S1 E36 - AJ Thomas, Monica Pool Knox, and Kat Steinmetz from Good Trouble Ventures

On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’ve got “Trouble” in the studio. We’re welcoming the ladies from Good Trouble Ventures—AJ Thomas, Monica Pool Knox, and Kat Steinmetz—and diving into insights around the power of people, building culture, and shedding light on a unique perspective on what matters for startup founders, investors, and driving traction in a global economy. AJ is a visionary leader, troublemaker, and the driving force behind Good Trouble Ventures, a VC firm blending iconic creativity with technology to fuel lasting social impact. With a background that spans startups, venture growth, and Fortune 100 companies, AJ has been a key leader at Google X as an advisor and former Global Head of Talent & People Products. Now, through The Troublemaker Lab, she coaches extraordinary founders and leaders to make a lasting impact through immersive experiences and executive development. AJ is also the award-winning author of A Kids Book About Teams and a champion of founders, artists, and creatives. As a respected executive, advisor, speaker, and coach, she challenges leaders to embrace bold ideas and drive meaningful change. Beyond work, AJ is a musician, mom of three, and private pilot. Ask her about being signed to a record label at 15 or her latest adventures creating “good trouble” in the world. Monica has been an investor, tech executive, strategic advisor, and board member for over 25 years, leading global human capital strategies for some of the world's most iconic brands such as Microsoft, Twitter, Sony, and PepsiCo. As both a venture partner and a venture advisor, Monica creates deal flow, makes investment decisions, advises, and provides consulting services to portfolio companies with venture funds and early- to mid-stage companies in the tech, healthcare, CPG, and financial services industries. As a strategic advisor for a number of HR tech companies, she also lends her voice to product design, roadmaps, and GTM strategies. As an industry thought leader on human capital leadership and the future of work, Monica's expertise is sought out regularly in and outside of the US for advisory services, speaking engagements, and literary contributions. Kat is an early-stage investor focused on the Future of Work and Digital Health, as well as an advisor and coach to founders and startup teams. Previously, she spent 20+ years in executive roles at Box, Stitch Fix, and the Burning Man Project, leading teams through hyper-growth, IPOs, global scaling, and M&A. She is a PeopleTech Partners (PTP) advisor and has served on the boards of Torch, FunCountry, and Ava. She is also a longtime creative artist and musician, as well as a mom to a young human. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.