In this episode of Ventures, my guests Linda Olson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-olson-cpc-cfa-55885858/), Laura Yunger (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurayunger/), and I discuss the often-overlooked value of people and communication alignment when building and investing in businesses. This is an episode I wish I had 20+ years ago when starting out my entrepreneurial career. Based on their extensive experience coaching and investing in entrepreneurs, Laura and Linda also talk frankly about how to avoid burnout and stay maximally healthy with your team.

You can watch this episode below or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts (search for “Ventures”).

1:46 - Tee-up for the motivation for this episode

2:36 - Linda introduction and background

4:55 - Laura introduction and background

7:59 - For the audience (entrepreneurs and investors), a lot of the questions are around “How do I form, communicate with, and rally a team”?

12:43 - Fundamentally it’s about: 1. Set a vision/mission, and 2. From the start, invite a wide range of diversity onto the team. Question: what do you do if good communication and diversity isn’t in place in an existing business?

18:55 - What are the questions/topics/problems that Laura and Linda are thinking about these days as it relates to venture building/investing.  (Human connection & flourishing…”what do you want your legacy to be”...”what is success to you?”)

23:14 - Importance of getting “the people stuff” right, hard to hear when younger in your career, but so incredibly important.

25:30 - For the 20yr-old listening in, what are we trying to drive home for their generation in terms of the value of relationships and communication?

28:25 - More about GEEK values at Prota (Generosity, Empathy, Excellence, and Kindness). Jim Collins → BE 2.0: https://www.amazon.com/BE-2-0-Beyond-Entrepreneurship-Business/dp/0399564233 // and Good to Great: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996

31:22 - How to avoid burnout

37:17 - Final thoughts - importance of the founder team / dynamics / etc.. value of compassion.

40:44 - Where can people find Linda and Laura online? https://www.mandladvisors.com/ // https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-olson-cpc-cfa-55885858/ // https://www.protaventures.com // https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurayunger/