In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Bianca Gates, founder and CEO of Birdies, about her entrepreneurial journey. Bianca shares her upbringing as the daughter of Latin American immigrants, her early aspirations to be a career woman, and her inspiring career trajectory from pharmaceutical and media sales to her dream job at Facebook. Bianca discusses the creation of Birdies, a brand of stylish and comfortable 'social slippers,' and how she leveraged her sales know-how and experiences at Facebook to turn Birdies into the beloved footwear brand it is today.

Guest Bio and Links:

Bianca Gates is the CEO and co-founder of Birdies, a leading footwear brand that introduced the concept of the "social slipper." Before Birdies, Bianca built a successful career in sales at Univision, MTV, and Facebook, where she worked closely with Sheryl Sandberg. Born to Latin American immigrants, Bianca is a pioneer in combining entrepreneurial drive with a commitment to empowering women.

Listeners can learn more about Bianca Gates on her website, on IG @biancagates

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:25) Leah introduces guest, Bianca Gates, CEO of Birdies Footwear
• (2:00) The struggle for the perfect shoe
• (3:45) Setting a new precedent in footwear
• (6:00) Growing up Latina in America
• (9:30) “I tell people sometimes when you're in a weak moment or you're feeling isolated or that you don't belong, I think sometimes it was like the best lessons that you can do something positive with it later in life.”
• (15:00) Pursuing independence and career aspirations
• (20:30) Landing a sales gig at Johnson and Johnson
• (24:30) Proving sales potential at Univision
• (29:00) Pitching Hyundai Kia
• (32:30) Finding love and moving west back home
• (36:30) Gaining inspiration from Sheryl Sandberg
• (38:00) The determination to join Facebook
• (42:30) Taking the leap and joining Facebook
• (45:00) The Birth of Birdies
• (48:30) “Be bold and also done is better than perfect.”
• (51:00) The early days of launching Birdies
• (54:00) Navigating the retail landscape
• (57:00) Leaving Facebook to focus on Birdies
• (1:01:00) Finetuning the niche with Birdies until it worked

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Trevor Paglen, an artist, researcher, and adventurer. Trevor shares the hidden layers of our world through art, from covert military installations to undersea internet cables. His work, featured in renowned institutions like the Pace Art Gallery and the Smithsonian Institute, spans photographing submerged cables to launching art into space. They discuss the intersection of art and AI, its societal implications, and how technological advancements redefine visual culture. Paglen's innovative approach challenges precedents and reshapes our understanding of the world and the unseen forces influencing it.

Guest Bio and Links:

Trevor Paglen is an acclaimed artist, photographer, and geographer whose work explores surveillance, secrecy, and technology themes. His unique practice merges art with investigative journalism, creating works that question societal norms and unveil unseen structures in modern society. Paglen’s work has been showcased at the Pace Gallery, the Smithsonian Institute, and even launched into orbit.

Listeners can learn more about at his website, on IG @trevorpaglen

Resources:

Law: Retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer on what is precedent?

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:20) Leah introduces guest, Trevor Paglen: Artist, Researcher, and Adventurer to Breaking Precedent
• (5:00) The role of precedent in Art
• (7:45) Three different pockets of precedence
• (11:00) The intersection of Art and AI
• (16:30) The PsyOps project at Pace Gallery
• (18:00) The influence of military upbringing
• (22:30) Paglen recounts early military experiences that created curiosity
• (27:00) Surveillance Art - making the invisible visible
• (32:30) The evolution of data collection and AI
• (35:00) The impact of training data on AI systems
• (39:00) Experimental Geography and Scholarship
• (40:30) Trevor describes his artistic goal as “understanding how to see the world.”
• (44:45) Art in Space - The Last Pictures project
• (49:30) Ethical considerations in creating for the future
• (56:30) Art’s potential to challenge societal norms

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Aaron Holliday, Founder and Managing Director of 645 Ventures, a venture fund with an unprecedented model and a mission to bring the invisible to life. Aaron shares his inspiring journey from growing up in New Orleans to building a data-driven sourcing model that uncovers promising startups and founders at the earliest stages. With over half a billion dollars under management and a 10-year anniversary, 645 Ventures has truly broken the mold.

Guest Bio and Links:

Aaron is the co-founder and Managing Partner at 645 Ventures. He oversees the firm’s investing approach, strategy, investor relations, and governance. Since founding 645 Ventures in 2014, Aaron has worked closely with portfolio company founders to strengthen, grow, and scale businesses. Aaron led 645 Ventures early-stage investments in several breakout successes, including Goldbelly, Iterable, FiscalNote, Squire, Resident/Nectar Sleep, FLY Labs (acquired by Google), Source3 (acquired by Facebook), and several other category-defining companies. In 2021, Aaron made the Midas Brink List of VC investor up-and-comers to watch for his involvement and investments in startup companies that have scaled to hundreds of millions in revenues and unicorn status.

Listeners can learn more about Aaron Holiday on X @aholidayiii

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:20) Leah introduces guest, Aaron Holiday, Founder of 645 Ventures to Breaking Precedent
• (3:30) Aaron's early life and inspirations
• (6:30) Early college days - math to computer science
• (12:00) The Hustleman - entrepreneurial spirit
• (14:15) Authorship: Award winning author of First Gen, Alejandra Campoverdi, on breaking generational cycles
• (17:00) Experience at Goldman Sachs
• (23:30) Discovering Venture Capital at business school
• (31:30) Internship at Blip.tv
• (35:30) Building Cornell Tech
• (40:00) The birth of 645 Ventures
• (46:00) Challenges and successes of 645 Ventures
• (55:30) “You bring the invisible to life.”
• (57:30) The physics of the entrepreneurial ecosystem
• (1:01:00) Reflections and difficulties on the Venture capital industry

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Eric Ryan, a transformational entrepreneur known for reimagining mundane product categories into billion-dollar brands. They dive into Eric’s playbook, exploring how he uses design to capture shifts in consumer behavior. Eric shares his journey from childhood influences to starting Method Soap, Ollie Vitamins, Welly Bandages, and Cast Jewelry, detailing his emphasis on people, culture, and differentiation through design.

Guest Bio and Links:

Eric Ryan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, advisor, and father. Eric is the driving force behind numerous successful brands, including Method Soap, Olly Vitamins, Welly Bandages, and Cast Jewelry. Known for reinvigorating overlooked product categories, Eric has built companies that focus on innovative design, consumer trends, and collaborative team culture.

Listeners can learn more about at website, on IG @ericthomasryan and X @ericthomasryan

Resources:

Method Products - Method's got your back with irresistible, mood-boosting products that make you feel good inside and out.

Welly Bandages - Bandages that seal, protect and get you back in the game with a bit of style.

Olly Vitamins - Olly, also known as Olly Nutrition and Olly Public Benefit, is an American company and brand of vitamin supplements and other products.

Cast Jewelry - Shop Cast, a place to discover wonder-filled fine jewelry. Explore our curation of unexpected collections and find your perfect piece.

Show Notes:

• 
  (0:00) Intro
• (0:20) Leah introduces guest, Eric Ryan to Breaking Precedent
• (1:00) Meet Eric Ryan - the entrepreneurial journey
• (4:30) Eric shares childhood memories that shaped his entrepreneurial spirit
• (6:45) “I tried hard in school, but, and I was a solid, you know, C plus B minus student. But I think it was that work ethic that really taught me. And there was areas I did excel. When you get out of those stupid scantron tests.”
• (9:00) The ice rink story - a glimpse into young Eric’s creative thinking
• (13:45) “Ideas are easy, execution is the hard part.”
• (14:25) The birth of Method
• (18:15) Designing Method with 90K
• (22:30) Scaling up with Target
• (26:00) Olly Vitamins - applying lessons from Method to a new category
• (30:00) Eric’s design vision and design process
• (35:45) The birth of Welly Bandages
• (38:30) When to know when to walk away from a project
• (41:40) The birth of Cast Jewlery
• (47:00) Eric’s jewelry on HBO’s White Lotus - a TV moment for Cast
• (50:00) Launching Tandy
• (51:30) Reflections on entrepreneurship and legacy
• (54:30) Conclusion and final thoughts

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by a Pakistani-born social activist, angel investor, and co-founder of the Malala Fund. Shiza shares her journey from organizing relief efforts in Pakistan to co-founding a billion-dollar nonprofit for girls’ education. She discusses her work with Malala Yousafzai, breaking barriers in the venture capital space, and building OurPlace, a direct-to-consumer kitchenware brand rooted in inclusivity and purpose. Shiza reflects on her upbringing, challenges she’s faced, and her passion for empowering marginalized communities worldwide.

Guest Bio and Links:

Shiza Shahid is a Pakistani-born social activist, angel investor, and entrepreneur who has pushed the boundaries in every aspect of her life. She co-founded the Malala Fund, a multi-billion dollar global nonprofit focused on ensuring girls have access to 12 years of free education. She also launched her own Now Ventures, investing in purpose-driven startups, and is the co-founder of OurPlace, a direct-to-consumer kitchenware and home goods brand known for its focus on creating multifunctional, aesthetically pleasing, and inclusive kitchen products.

Listeners can learn more about Shiza Shahia at IG @shiza and on X @shiza

Resources:

Malala Fund

OurPlace

He Named Me Malala

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:25) Leah introduces guest, Shiza Shahid to Breaking Precedent
• (2:45) Breaking precedents - Shiza's journey
• (4:30) Growing up in Pakistan - education and family influence
• (7:20) Parental support and benevolent neglect
• (9:30) Protesting for Rule of Law
• (12:00) The importance of protests for youth
• (17:00) Journey to Stanford University
• (20:00) College experience and loneliness
• (23:00) Meeting Malala and organizing the summer camp
• (28:45) Malala’s shooting and recovery
• (37:00) Transition to entrepreneurship - NOW Ventures
• (40:00) Purpose-Driven startups
• (43:00) OurPlace - a brand for inclusive cooking
• (48:30) The Traditionware Collection
• (53:00) Ending questions and closing thoughts

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan dives into the extraordinary journey of Alejandra Campoverdi, an award-winning author and trailblazer who has navigated the complexities of social mobility and the emotional toll of being a first-generation achiever. Alejandra's memoir, "First Gen," offers a poignant and relatable account of what it means to be a trailblazer, resonating with readers across various demographics. Alejandra shares her experiences with vulnerability and empathy, highlighting the dual rejection faced by first-generation achievers, her role in the Obama White House, and her non-profit : The First Gen Fund.

Guest Bio and Links:

Alejandra Campoverdi is a nationally recognized women’s health advocate, an award-winning author of First Gen: A Memoir, a groundbreaking account of her journey as a first-generation college graduate and professional. Alejandra served as the White House Deputy Director of Hispanic Media during the Obama administration and is the founder of the First Gen Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support to first-generation students.

Listeners can learn more about Alejandra at her website, and on IG @acampoverdi

Resources:

Alejandra’s book: First Gen

First Gen Scholarship Fund

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:30) Leah introduces guest, Alejandra Campoverdi
• (2:00) Happy Book Birthday to First Gen by Alejandra Campoverdi
• (4:30) The inspiration behind first gen
• (9:30) Leah reads a snippet from First Gen
• (11:30) Supporting the next generation and balancing personal and professional life
• (15:45) The pain of losing friendships
• (17:30) The emotional toll of being a first gen
• (20:30) Invisible inheritances and emotional imprints
• (22:15) How Alejandra found the courage to break cycles
• (25:00) The immigrant story and risk-taking
• (27:15) Joining the Obama campaign
• (30:35) “I’d rather fail than have regret.”
• (33:45) The concept of "blindfolded cliff jumping" in taking risks
• (39:45) The impact of Angela Bassett's words
• (44:00) The importance of self protection
• (52:00) The White House - embodying the entire experience
• (56:45) Benefits of long term mentorship and support
• (59:00) The easter eggs in Alejandra's book
• (1:03:30) Alejandra - Precedent breaker, setter or maintainer
• (1:05:35) “It is a special soul that is born into a family line to change the direction. To change the cycles, to break the cycles, to set a precedent, to break a precedent.”
• (1:07:00) Hopes for the nex generation
• (1:09:30 First Gen Scholarship Fund
  
  

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Dr. Eiman Jahangir, a cardiologist, associate professor at Vanderbilt University, and newly minted astronaut. Together, they discuss Dr. Eiman’s childhood dream turned reality of shuttling to space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard. Dr. Eiman shares the trials of his astronaut applications, his unexpected journey through the world of NFTs and cryptocurrency, and the sheer emotion of achieving a lifelong dream.

Guest Bio and Links:

Dr. Eiman Jahangir, MD, is a cardiologist with extensive training and experience in research investigation and clinical patient care. He has a special interest in hypertension and cardiac oncology. Dr. Eiman became the first commercial physician from Nashville to fly into space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard.

Eiman's Website

Space for Humanity

Moondao

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:25) Leah introduces guest, Dr. Eiman Jahangir to Breaking Precedent
• (2:25) Dr. Eiman’s childhood space dreams
• (4:00) Applying to NASA
• (10:00) Web3 and NFT’s
• (11:00) Winning a seat on Blue Origin through Moondow
• (22:00) Precedent breaker or maintainer
• (24:30) Post-flight interview with Dr. Eiman
• (25:25) NASA’s launch preparation and training
• (29:00) The launch
• (38:00) Emotional and physical experience of liftoff
• (42:00) “You have become the actualized version of the person you dreamt of 20 years ago.”
• (45:30) Zero Gravity - The profound impact of seeing Earth from space
• (49:00) First impression of space
• (51:00) Reflections on returning to Earth and the landing process
• (52:30) Post flight reflections
• (55:30) Future of space travel and predictions
• (1:04:30) “We aren't too far away from moon bases and suborbital space stations.”

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by a successful venture capitalist and co-founder of Floodgate, Ann Miura-Ko. Leah and Ann dive into the world of technology, what Ann seeks in founding teams, thoughts on the challenges with the Venture Capital industry, and Ann’s perspective on the opportunities AI presents for mass cognition. Drawing from her upbringing in a Japanese immigrant family and experiences in Silicon Valley, Ann dives deep into her journey of embracing her individuality and pushing boundaries in both her personal life and her professional career.

Guest Bio and Links:

Ann Miura-Ko is a co-founding partner at Floodgate, a seed-stage venture capital firm with notable investments in companies including Lyft, Twitter, Twitch, and Okta. Known for her inception stage investments that range from marketplaces to highly technical companies, Ms. Miura-Ko's investments have earned her repeat appearances on the Forbes Midas List and The New York Times list of top twenty venture capitalists worldwide.

Listeners can learn more about at her website, on IG @amiura and X @annimaniac

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:30) Leah introduces guest, Ann Miura-Ko
• (3:00) Growing up: family and cultural influences
• (5:00) Breaking with tradition - Ann’s mother’s influence on her independence
• (7:30) The legacy of precedent breaking women
• (10:00) Ann’s experience on the debate team
• (13:30) “Sometime’s in order to win you have to go in for the kill.”
• (15:00) Transition to Venture Capital
• (17:15) The unconventional interview
• (22:30) The origin of TaskRabbit and early-stage investment
• (25:00) The personal side of fundraising
• (28:30) Shaping the future of work
• (31:30) Investing in Zimride
• (35:00) Lyft breaking legal precedents
• (37:45) Factors and philosophies that go into investing
• (43:30) The future of self-driving enterprises
• (50:00) The ownership model of Venture Capital
• (53:30) The value of listening to your gut
• (54:30) Precedents yet to be broken
• (56:00) “Sometimes I think as we criticize things. We need to first learn how to love them.”
• (58:30) Closing thoughts - reflections on success and happiness
• (1:02:00) To stay inspired and informed, be sure to like, follow, and subscribe to Breaking Precedent for more insightful conversations with trailblazers like Ann Miura-Ko

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed