Summit Partners’ Sophia Popova on Grit, Gratitude & Building her own American Dream

Sara is joined by Sophia Popova, a Partner at Summit Partners, mother of two, and proof that ambition and gratitude can coexist beautifully.Born in Bulgaria as the Berlin Wall was falling, Sophia’s childhood unfolded in a family shaped by socialism (her father literally studied economics at the Karl Marx Institute where supply & demand were never mentioned). When they moved to Waco, Texas, she got a front-row seat to capitalism and a spark that would shape her life.From Yale to Harvard to Morgan Stanley to a four-person startup, Sophia built a career defined by curiosity, conviction, and courage. Now a Partner investing in high-growth tech companies, she brings a lens sharpened by motherhood, resilience, and a near-death experience that taught her to replace “hard” with “grateful.”In this conversation:🇧🇬 From Bulgaria to Boston and from socialism to Summit Partners💼 The “free lunch” of motherhood🧠 What paint-by-numbers taught her about creativity & confidence🌅 The near-death experience that helped her replace “hard” with “grateful”💪 Why “doing hard things” might be the pointSophia’s story is a masterclass in perspective and a reminder that fulfillment isn’t found in balance, but in how we choose to build our lives.Also in this episode:>HopSkipDrive is a leader in supplemental student transportation, offering access to safe, reliable rides as well as RouteWise AI™,  the world’s first student transportation intelligence platform, all powered by transformative technology.> Use code THEMOTHERS20 to enjoy 20% off Little Saints, a mushroom-infused cocktail that elevates the soul.—*Subscribe & review THE MOTHERS on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts*Follow us on Instagram ⁠@themotherspod⁠*Learn more at themothersmedia.co*THE MOTHERS is a production of Backline Media.