Let me say this upfront: I’ve been caught in this trap.
I’ve bent. I’ve softened. I’ve stayed quiet when I had something to say. I’ve worked overtime to be agreeable, reasonable, likable.
And like many women I know, I got very good at making room for others—without even
realizing I was pushing myself to the edge of it.
What finally pushed me over that edge?
Being told to smile more.
Again.
Because what that really says is:
“Don’t make us uncomfortable.”
“Don’t be too direct.”
“Don’t show up too strong.”

I didn’t get here because someone cheered me on. I didn’t have mentors checking in or women ahead of me saying, “You’ve got this.” I wasn’t plucked from the crowd or fast-tracked or groomed. If anything, I was mostly ignored. Overlooked. The only woman in the room, again and again. But I stayed. Not because someone told me I belonged—but because I wasn’t willing to leave.

Confidence isn’t something you wait for.
It’s something you build—by showing up anyway.

Owning Your Seat Isn’t About Ego—It’s About Leadership. When you walk into a room—especially one filled with decision-makers—you need to remember: you earned your place. You’re not doing anyone a favor by playing small. In fact, shrinking helps no one—not your team, not your company, and certainly not the women who will come after you.

We often think that in order to make a real difference in someone’s life, we need to offer hours of time, loads of expertise, or be in some official role. But the truth is, the things that shape us the most are often quick, simple, and surprisingly quiet.

Welcome to reverse mentorship, a concept that challenges the notion that wisdom only flows in one direction. In reality, younger women—whether fresh out of college, early in their careers, or leading innovative startups—hold insights, perspectives, and skills that more seasoned professionals need. And when we create space to learn from them, we’re not just investing in the future—we’re ensuring that we stay relevant, adaptable, and ahead of the curve.

I’ve been in rooms where founders rattle off financials, market stats, and growth projections—watching investors’ eyes glaze over. And then I’ve seen a different kind of founder stand up and tell a story.

Not just what their company does. But why it matters. Who it’s helping. What’s at stake. And suddenly, the energy in the room shifts. People lean in. They get it.

That’s the power of storytelling.
That’s the difference between being heard—and being remembered.

When it comes to success—whether as an investor, founder, or leader—one truth stands above
all: your network is your net worth.

Your network isn’t just about who you know—it’s about who knows you and, more importantly,
who trusts you. The right connections can unlock opportunities, provide access to capital, and
open doors that hard work alone simply can’t.

Success isn't just about talent or hard work—it's about access. It's about being in the right conversations, getting the right introductions, and having someone say, 'she's the one you need to talk to.'

So, let's be honest:

Who are you pulling in?

Traditional investing is transactional: money goes in, and returns (hopefully) come out. But capital isn’t just financial—it’s human. It’s experience, guidance, introductions, and support. It’s the difference between funding a company and actually fueling its success.

Because money alone doesn’t build great businesses, people do.

And people don’t just need funding. They need someone who believes in them, who opens doors, who makes them feel like they belong in the room.

This is exactly why Mentor Capital matters.

I believe so deeply in mentor capital—the idea that investing in women isn’t just about money. It’s about backing each other with support, guidance, and the confidence to take up space in places that weren’t always designed for us.

Whether we’re running businesses, leading teams, stepping into investing or navigating career changes, women often face the same hurdles. It’s not just about working hard—it's about having the right network, the right access, and the right reinforcement that we belong here.

Society's gaze can be unforgiving, particularly towards women as they age. The narrative often
paints a grim picture—distinguished men versus invisible women. Yet, I refuse to be confined by
such stereotypes.

Many years ago, I adopted the practice of choosing a "Word of the Year"a powerful personal tradition that transcends the often fleeting New Year's resolutions. It's a meaningful exercise that sets intentions and nurtures personal growth. The concept involves selecting a word or phrase that deeply resonates with you, steering your decisions and shaping your mindset for the forthcoming year.

I share my story as a reminder that our voices and contributions are valuable at every stage of our lives regardless of the whiteness of our hair.

Women investors want to help make the world a better place, add jobs, help to bring life-saving technology to the masses, and so much more. So, I am calling all women to partake of this privilege; we cannot let our male colleagues have all the fun!!

As the only woman in the room for most of my career, I found out quickly that one of the most important things I needed to learn was to be direct and to the point. It seems it was hard enough to have a woman at the table, but a chatty woman was just too much.

I am always looking for articles, book, podcasts, videos etc. that provide focus on the challenges of and hurdles of starting and growing a business – yesterday in this hunkered down world I found an extraordinary source in the Netflix series – Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

21 years later and these principles of entrepreneurship have stood the test of time!

I have been consciously smiling at or with servers in restaurants, store clerks and cashiers, ticket takers, etc. for many years. I think what they do makes my life easier and it’s my way of saying thank you or I appreciate you; I notice you.