to San Francisco (37:00) Building the AOL marketplace (39:30) ”Sometimes it's better to look outside of your industry for the answers that you need, especially if you're trying to up your own game.” (41:30) Meeting Jeff Bezos in Amazon’s early days (47:30) From AOL to family life - new beginnings (48:00) The birth of Hint Water (56:30) Challenges and innovations in extending shelf life (1:04:30) “ It just takes somebody who is curious, who's a little crazy and who's willing to try.” (1:07:00) The family influence with Hint (1:11:15) Final thoughts --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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Breaking Pointe: San Francisco Ballet’s Tamara Rojo with Her Bold Vision for a Vibrant Future 1:04:13

14 weeks ago1:04:13

1:04:13

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Tamara Rojo, a trailblazing ballerina, choreographer, and artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet. Tamara shares her extraordinary journey from humble beginnings in Madrid to becoming one of the most celebrated dancers of her generation. Leah and Tamara touch on Tamara’s innovative approach to leadership, redefining classic stories like Carmen , and the importance of accessibility and diversity in the arts. Guest Bio and Links: Tamara Rojo is one of the most celebrated ballerinas of her generation. Born in Montreal and raised in Madrid, Tamara broke barriers as an outsider in the ballet world, becoming the first female Artistic Director of the English National Ballet and, more recently, the San Francisco Ballet. Known for her emotional depth, technical brilliance, and innovative leadership, she continues to push the art form forward by commissioning bold new works and amplifying diverse voices in ballet. Listeners can learn more about Tamara at her website , and on IG @rojotamara Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (0:30) Leah introduces guest, Spanish ballet dancer, Tamara Rojo (4:30) Tamara on growing up in Madrid (13:00) Tamara’s initial thoughts on ballet (19:00) Joining the Scottish Ballet and classical training (20:30) The evolution and influence of ballet (27:30) The emotional connection in ballet performance (28:00) ”You need to be a master of your craft because you can only lose yourself in the emotion of the character if you're not worried about whether or not you can finish your pirouette.” (30:45) Overcoming dance limitations (32:30) Reimagining Carmen (36:00) Creating 'Mere Mortals' (47:00) Vision for San Fransisco ballet (54:00) Supporting dancers' well-being --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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The Breakdown: Andy Dunn on Building Bonobos, Battling Bipolar, and Baking Pie 1:11:10

16 weeks ago1:11:10

1:11:10

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Andy Dunn, founder of Bonobos, author, and advocate for mental health. They discuss Andy's groundbreaking work in retail with Bonobos, his personal experience navigating mental health challenges, and his latest venture, Pi Social, aimed at fostering in-person connections. Andy opens up about the influence of growing up in a multicultural household, the impact of his bipolar disorder diagnosis, and how he turned what many see as a weakness into a powerful aspect of his identity. Guest Bio and Links: Andy Dunn is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder of Bonobos Inc. Dunn served as CEO for eleven years after co-founding the Bonobos brand in 2007. In June 2017, Walmart announced purchasing the Bonobos brand for $310 million in cash. Learn more about Andy Dunn at his website , on IG @dunn Andy’s Book: Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (2:30) Leah introduces guest, Andy Dunn, founder of Bonobos (3:30) Andy discusses growing up in a multicultural household (6:00) Realizing the power in differences during college (11:00) Transition from pre-med to business (15:00) The Stanford experience and meeting Brian (17:30) Challenges and successes of building Bonobos (19:00) The digital brand revolution (24:00) The innovation of Bonobos' guide shops without inventory (30:00) Mental health advocacy and writing Burn Rate (35:00) Substance use and misdiagnosis (36:00) Burying the bipolar diagnosis (37:00) Repressed memories and mental health (38:00) Depression and starting Bonobos (39:30) Second episode and higher stakes (46:00) Cultural differences in mental health (52:00) ”Strengths have shadows.” (56:00) Founding Pi and platonic friendships (1:04:00) Challenging societal norms (1:06:00) Finding empathy in political norms (1:10:00) Closing thoughts --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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Broken Records: Windy Chien on changing paths, tying stories into knots, and designing a new language of possibilities 1:02:22

18 weeks ago1:02:22

1:02:22

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks to Windy Chien, a former tech professional turned celebrated artist renowned for her intricate knots and innovative art installations. Wendy shares her journey of creative reinvention, drawing insights from her project 'The Year of Knots,' and delves into her background, influences, and the transition from tech to tactile art. She emphasizes the universal language of knots, the role of discipline, and the beauty of day-to-day creativity. The episode explores how Wendy's non-traditional path led her to collaborations with major institutions and a unique approach to art that honors tradition while breaking new ground. Guest Bio and Links: Artist Windy Chien is best known for her 2016 work, The Year of Knots , in which she learned a new knot every day for a year. Her work ranges in size from a knot that can fit in the palm of a child's hand to room-sized installations that are sought after by private collectors. Following long careers at Apple and as the owner of legendary music shop Aquarius Records, she launched her studio in 2015. Select clients include the National Geographic Society, the De Young Museum, the San Francisco MOMA, Nobu Hotels, Google, and the Kering Group, and her work has been covered by Wired, The New York Times , and Martha Stewart . Windy’s book about her work was published by Abrams in 2019. Listeners can learn more about Windy Chien at her website and on IG @windychien Resources: The Year of Knots by Windy Chien Exhibitions Collaborations Windy's Install at Leah's Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (3:00) Leah introduces guest, Windy Chien, Artist and Innovator (3:30) The journey of knot making (4:00) Windy's early life and influences (6:00) The impact of her military upbringing (7:30) Creativity and cultural heritage (11:30) Embracing the outsider perspective (16:00) Changing circumstances and sitting with uncertainty (21:00) ”The thing that makes a knot a knot is intentionality. That's what separates it from a tangle, right? It was tied in a certain way to do a certain thing. And knots occur in every occupation, every culture around the world for centuries.” (23:30) From filmmaking to music (29:30) Transition to Apple and tech innovations (32:00) The impact of recognition and amplification (32:30) Revolutionary apps and TaskRabbit's role (33:00) A creative epiphany at Apple (35:00) Exploring new creative avenues (36:00) Discovering fiber art and woodworking (40:00) The Year of Knots and Its impact (43:00) Large-scale installations and their influence (51:00) Collaborations across mediums (56:00) Advice for aspiring artists (58:00) Final reflections and inspirations --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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Breaking Bad: Kevin Caldwell and Ossium Health is banking on bone marrow for curing cancers and transforming regenerative care 1:04:22

20 weeks ago1:04:22

1:04:22

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Kevin Caldwell, founder and CEO of Ossium Health. From blending astrophysics, economics, and law, Kevin's unconventional journey to biotech is as inspiring as it is innovative. Kevin shares his groundbreaking work in making stem cell therapies more accessible, the future of preventative medicine, and the immense impact Ossium could have on treating blood cancers and beyond. Kevin shares his vision for a healthier world, leveraging cutting-edge science to save lives and improve health spans. Guest Bio and Links: As CEO, Co-Founder & President of Ossium Health, Kevin Caldwell has built Ossium from a small startup into a clinical-stage bioengineering company. Kevin set the company’s mission to improve human health through bioengineering and designed its platform-based model for cellular therapeutics development. Kevin has led the company’s successful pursuit, negotiation, and execution of more than 50 business relationships, including 5 successful fundraisings and dozens of supply partnerships, clinical partnerships, and commercial contracts with biopharmaceutical companies. Listeners can learn more about Kevin Caldwell at Ossium Health Show Notes: (0:30) Leah introduces guest, Kevin Caldwell, founder and CEO of Ossium Health (4:00) Kevin's unconventional journey (5:00) Childhood curiosity and influences (13:00) MIT and the love for science (16:30) From physics to law (23:00) Time at Bridgewater (25:00) The role of cross-disciplinary thinking in Kevin’s career (33:30) “Our healthcare system was very reactive, like first they would get sick, and then we would take them to see a doctor who would retroactively diagnose them and prescribe an intervention that usually did reduce their suffering but didn't really improve their health.” (34:00) The economics in healthcare (36:30) Meeting the co-founder and starting Ossium (39:00) The vision and technology behind Ossium (49:00) The future of preventative medicine and stem cell banking (53:00) The first successful transplant using Ossium's technology (56:30) The role of venture investors (1:03:00) Final thoughts --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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Split Sole: How Bianca Gates built Birdies and broke the mold in footwear 1:12:12

22 weeks ago1:12:12

1:12:12

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Bianca Gates, founder and CEO of Birdies, about her entrepreneurial journey. Bianca shares her upbringing as the daughter of Latin American immigrants, her early aspirations to be a career woman, and her inspiring career trajectory from pharmaceutical and media sales to her dream job at Facebook. Bianca discusses the creation of Birdies, a brand of stylish and comfortable 'social slippers,' and how she leveraged her sales know-how and experiences at Facebook to turn Birdies into the beloved footwear brand it is today. Guest Bio and Links: Bianca Gates is the CEO and co-founder of Birdies, a leading footwear brand that introduced the concept of the "social slipper." Before Birdies, Bianca built a successful career in sales at Univision, MTV, and Facebook, where she worked closely with Sheryl Sandberg. Born to Latin American immigrants, Bianca is a pioneer in combining entrepreneurial drive with a commitment to empowering women. Listeners can learn more about Bianca Gates on her website , on IG @biancagates Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (0:25) Leah introduces guest, Bianca Gates, CEO of Birdies Footwear (2:00) The struggle for the perfect shoe (3:45) Setting a new precedent in footwear (6:00) Growing up Latina in America (9:30) “I tell people sometimes when you're in a weak moment or you're feeling isolated or that you don't belong, I think sometimes it was like the best lessons that you can do something positive with it later in life.” (15:00) Pursuing independence and career aspirations (20:30) Landing a sales gig at Johnson and Johnson (24:30) Proving sales potential at Univision (29:00) Pitching Hyundai Kia (32:30) Finding love and moving west back home (36:30) Gaining inspiration from Sheryl Sandberg (38:00) The determination to join Facebook (42:30) Taking the leap and joining Facebook (45:00) The Birth of Birdies (48:30) “Be bold and also done is better than perfect.” (51:00) The early days of launching Birdies (54:00) Navigating the retail landscape (57:00) Leaving Facebook to focus on Birdies (1:01:00) Finetuning the niche with Birdies until it worked --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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Breaking Cover: Trevor Paglen with a bold artistic approach to challenging societal thinking and setting new precedents 1:01:23

24 weeks ago1:01:23

1:01:23

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Trevor Paglen, an artist, researcher, and adventurer. Trevor shares the hidden layers of our world through art, from covert military installations to undersea internet cables. His work, featured in renowned institutions like the Pace Art Gallery and the Smithsonian Institute, spans photographing submerged cables to launching art into space. They discuss the intersection of art and AI, its societal implications, and how technological advancements redefine visual culture. Paglen's innovative approach challenges precedents and reshapes our understanding of the world and the unseen forces influencing it. Guest Bio and Links: Trevor Paglen is an acclaimed artist, photographer, and geographer whose work explores surveillance, secrecy, and technology themes. His unique practice merges art with investigative journalism, creating works that question societal norms and unveil unseen structures in modern society. Paglen’s work has been showcased at the Pace Gallery, the Smithsonian Institute, and even launched into orbit. Listeners can learn more about at his website , on IG @trevorpaglen Resources: Law: Retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer on what is precedent? Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (0:20) Leah introduces guest, Trevor Paglen: Artist, Researcher, and Adventurer to Breaking Precedent (5:00) The role of precedent in Art (7:45) Three different pockets of precedence (11:00) The intersection of Art and AI (16:30) The PsyOps project at Pace Gallery (18:00) The influence of military upbringing (22:30) Paglen recounts early military experiences that created curiosity (27:00) Surveillance Art - making the invisible visible (32:30) The evolution of data collection and AI (35:00) The impact of training data on AI systems (39:00) Experimental Geography and Scholarship (40:30) Trevor describes his artistic goal as “understanding how to see the world.” (44:45) Art in Space - The Last Pictures project (49:30) Ethical considerations in creating for the future (56:30) Art’s potential to challenge societal norms --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

1
Breaking the Bank: Aaron Holiday on 645 ventures' data-driven approach to sourcing deals and bringing the invisible to life 1:09:47

26 weeks ago1:09:47

1:09:47

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Aaron Holliday, Founder and Managing Director of 645 Ventures, a venture fund with an unprecedented model and a mission to bring the invisible to life. Aaron shares his inspiring journey from growing up in New Orleans to building a data-driven sourcing model that uncovers promising startups and founders at the earliest stages. With over half a billion dollars under management and a 10-year anniversary, 645 Ventures has truly broken the mold. Guest Bio and Links: Aaron is the co-founder and Managing Partner at 645 Ventures. He oversees the firm’s investing approach, strategy, investor relations, and governance. Since founding 645 Ventures in 2014, Aaron has worked closely with portfolio company founders to strengthen, grow, and scale businesses. Aaron led 645 Ventures early-stage investments in several breakout successes, including Goldbelly, Iterable, FiscalNote, Squire, Resident/Nectar Sleep, FLY Labs (acquired by Google), Source3 (acquired by Facebook), and several other category-defining companies. In 2021, Aaron made the Midas Brink List of VC investor up-and-comers to watch for his involvement and investments in startup companies that have scaled to hundreds of millions in revenues and unicorn status. Listeners can learn more about Aaron Holiday on X @aholidayiii Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (0:20) Leah introduces guest, Aaron Holiday, Founder of 645 Ventures to Breaking Precedent (3:30) Aaron's early life and inspirations (6:30) Early college days - math to computer science (12:00) The Hustleman - entrepreneurial spirit (14:15) Authorship: Award winning author of First Gen, Alejandra Campoverdi, on breaking generational cycles (17:00) Experience at Goldman Sachs (23:30) Discovering Venture Capital at business school (31:30) Internship at Blip.tv (35:30) Building Cornell Tech (40:00) The birth of 645 Ventures (46:00) Challenges and successes of 645 Ventures (55:30) “You bring the invisible to life.” (57:30) The physics of the entrepreneurial ecosystem (1:01:00) Reflections and difficulties on the Venture capital industry --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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Breaking Dawn: How Eric Ryan of Method, Olly, Welly, transforms boring products into billion dollar brands 58:18

28 weeks ago58:18

58:18

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Eric Ryan, a transformational entrepreneur known for reimagining mundane product categories into billion-dollar brands. They dive into Eric’s playbook, exploring how he uses design to capture shifts in consumer behavior. Eric shares his journey from childhood influences to starting Method Soap, Ollie Vitamins, Welly Bandages, and Cast Jewelry, detailing his emphasis on people, culture, and differentiation through design. Guest Bio and Links: Eric Ryan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, advisor, and father. Eric is the driving force behind numerous successful brands, including Method Soap, Olly Vitamins, Welly Bandages, and Cast Jewelry. Known for reinvigorating overlooked product categories, Eric has built companies that focus on innovative design, consumer trends, and collaborative team culture. Listeners can learn more about at website, on IG @ericthomasryan and X @ericthomasryan Resources: Method Products - Method's got your back with irresistible, mood-boosting products that make you feel good inside and out. Welly Bandages - Bandages that seal, protect and get you back in the game with a bit of style. Olly Vitamins - Olly, also known as Olly Nutrition and Olly Public Benefit, is an American company and brand of vitamin supplements and other products. Cast Jewelry - Shop Cast, a place to discover wonder-filled fine jewelry. Explore our curation of unexpected collections and find your perfect piece. Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (0:20) Leah introduces guest, Eric Ryan to Breaking Precedent (1:00) Meet Eric Ryan - the entrepreneurial journey (4:30) Eric shares childhood memories that shaped his entrepreneurial spirit (6:45) “I tried hard in school, but, and I was a solid, you know, C plus B minus student. But I think it was that work ethic that really taught me. And there was areas I did excel. When you get out of those stupid scantron tests.” (9:00) The ice rink story - a glimpse into young Eric’s creative thinking (13:45) “Ideas are easy, execution is the hard part.” (14:25) The birth of Method (18:15) Designing Method with 90K (22:30) Scaling up with Target (26:00) Olly Vitamins - applying lessons from Method to a new category (30:00) Eric’s design vision and design process (35:45) The birth of Welly Bandages (38:30) When to know when to walk away from a project (41:40) The birth of Cast Jewlery (47:00) Eric’s jewelry on HBO’s White Lotus - a TV moment for Cast (50:00) Launching Tandy (51:30) Reflections on entrepreneurship and legacy (54:30) Conclusion and final thoughts --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. Connect with Leah: Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashed X: @labunleashed…

Breaking Precedent

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Piercing the Veil: Shiza Shahid on co-founding the $1B Malala Fund to transforming kitchenware with Our Place 58:53

30 weeks ago58:53