Hurdles In Securing Venture Capital: Lori Mazan
In this conversation, Lori Mazan shares her journey from a limited childhood in Virginia to becoming a successful entrepreneur and executive coach in California. She discusses the challenges women face in the startup world, particularly in securing venture capital, and emphasizes the importance of diversity in leadership roles. Lori offers valuable advice for young women entrepreneurs, highlighting the significance of persistence, networking, and mentorship. The conversation concludes with insights on developing an internal compass to navigate the complexities of leadership and entrepreneurship. Lori Mazan is the co-founder, president, and chief coaching officer for Sounding Board, the first Dynamic Leader Development Suite designed to bridge the leadership gap. Sounding Board, Inc., offers a tech-driven, human-centric approach to leadership development. As the go-to leadership development firm for forward-looking companies—including Chevron, Sprint, Citibank, Intellikine, Tapjoy, and 10XGenomics—Mazan and her team develop capabilities that produce immediate, positive business results.
Mazan packages these strategies in her new book, Leadership Revolution: The Future of Developing Dynamic Leaders (Wiley; October 3, 2023). Well into the 21st century, organizations still rely on leadership models and development techniques based on outdated methodologies. It’s time to revolutionize leadership development. Structured like a coaching engagement, Leadership Revolution walks you through the leader development journey with insightful questions, development exercises, examples, and practical advice. you’ll learn how to attract and retain talent by accelerating and individualizing their professional growth and how to re-think leadership in the new remote and hybrid work environment.
TAKEAWAYS
Persistence is key for women in the startup world.
Networking with men is crucial for women entrepreneurs.
Diversity in leadership leads to better business outcomes.
Mentorship is essential for developing future leaders.
An internal compass helps navigate challenges in business.
Women often face additional hurdles in securing venture capital.
Understanding thinking patterns is vital for personal growth.
Creating a supportive network can enhance leadership development.
Get In Touch With Lori:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorimazan/
Book Recommendations:
Leadership Revolution, by Lori Mazan
Levers: The Framework for Building Repeatability into Your Business, by Amos Schwartzfarb & Trevor Boehm