Show Notes
Months into interviewing founders for this podcast, Sammi noticed something surprising: the most successful women were often practicing the same habits, but almost none of them were the things people usually talk about in founder profiles.
Today, Sammi breaks down six patterns she has seen repeatedly across standout founders. The examples come directly from conversations with founders like Amy Liu (Tower 28), Maria Davidson (Kojo), Julia Hartz (Eventbrite), Babba Rivera (Ceremonia), Dianna Cohen (nm) Jenn Hyman (Rent the Runway), and others who built category-defining companies under very different circumstances—but often with strikingly similar instincts.
Sammi also shares where she is still actively learning these lessons herself: leaving Amazon, building her own media business, overcommitting early, tying performance too closely to outcomes, and learning in real time what sustainable ambition actually looks like.
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Here are the full episodes Sammi mentions today:
Amy Liu, CEO of Tower 28
Maria Davidson, Founder of Kojo
Julia Hartz, CEO of Eventbrite
Babba Rivera, CEO of Ceremonia
Dianna Cohen, CEO of Crown Affair
Jenn Hyman, CEO of Rent the Runway
Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 The Founder Strategies Nobody Says Out Loud
01:19 Why Great Founders Build Networks Early
03:22 Launching Before You Feel Ready
05:00 Your Calendar Like a Financial Document
06:38 Self-Advocacy and Defending Your Vision
08:20 Hiring For Your Weaknesses
09:20 Separating Identity from Outcomes
11:15 One Habit to Start this Month Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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