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Chief Mama Officer

Jennie Yang

At Chief Mama Officer, we believe the most powerful thing you can build is yourself.

This is a podcast for women founders, investors, and anyone curious about how women are redefining power: women who are ready to lead more fully with both strength and soul, ambition and ease, and drive and depth.

We talk purpose, wellbeing, wealth — and the inner work that makes it all possible.

Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok @chief.mama.officer

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15 episodes
weekly
Avg 37 min
English

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S3 · E15
Tuesday · 46 min
Karthika Shankar | It's Okay to Be Wrong
Karthika Shankar is the co-founder and COO of Rosie, a membership that gives families hours of in-home help, from childcare to house help. Karthika and Jennie talk about 25 years of Indian classical dance, her time as an Amazon Bar Raiser, how Rosie went from nanny matching to “extra hands,” and what founding has taught a self-described planner and perfectionist about speed, ambiguity, and being wrong. Connect with Karthika: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karthikashankar/ Find Karthika on Instagram: @hello.karthika Learn more about Rosie: www.rosiematch.com Find Jennie Yang on Instagram and TikTok @chief.mama.officer Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com. Chapters 00:00 The Journey of a Dancer 07:40 The Bar Raiser Experience at Amazon 16:16 Founding Rosie: A New Approach to Childcare 28:57 Optimizing Hiring Processes 34:10 Building Competencies and Reliability 39:09 Fundraising Journey and Expansion Plans 43:11 Vision for the Future of Rosie
S3 · E14
November 3 · 37 min
Jemila Alharazim, PA-C | Pivot and Learn as You Go
Jemila Alharazim is a pediatric allergy and immunology physician assistant and a mom. She is also the founder of Ocean Olive, a microbiome-friendly spot treatment for eczema-prone skin, which she started building after her son developed eczema. We talk about growing up as the child of Sierra Leonean immigrants, how that shaped her view of money, and what it took to bring a product to market while working as a PA and raising her son. Learn more about Ocean Olive: www.ocean-olive.com Find Ocean Olive on Instagram: @ocean_olive_ Find Jennie Yang on Instagram and TikTok @chief.mama.officer Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jemila Alharazim 01:05 Journey to Becoming a Physician Assistant 03:20 The Birth of Ocean Olive 06:09 Challenges in Product Development 09:31 Balancing Multiple Roles 13:00 The Importance of Community 15:25 Insights from Dream Ventures Accelerator 18:00 Transforming Relationship with Money 21:09 Cultural Influences on Parenting 24:03 Vision for Ocean Olive 26:06 Natural Ingredients and Their Benefits 30:01 Believing in Yourself as an Entrepreneur 33:03 Core Lessons in Entrepreneurship 36:24 Investing in Yourself and Your Ideas
S2 · E13
October 27 · 44 min
Laura Cunningham | Find Your Believers
Laura Cunningham is the co-founder and CEO of AVA, a 24/7 parenting partner that knows what's coming, helps with the work, and makes sure you don't miss what matters. In this conversation, Laura talks about the Clay Club moment that led her to build AVA (an “AI wife”), why she stopped seeing the mental load as a personal failing, and how she and her co-founder built trust before leaving their jobs. Laura and Jennie also get honest about fundraising, tying self-worth to outcomes, and why connecting to vision helps when the no’s come. Connect with Laura: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-cunningham-35a7ab7/⁠ ⁠https://lauracccunningham.substack.com/⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/l_c_c_c/⁠ Learn more about AVA: ⁠https://hiava.com/⁠ Download AVA with the CHIEFMAMA discount code: ⁠https://hiava.com/getava?utm_source=CHIEFMAMA ⁠ Find Jennie Yang on Instagram and TikTok @chief.mama.officer Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com. Chapters 00:00 The Founding Story of AVA 05:12 Understanding the Mental Load 09:59 Pivotal Moments in Laura's Journey 15:13 Building Trust with Co-Founders 19:54 The Value of AVA and User Experience 27:57 Identifying Problems Over Aspirations 28:13 The Concept of the AI Wife 29:30 The Reality of Time Management with AI 32:44 The Challenges of Fundraising 36:52 The Personal Journey of a Founder 40:31 Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Validation 43:40 Future Plans for AVA 47:39 Advice for Women Founders
S2 · E12
October 20 · 41 min
Margaret Coblentz | Embrace Your Ambition
Margaret Coblentz is the co-founder and GP of Capital F, a fund investing at pre-seed and seed in digital commerce, AI, health, and wellness. In this conversation, Margaret and Jennie talk about the goal-setting and discipline behind her path: bootstrapping a company to acquisition, starting Stanford GSB five months postpartum with her third child, and closing a $17 million first fund in a historically challenging fundraising environment. They also dig into how Capital F ended up with 82% women LPs, what she looks for in a founder, and why she thinks bootstrapping is underrated. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Margaret Coblentz 01:30 The Superpowers of Efficiency and Discipline 06:40 Journey to Venture Capital 07:57 The Birth of Angel Investing 09:58 Fundraising Challenges and Strategies 14:05 The Importance of Female LPs 18:56 Building Community Through Salons 23:09 Bootstrapping Experience and Insights 24:02 The Rise of Micro Brands and AI 27:11 Transitioning from Founder to Investor 29:22 Balancing Family and Graduate School 32:10 Building Self-Belief and Operating Excellence 35:00 Evaluating Founders: Key Traits for Success 37:47 Advice for Founders Pitching in Q4 39:27 Vision for the Future: Family and Capital F 43:11 Embracing Ambition and Personal Growth Connect with Margaret Coblentz: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-coblentz-2797882/⁠ Find Capital F on Instagram @capitalfvc and ⁠https://www.capitalf.vc/⁠ Find Jennie Yang on Instagram and TikTok @chief.mama.officer Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com.
S2 · E11
October 13 · 41 min
Ting Guo-Villaseñor | Success is Subjective
Ting Guo-Villaseñor spent a decade building companies before she started investing. Today she leads Hello Moai, a deal-by-deal angel syndicate backing founders in healthcare, family, and consumer essentials people actually rely on. In this conversation, Ting and Jennie dig into how she’s defined success over the years: the version her parents prescribed, the version she measured against her peers, and the one she’s working out now as a mother, investor, and founder-backer. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ting Guo-Villaseñor and Her Journey 05:03 The Impact of Upbringing on Motherhood 07:56 Creating Hello Moai: A New Kind of Syndicate 11:54 Investment Philosophy and Focus on Essentials 18:13 Redefining Success as a Mother 21:57 The Value of Community in Angel Investing 25:44 Empowering Women Investors 26:09 Evaluating Early Stage Investments 30:22 The Importance of Coachability 31:20 Building Relationships in Investing 33:11 Vision for Future Investments 36:11 Health and Well-being in Entrepreneurship 37:12 Support Networks for Founders 41:18 Redefining Success and Values 45:29 The Power of Asking for Help Find Ting Guo-Villaseñor at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tingtingguo and https://www.hellomoai.com Find Jennie Yang on Instagram and TikTok @chief.mama.officer Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com.
S2 · E10
October 6 · 50 min
Elizabeth McCluskey | Capital with a Purpose
In this episode, Elizabeth McCluskey, venture capitalist and angel investor, shares her path from investment banking to backing purpose-driven founders in family, community, and health. She discusses the moment managing her grandmother's investments pushed her toward impact, why she believes founders driven by mission last longer on a 10+ year road to exit, and what changed in 2024 that made her ready to write personal checks as a mother of two. Elizabeth emphasizes the power of angel groups, starting with small checks, and building relationships to source deal flow. She also reflects on what makes a founder a 10 out of 10, how women founders can navigate the risk lens in pitches, and why time has become her most valued form of wealth. Find Elizabeth McCluskey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethcmccluskey/ Join Elizabeth’s newsletter At The Table: elizabethmccluskey.beehiiv.com Find Jennie Yang on Instagram andTikTok @chief.mama.officer Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com.
S2 · E9
September 29 · 38 min
Rei Wang | It's Your Time to Build
In this episode, Rei Wang, co-founder of The Grand, shares her journey of building community and support for mothers who are also entrepreneurs. She discusses her unique upbringing, the importance of intentionality in community design, and the transition from her role as CEO at Dorm Room Fund to building The Grand. Rei emphasizes the significance of in-person connections, the challenges of motherhood, and the need for supportive spaces for women navigating personal and professional transitions. She also offers advice for ambitious women and reflects on her own growth and aspirations. Chapters 00:00 Building Community and Belonging 03:09 The Journey to Founding The Grand 05:53 Intentionality in Community Design 08:52 From Dorm Room Fund to Angel Investing 11:53 Creating Supportive Spaces for Mothers 15:14 The Importance of In-Person Connection 18:03 Navigating Personal and Professional Transitions 21:06 The Role of Retreats in Personal Growth 24:01 Advice for Ambitious Women 27:12 Embracing Change and Unlearning 30:03 Defining Your Zone of Genius 33:04 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations Find Rei Wang on Instagram @reireimagines Find Jennie Yang on Instagram andTikTok @chief.mama.officer Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com.
S2 · E8
September 22 · 50 min
Arielle Zuckerberg | Leading with Love
Arielle Zuckerberg, General Partner at Long Journey Ventures, joins Jennie to discuss what it really means to lead from a place of love. From her formative years in college through her journey into venture capital, Arielle reveals how she recovered from perfectionism and learned that vulnerability, not polish, is what builds trust. She opens up about her brother's sudden fame, the friends who showed up and those who didn't, and why surrounding yourself with high-integrity people is everything. Arielle shares her philosophy on difficult conversations (she's the "Grim Reaper" of her friend group), the power of seeing people's potential, and how her mother taught her that love is infinite. She also talks candidly about motherhood, partnership, community, and why asking for support is what allows us to rise into our zone of genius. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Arielle Zuckerberg 01:18 Formative Experiences and Early Career 05:14 Philosophy and Its Relevance 11:00 Navigating Personal Challenges 17:24 Transitioning to Venture Capital 22:15 Growth at Long Journey Ventures 23:12 Balancing Motherhood and Career 29:18 Heart-Centered Leadership 32:34 Trust and Vulnerability in Leadership 36:48 Embracing Messiness and Imperfection 39:32 Overcoming Perfectionism 43:03 The Power of Difficult Conversations 48:30 The Influence of Family on Leadership 52:44 Community Support for Women 54:51 Closing Thoughts and Reflections Find Arielle Zuckerberg @ariellezuck (twitter) and @az (instagram) Find Jennie Yang on Instagram andTikTok @chief.mama.officer Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com.
S1 · E7
September 8 · 6 min
Jennie Yang | From Scarcity to Abundance
In this conversation, Jennie Yang reflects on her journey of personal and professional transformation at the age of 40. She discusses the challenges of operating from a scarcity mindset, particularly in navigating work and family life. Jennie emphasizes the importance of shifting to an abundance mindset, prioritizing connection and well-being, and redefining how we view wealth and productivity. Through her experiences and insights, she encourages listeners to embrace their identities and recognize their worth beyond traditional measures of success. Chapters 00:00 Embracing Change at 40 02:59 The Scarcity Mindset Take the CMO Compass at https://www.chiefmamaofficer.com/cmo-compass Find Jennie Yang on Instagram andTikTok @chief.mama.officer Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com.
S1 · E6
September 1 · 44 min
Balu Belz | Believing Yourself
Balu Belz leads membership communities at Chief and The WIE Suite after an early career in advertising. She's an angel investor focused on women's and family health, and serves on the boards of CFHI and the Wits Fund US. Raised in South Africa on Ubuntu, "I am because you are", she connects people, ideas, and opportunities in ways that create real belonging. Today, she moves capital backing founders solving for the health and happiness of women, mothers, and families. The relationship you have with yourself determines the relationships you build with others. In this conversation, Balu talks about finding your gifts, why your investment thesis is a reflection of who you are, and the difference between believing in yourself and believing yourself. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Balu Belz and Her Journey 02:19 The Influence of Ubuntu on Community Building 06:09 Discovering and Leveraging Your Zone of Genius 09:23 The Role of Community in Angel Investing 12:17 Navigating Personal Challenges: Health and Happiness 17:18 The Journey of Motherhood and Fertility 20:40 Practices for Cultivating Peace and Joy 26:39 Juggling Multiple Roles: The Reality of Solo Parenting 29:17 Navigating Parenthood and Work-Life Balance 33:21 Insights from Birth Order and Business Evaluation 38:12 The Journey into Angel Investing 44:33 Empowering Women Investors and Future Generations Find Balu Belz on Instagram at @balubelz Find Jennie Yang on Instagram andTikTok @chief.mama.officer Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com.
S1 · E5
August 25 · 32 min
Claire Smith | It's Not a Zero-Sum Game
Jennie Yang talks with Claire Smith, Partner at SpringTide Ventures, about Claire’s path into venture capital, the difference between tech bio and biotech, and why strong teams matter. Claire also shares how she thinks about building trust with founders and the power of networking, mentorship, and community support for women in investing. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Claire Smith and Her Background 03:04 The Evolution of TechBio vs. Biotech 05:57 Claire's Journey into Investing 08:51 The Importance of Team in Venture Capital 12:03 Supporting Founders Through Challenges 15:03 Building Trust and Transparency with Investors 17:54 Well-Being in the Workplace and Family-Friendly Policies 22:14 Navigating Work-Life Balance 29:03 The Importance of Networking 35:31 Building Genuine Connections 40:28 Empowering Women Investors Find us on Instagram and TikTok @chief.mama.officer Find Claire Smith at https://www.springtide.com/claire and https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-elizabeth-smith/ Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com.
S1 · E4
August 18 · 39 min
Caroline Lewis | Investing in the Whole Person
Caroline Lewis is Managing Partner at Nura Ventures and Rogue Women’s Fund. In this episode, she shares more about her journey in building Nura Ventures, investing in women, and the experiences that shaped her path from operator to venture investor. The conversation focuses on women, money, power, and how Caroline supports founders as whole people, not just as companies. Jennie and Caroline also discuss how financial fluency creates agency, why scarcity mindset can affect even successful people, and how Caroline uses nature, sport, and daily practices to stay grounded while fundraising and investing. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Caroline Lewis and Her Journey 03:50 Founding Nura: The Vision and Values Behind the Fund 09:49 Supporting the Whole Founder: Unique Offerings of Nura 12:07 Lessons from Nike and Entrepreneurial Insights 14:06 Defining Success: Personal and Professional Goals 15:51 Empowering Women Through Financial Knowledge 20:19 The Influence of Family on Financial Acumen 23:17 Overcoming Scarcity Mindset: Strategies and Narratives 24:36 Navigating Fear and Intuition in Decision Making 32:00 The Importance of Hobbies and Personal Growth 38:14 Lessons from Nature and Its Impact on Life 40:08 Legacy and Empowerment for Future Generations Find Caroline Lewis at ⁠https://nura.vc/⁠ Find us on Instagram and TikTok at @chief.mama.officer Got a question or a comment? You can reach us at aloha@chiefmamaofficer.com.
S1 · E3
August 11 · 33 min
Jessica Kamada | You Don't Need Permission
In this episode of the Chief Mama Officer podcast, Jennie Yang interviews Jessica Kamada, managing partner of Swizzle Ventures. They discuss Jessica's journey from a competitive figure skater to a successful fund manager, the challenges of balancing motherhood and career, and the importance of financial literacy for future generations. Jessica shares her insights on the wealth gap for women and emphasizes the need for women to take ownership of their financial futures without waiting for permission. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Jessica Kamada and Swizzle Ventures 10:07 From Ice Skating to Fund Management: A Personal Journey 20:00 The Impact of Parenthood on Career Choices 30:09 Wealth, Equity, and Financial Literacy for Future Generations 40:08 Empowering Women: No Permission Needed Find Jessica Kamada: https://www.swizzle.vc/ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/swizzle.vc Connect with Jennie: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chief.mama.officer⁠ ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chief.mama.officer⁠ ⁠⁠https://linkedin.com/in/jennie-yang⁠
S1 · E2
August 4 · 43 min
Naseem Sayani | Women Moving Capital
Naseem Sayani shares her journey through consulting, corporate VC, and venture capital, highlighting how women navigate male-dominated spaces. She emphasizes relationships as a superpower and the urgency of financial fluency as generational wealth transfers to women. Naseem discusses mobilizing women investors to close funding gaps, shifting healthcare toward precision health informed by female physiology, and how women can lead with opportunistic storytelling in fundraising conversations. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Naseem Sayani 01:20 Pivotal Moments in Naseem’s Career 09:14 Navigating Gender Dynamics in Business 10:09 The Power of Relationships for Women 15:34 Money Mindset and Confidence 19:01 Starting the Angel Investing Journey 22:53 Thesis on Women's Health and Wealth 24:52 Transforming Healthcare: From Disease Management to Precision Health 30:00 Empowering Women: The Intersection of Health and Wealth 36:03 Mobilizing Women Investors: A Collective Approach to Capital 42:56 Building Relationships: The Key to Successful Fundraising Find Naseem Sayani at ⁠https://thecapitalflexpodcast.buzzsprout.com/⁠ Connect with Jennie: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/chief.mama.officer TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@chief.mama.officer ⁠LinkedIn⁠ — https://linkedin.com/in/jennie-yang
S1 · E1
July 28 · 7 min
Jennie Yang | Building Power with Purpose
Jennie Yang shares her journey from corporate success to building her own venture, highlighting how inner work transforms women’s leadership, relationship with money, and systems of power. Discover how shifting from proving to choosing can unlock authentic success and create systemic change. Timestamps: 00:00 - Jennie’s journey from corporate executive to founder of Chief Mama Officer 00:31 - The false sense of freedom and the scarcity mindset in corporate success 01:00 - Building her own business and realizing the same limiting beliefs persist 01:28 - The shift from proving to choosing through investing in venture capital 02:24 - How the mindset shift impacts relationships, leadership, and systems 02:39 - Women’s role in rewriting power and systemic norms from a place of wholeness 03:08 - The importance of inner work in redefining success and leadership 03:32 - Debunking the myth that success must come from fear and proving 03:42 - The foundational inner work of healing, trusting, and receiving 04:33 - Building a new paradigm for women leaders based on purpose and well-being 04:50 - Season one focus: women investors redefining how capital moves 05:10 - How women excavate limiting beliefs to move capital from wholeness 05:59 - The holistic journey of building wealth, power, and legacy 06:28 - Invitation for women curious about redefining power and capital Connect with Jennie: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/chief.mama.officer TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@chief.mama.officer ⁠LinkedIn⁠ — https://linkedin.com/in/jennie-yang

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