Prepare to be inspired today! In this episode, we sit down with the remarkable Yasmin Bashirova, an entrepreneur and activist with a diverse background in energy resource engineering, finance, and strategy. Yasmin is an advocate for social justice and human rights, a mentor for emerging professionals navigating uncertainty, and a finance leader in the startup community. Currently, she's transitioning into the AI space as the founder of Wrapt, offering packaging specification management solutions tailored to the CPG industry.

• Yasmin's Nomadic Journey: Yasmin shares her background, having lived in various countries like Ukraine and Azerbaijan before settling in California. She draws inspiration from her grandmother, a pioneering entrepreneur in the Soviet Union, who instilled in her a passion for innovation and activism.
• From Engineering to Finance to Entrepreneurship: Yasmin discusses her unconventional career path, transitioning from energy resource engineering to finance, and eventually diving into entrepreneurship. She emphasizes the importance of adaptability and seizing opportunities for growth.
• Identifying Opportunities in the CPG Industry: Yasmin explains how she recognized a niche in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, particularly in packaging optimization. She highlights the challenges CPG companies face, such as scattered data and complex collaboration processes.
• Building Relationships and Gathering Insights: Yasmin shares her strategy for entering unfamiliar industries, emphasizing the value of building genuine relationships with industry experts. She leverages their insights to develop a deep understanding of market needs and pain points.
• Scaling Product Development: Yasmin discusses the transition from MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to achieving product-market fit. She stresses the importance of continuous feedback from customers and staying responsive to their evolving needs.
• Balancing Customization and Scalability: While Yasmin acknowledges the temptation to customize products for individual customers, she emphasizes the need to find common denominators and maintain scalability in product development.
• Keeping Customers Engaged: Yasmin shares her approach to keeping customers excited about the product, likening it to an ongoing narrative where each update builds anticipation for the next. She emphasizes the importance of soliciting feedback to drive innovation.

Yasmin's journey exemplifies the power of adaptability, resilience, and community-building in entrepreneurship. Her insights offer invaluable guidance for aspiring founders navigating unfamiliar industries and scaling their ventures. Join us in embracing the spirit of innovation and pivoting towards success!

• Wrapt: https://www.trywrapt.com/
• Yasmin Bashirova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasminbashirova/

Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research and seek appropriate guidance for their specific circumstances.