Women in Business Building a Startup

At a Death Cafe in Marin County, California

Last month I was at a Death Cafe in Marin, surrounded by mostly Baby Boomers talking about death (if you are unfamiliar with Death Cafes, check out this past post). Yup, we were all just talking about death – imagine that, the movement has begun! There were 60 of us attending and it was a moment of critical mass that was overwhelming and inspiring – hallelujah!

Following a two hour session that covered every possible topic around death and dying (just like this blog!), I met and chatted with a woman in the hospital industry. She mentioned that I must read Lean In, a book by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. I ran right out to buy it and loved it!

Since there are not many women in business within the startup world, I feel like I’m virtually a lone wolf – especially given the topic of death I work within. Many thanks to Sheryl for making me feel like I’m not so alone afterall. Building a startup is different for women and we all talked openly on this subject. Here’s the kernel of Sheryl’s impetus for writing the book:

“In addition to external barriers erected by society, women are hindered by barriers that exist within ourselves. We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.”

Some of my current reading, which includes lots of secrets about death care.

Hell – I’m leaning in so far I live in fear of falling off the cliff. It’s what we do in building a startup as entrepreneurs, we see the edge of the cliff and work to keep it as far in the distance as possible; going into a startup alone is the way it has to be for us. But as women in business we approach the task by being 200% prepared. I started SevenPonds with all of the assets one could ask for, including a deep understanding of the death care industry (that goes back more than 25 years now) that very few outsiders know. Creating SevenPonds took a specific vision, a creative mind and a driver personality. In reflection, I can see that I’ve learned a lot along my short path thus far. A lot!

I have no fear of death, no “fear of flying” and no fear of those who are picking my bones – even New Yorkers. I am a born and bred, hard-working Midwesterner. But I was also a hard-core New Yorker for over two decades, so I can see it from all sides. I’ve been New York centric, but never plan on being so again. I’m now a San Franciscan who loves Silicon Valley in ways only we can grasp, because it’s truly the center of the innovation vortex. Deborah Perry Piscione is a great example of a former East Coaster who went through a similar transition: she now sees Silicon Valley as the innovation capital of the world. Piscione writes about her unexpected discovery, extolling the area in her book Secrets of Silicon Valley. Her book reaffirms that Silicon Valley is indeed at the center of the cutting edge – and that we have virtually everything at our fingertips to innovate. Even when it comes to death!

I have no fear of death, no fear of flying and no fear of those who are picking my bones – even New Yorkers.

So no matter what, bring it on because I’m a winner – always have been, always will be. I’m chock full of passion and will never quit. I love SevenPonds and it’s real to me in every possible sense of the word.

Read more of my past posts here.