A Seat at the Table

From interning at NASA and SpaceX while still a teenager to graduating early from high school and starting her company instead of going to college, Valkyrie Holmes knows what it means to take bold leaps.Now the CEO and co-founder of Faura, an insurtech startup that helps insurance companies and homeowners reduce their natural disaster risk, Valkyrie brings a rare mix of ambition, clarity, and heart to her work.Her openness turns this episode into a “big sister advice” conversation where we touch on topics like:👩‍🏫The role mentors play in shaping your path, especially the powerful influence of female role models🌸The importance of recognizing how hormones influence women’s bodies and learning to embrace them rather than work against them 🚀What it means to build your own impact-driven startup in a legacy‑driven industryThis episode is a must-listen for anyone just graduating high school or in their first years of university - and starting to think more deeply about their career.Learn moreFaura: https://www.faura.usValkyrie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valkyrieholmes/

Dr. Ewelina Kurtys is a Strategic Advisor at FinalSpark, a deeptech startup on a mission to build computers from living neurons.Yes, you read that right! Instead of silicon chips, they’re using living neurons and programming them in vitro (in the dish).And as science fiction as it sounds, they estimate this future is no more than 10 years away.With a PhD in Neuroscience and experience in business consulting, Ewelina has a unique talent for making complex science easy to understand.In this episode, Ewelina shares:🔋 How living neurons could solve AI’s energy problem🔬 The science behind “training” cells with electrical and chemical signals💡 What she’s learned moving from neuroscience to the business world🔮 Her vision for the future of computingIf you’re curious about the intersection of neuroscience, AI, and the future of computing, this episode is a must-listen!And also make sure to visit FinalSpark’s website and see their neurons working in real time 👀Learn more:Finalspark: https://finalspark.com/Live view of neurons: https://finalspark.com/neuroplatformEwelina’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewelinakurtys

In this episode, we sit down with Angelina Bintoudi, an electrical engineer and the co-founder of Optimems, a company helping scale microgrids.During this episode Angelina shares:⚡ The importance of Microgrids (and how they can be used in space) 🌐 Why decentralization is a vital step towards decarbonization 🚀 What’s it’s like building and scaling a startup in Europe, from securing first sales to scaling across locationsAnd some “unpopular opinions” of Angelina that we loved:Make sure you have fun in your student years. Don’t stress too much about your exams, leave room for memories.Don’t be afraid to go into business with your people: friends, partners, family, whoever they may be.AI is just another tool; it’s important as ever to be able to understand the science behind a given solution yourself rather than trust tech blindlyLearn more:Angelina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelinabintoudi⁠⁠ Optimems: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimems Board of European Students of Technology (BEST):  ⁠https://www.best.eu.org/index.jsp

In this episode we have the pleasure of being joined by Josefine Quack, an engineer at the Amsterdam-based Monumental, a company building brick-laying robots. It's exactly what it sounds like, and the robots are honestly futuristic to see in action. In this episode, Josefine shares her thoughts on building projects: pick the ones you don't feel ready for, and fun can be a valid reason!We also discuss some specific stories from Monumental, like how camera calibration works and how their engineers have had to work to adapt to the construction environment. And, Josefine shares what she's learned about iterative design. Sometimes, it's better to remove than to add. If you're interested in robotics, building technical projects, or breaking down problems, definitely check out this episode. Learn more: Monumental's website: https://www.monumental.co/Josefine's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jquack/

Mona Ismail is the co-founder and CEO of Arca, a VC-backed startup helping people curate the internet to tailor it to their interests. In this episode, Mona shares how growing up as a Somali in Finland shaped her personality and perspective - specifically how the Finnish honesty combined with the Somali fearlessness helped her as a founder. 💪She also shares how Acra (very creatively) got their first users. And finally, we discussed Mona's advice on raising from venture capitalists, and dealing with the toughness of being a founder!This episode is packed with practical advice on starting a startup, and Mona's advice is particularly helpful when it comes to leveraging your own unique strengths as a founder. 🚀Learn More: LinkedIn

Kasia is the Founder of Mindquest Global and an experienced executive coach. Kasia has a background in digital innovation, having led various projects across global organizations. She transitioned into executive coaching and has since worked with leaders across Asia Pacific and North America.In this episode, we discuss strategies for leading a team and bringing out the best in people. Kasia shares insights on how to foster engagement, and on the power of conversation. Learn more: LinkedIn

In this episode, we chatted with Iza Ding, an associate professor of Political Science at Northwestern University. Her research is focused on areas such as bureaucracy, the environment, climate change, and nationalism.She holds a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University and a B.A. in Political Science and Russian and Eastern European Studies from the University of Michigan. She has conducted field research in China, Germany, and Mongolia and is currently a Berlin Prize Fellow at the American Academy in Berlin.In this episode, we talk about the stories we tell ourselves, and how that makes us different from other animals. Iza shares her thoughts on effective polarization and echo chambers, especially related to understanding climate change. Finally, we discuss how to talk to, relate to, and understand people we disagree with. Where to find Iza: WebsiteLinkedIn

Jaiya is the cofounder of Tydra Labs, which is making the textile industry more sustainable by creating organic stretchy fibers as an alternative to petrol-containing Spandex. In this episode, Jaiya talks about her journey to founding Tydra Labs, and how she’s scaling it - including conducting customer interviews and crushing pitch competitions.  We also discuss why petrol-containing Spandex poses such a big problem, and the impacts of fast fashion. Jaiya also shares insights from her trip to Kenya as part of UBC’s Sauder School of Business, where she taught entrepreneurship in Nairobi. Where to find Jaiya: LinkedInTydra LabsEco Odyssey Challenge

Thaleia Dimitra Doudali is an assistant research professor at the IMDEA Software Institute, where she researches computers and machine learning, focusing on resource management. She is also an executive member of Greek Women in STEM, where she’s helping create inclusion in academia.Thaleia’s notable distinctions include winning the Cesar Nombela grant and the Juan de la Cierva fellowship and being invited to attend the Rising Starts in EECS workshop.In this episode, Thaleia shares her journey in electrical engineering and computer science and walks us through her pioneering research on leveraging AI to maximize the efficiency and sustainability of computer systems.Thaleia also talks about the importance of mentorship and fostering intentional relationships while discussing how her educational journey in different continents and involvement in Greek women in STEM led her to that realization. Links:Personal WebsiteLinkedInGreek Women in STEM - Website

Jill Pestana is a battery scientist, YouTuber, and consultant. She was previously the lead of the North American Battery team at Accenture, where she consulted on projects all across the battery supply chain - from raw materials, to recycling, to manufacturing. Jill has a YouTube channel, Across the Nanoverse, where she explains technical battery topics in a super easy-to-understand and engaging way. She also just officially started her new company, Pestana Solutions, which offers technical consulting! In this episode, we talk about Jill’s journey into the battery field, starting with her experience growing up in a STEM-centered household, then onto her experiments with fuel cells, and finally batteries. Jill shares the resistance she faced being a woman during her time at university, and her advice and experience overcoming that.And finally, we end the conversation off with an engaging demonstration of how a lithium ion battery works, and why we even chose that chemistry! Where to find Jill: Personal WebsiteAcross the Nanoverse (YouTube)

In this episode we chat with Marisa Murray: an author, TedX speaker, and founder of the executive coaching company Leaderley. Leaderley is a company that advises companies and individuals to help them achieve their leadership development goals. Prior to starting Leaderley, Marisa worked at both Bell and Accenture, among other companies in the chemical engineering space! In this episode, Marisa describes her journey transitioning from chemical engineering to the business world. She shares how you can leverage the chemistry of your body to achieve flow state, manage stress, and set better goals. And finally, she gives an overview of the frameworks she’s written about in her books, and describes how to be “iteractive.” Where to find Marisa: Leaderley: https://www.leaderley.com/ Books: https://www.leaderley.com/books LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/murraymarisa/?originalSubdomain=ca TedX Talk: https://youtu.be/k5_A6IGJESA?si=7-Ve9UuilLdAvPow

Aneta Londa is the founder and Chief Buzz-Creator of Moonshot Pirates, an organization which helps young people build solutions for the world’s biggest problems. They are empowering youth in over 150 countries to create a sustainable future! In this episode, we discuss how Aneta built Moonshot Pirates, and she shares stories of the people who went through the program. Aneta shares her view on imposter syndrome, and how it can empower us. We also talk about Aneta’s experiences being a mother and an entrepreneur, with her husband as her co-founder! Where to find Aneta: Moonshot Pirates LinkedIn Instagram

Jess Takimoto is the founder of Shine Fit, a dance-based fitness studio in Toronto. Previously, she majored in Business at Queen’s University and taught fitness classes. There, she evolved her teaching style, and that eventually led to the founding of Shine! Jess is also a content creator and has a YouTube channel with an impressive 199 videos - discussing confidence, university, and of course, fitness. In this conversation, Jess elaborates on her journey to entrepreneurship, and shares empowering frameworks to help build your confidence. We discuss goal setting, how to make habits that truly stick, and much more! Where to find Jess: Take a Shine Fit class here! Jess' Instagram Shine Fit's Instagram

Nancy Dalakoura is a physics enthusiast, having participated and excelled in various national and international physics competitions. In 2022 her team placed first in the International Young Naturalists’ Tournament (IYNT), a competition of scientific debates and experiments. From there she went on to represent her country in the International Young Physicists' Tournament (IYPT), a prestigious event for experimental physics. Seeing a lot of new students entering these competitions yearly, not knowing the process or having preparation material, she wanted to play a role in supporting them. This is why she founded SciBridges, an educational non-profit aiming to democratize access to international science competitions for students all over the world. Nancy is also interested in art and philosophy and is an incoming freshman at Stanford where she’ll be pursuing both of her interests in physics and philosophy this coming fall. During this episode Nancy guides us through what the IYNT and IYPT are, talks to us about her curiosity for the intersection of physics and philosophy: quantum mechanics, narrates her journey of taking the risk of not sitting the Panhellenic exams and focusing on studying abroad and pursuing her passions and so much more! Where to find Nancy: SciBridges Instagram Personal Instagram

Isabella Grandić is a 20-year-old innovator, researcher, traveler and so many more things that can't be put into words. She is passionate about using technology to scale standards of living and has worked on projects in maternal mortality, cellular agriculture, women’s health taboos, secondary education in a technological world, early childhood development, urban loneliness, and climate action. (Whew!) And, while solo traveling to different places in the world, she is pursuing her BS in biochemistry at the University of North Carolina as a Morehead-Cain Scholar! In this conversation, Izzy shares stories and advice for traveling solo and what it has taught her. She also talks about her time in Burundi and how it led to her work in global logistics and supply chains. We also discussed finding yourself - and methods to do that. Izzy’s energy and authenticity made this conversation so enjoyable! Where to find Izzy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabellagrandic/

65% of companies fail because of co-founder issues. This inspired Annie to found Confidante, which is a company that works with founding teams to prevent this. Even if you aren’t thinking about finding a co-founder right now, Annie’s principles can be applied to team formation in general. Having a good team dynamic can not only make the work way more enjoyable but can increase your probability of success! In this conversation, we touch on seeking clarity (not alignment) in conversations, Annie’s framework for cultivating healthy cofounder relationships, the ideal number of decision-makers on a team, and balancing kindness with competency. Aside from just cofounder relationships, Annie’s frameworks and advice are applicable to any kind of relationship. And since the world is run on relationships, not rules, this is a very impactful skill that can unlock so many possibilities for you. Where to learn more: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-garofalo/ Website: https://www.confidante.info/ Podcast - How I Met My Co-Founder: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-met-my-co-founder/id1723885564 Resources for Co-Founders: https://confidante.substack.com/t/resources-and-research Essential Co-Founder Conversations: https://confidante.substack.com/p/partnership-agreement-cofounders Watch Outs When Choosing a Co-Founder: https://confidante.substack.com/p/6-biggest-mistakes-choosing-a-co Healthy Founding Teams: The Sound Relationship House: https://confidante.substack.com/p/the-sound-relationship-house-for-cofounders

Christine Lerios is a startup veteran with over two decades of experience running operations and marketing efforts for small businesses in the technology, finance, healthcare, and non-profit sectors. Her early career was centered around marketing, but since then, Christine has become a consultant, and mentor and embarked on many entrepreneurial adventures alongside her husband, Toli Lerios - including being on the team that founded Alabama's first residential treatment center for eating disorders. Tolis, Christine’s husband, is a former mentor, serial entrepreneur, engineer, and past co-founder of various successful start-ups that later on went on to be acquired by companies such as Microsoft or private equity!In this episode, we discussed leaving doors open and creating serendipity while learning to tolerate discomfort and uncertainty. We also talked about cultivating transferrable skills and how to foster open communication in relationships.

In our 10th episode, we spoke with Miranda Nover, a cell product developer at Tesla. What this means is that she’s working on product development on the 4680 cells, which are the ones that are in the Tesla EVs! Previously, Miranda studied Mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon, and was a research assistant working on generative AI. In this episode, we discussed first principles thinking: why it's important and how to do it. We also talked about Miranda's experience at Tesla, and what makes it such an innovative company. And finally, we dove quite deep into the battery tech that powers it all. We covered different chemistries, the tab-less design, dry cell manufacturing, and different form factors. Where to find Miranda: LinkedIn

For the 9th episode of A Seat at the Table, we spoke with Mia Rath, the CTO and cofounder of Lumindt, an energy storage startup based in the heart of San Francisco. They are currently in their Seed stage, and they’re using hydrogen to help balance out the intermittency of renewables to empower the clean energy transition. In this conversation, we dove into the technicalities behind hydrogen as an energy storage medium, as well as what Lumindt is doing differently. We also discussed the process of taking an idea from paper to reality, and what it’s like to be right in the heart of the startup world. We touched briefly on how to find your cofounder, and it was amazing to hear Mia share many stories from their journey so far! 🚀 Where to find Mia: LinkedIn Lumindt

In this episode, we sat down with Kristina Arriaga, a human rights advocator particularly interested in free speech, freedom of religion or belief, and international human rights for girls and women. The U.S. Congress appointed her to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in 2016, and during her 3-year tenure, she met with high ranking government officials to advocate for human rights in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Nigeria, Turkey, and many other countries. Kristina is on the board of trustees on the Oversight Board at Meta, and this will be the first time she’s spoken about her work there publicly! In this conversation, we talk about various mindsets that have helped Kristina, as well as her work on the Oversight Board, and discuss what it means to have ethical artificial intelligence.

Join us as we sit down with Danielle Strachman, a VC and founder! Danielle is on the founding team of the Thiel Fellowship, which is a two-year program that gives one hundred thousand dollar grants to young people wanting to skip or stop school to build new things. She is also the co-founder of the 1517 fund, a venture capitalist firm that backs dropouts, renegade students & sci-fi scientists at the earliest stages of their companies. They’ve funded companies like Loom, Luminar, and Lambda. And if that wasn’t enough, Danielle has also founded Innovations Academy, which is an innovative school based in San Diego. In this episode we discuss Danielle’s journey into the VC world as well as her experience working with both the 1517 fund and the Thiel Fellowship. Danielle shares stories of young founders, as well as actionable advice, in her easy-going, engaging way. Useful links: - 1517 fund - ⁠Paper belt on fire

Join us as we talk to Chandhana, a TKS alumnus who has explored a variety of fields ranging from bioplastics to BCIs. Chandhana is currently working on scaling her bioplastic (that costs less than one dollar!) but is also following her curiosity through university. Chandhana sheds light on how to decide what projects to work on, and the benefits of trying different things. She explains how the point of projects is to litmus test - if you aren’t learning and you aren’t enjoying it, maybe it’s time to move on. She also talks about the importance of working on things you are genuinely curious about and following what excites you. Perhaps the biggest takeaway is the done > perfect mindset. Chandhana completely embodies this mindset, and she shares some specific advice for people on how to develop it. From creating artificial deadlines to the concept that it is never too late to start, this conversation will inspire you to just start. Just start on that project you’ve had in mind for a while. Publish that article, ask that person for a warm intro. Just do it. Where to find Chandhana: LinkedIn: Chandhana Sathishkumar | LinkedIn Personal Website: chandhanas.com

Noel is a Las Vegas based intrapreneur who worked at Zappos, and scaled a company they acquired, 6pm.com, to 1 billion dollars in revenue per year. Crazy, right?! She is also a past TKS director (just keeps getting better 🤩). Noel is now working on a software company called CodingScape. In this episode we discuss scaling, building brands by creating emotion, being an intrapreneur, and being ok with breaking things. Noel shares tons of actionable advice that goes right to the root of what being an intrapreneur and scaling means. She also explains who should be an intrapreneur. Finally, we talk about “paths,” and intentionality of choosing where you are going. Where to find Noel:LinkedIn: Noel (Cusimano) Hurst | LinkedInSlack: @Noel Hurst

Helen is the head of school at Holy Trinity School (HTS), which is a K-12 independent school based in the Toronto area. As the head of school, Helen is focused on creating innovation in the school system, transforming it from the industrialized system that we see into a place that will empower young people to tackle the problems in our future world. In this episode, we talk about Helen’s view on education, as well as what should be changed - the “ideal day.” One of our favourite things about Helen is how in touch she is with the students: her vision for the future of education is centered around what would be best for the learners themselves. Where to find Helen: HTS: Home - Holy Trinity School (HTS) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-pereira-raso-a5814918 Instagram: https://instagram.com/hts_headofschool?igshid=NzZhOTFlYzFmZQ==

Dr. Shini is a podcaster, youtuber, author, tedX speaker, and much more. She is sharing her knowledge and passion in STEM through various forms of media to make it accessible to others. Previously, she worked in Computational Fluid Dynamics during her doctorate in mechanical engineering. All her life, she has been working towards becoming an engineer, overcoming challenges such as stereotypes, mathematics, and external pressures. In this episode we discuss Shini’s journey of seeking her authentic self, and pursing the path that felt “right” to her. We discuss work life balance and working smart, as well as strategies Shini has found to have helped her, including meditation. We also discuss Shini’s method for communicating clearly, and how to make knowledge accessible for everyone. This episode is filled with mindsets and insights that are sure to resonate with anyone trying to become more authentic to themselves. Where to find Dr. Shini: Crash Course Physics: Crash Course Physics Preview - YouTube Latest Book: Engineers Making a Difference: 9781804660270: Books - Amazon.ca || Engineers Making a Difference (engineers-making-a-difference.com) Personal Website: Dr. Shini Somara - Home (drshinisomara.com)

Jennah Dohms is currently working at The Knowledge Society, a human accelerator program for teenagers. Before this however, she lived many different “mini-lives.” From wanting to be a lawyer to educating Syrian refugees, she then began working at an anti-human trafficking non-profit, and eventually switched to working at a Christmas light startup. Jennah truly embodies what it means to take an unconventional path. Her story is incredibly inspiring, despite all the twists and turns, she remains guided by her north star of unlocking human potential. In this episode we discuss Jennah’s perspective on taking an unconventional path, as well as mindsets that have helped her along her journey. From creating systems to support you in tough times to having a bias towards action, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.

Sanskriti Deva is a quantum computing researcher, engineer and current intern at IBM. She is also the youngest person ever elected in the UN national council. Despite her young age, she has accomplished some remarkable things. Among others, she is the founder of InventSTEM, an organization working on STEM accessibility and STEM education throughout the world.In this episode, we talk about her journey with quantum computing and the UN. Sanskriti shares advice on various pillars of everyday life, like battling imposter syndrome and building self confidence, establishing connections and taking action.