In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by a Pakistani-born social activist, angel investor, and co-founder of the Malala Fund. Shiza shares her journey from organizing relief efforts in Pakistan to co-founding a billion-dollar nonprofit for girls’ education. She discusses her work with Malala Yousafzai, breaking barriers in the venture capital space, and building OurPlace, a direct-to-consumer kitchenware brand rooted in inclusivity and purpose. Shiza reflects on her upbringing, challenges she’s faced, and her passion for empowering marginalized communities worldwide.

Guest Bio and Links:

Shiza Shahid is a Pakistani-born social activist, angel investor, and entrepreneur who has pushed the boundaries in every aspect of her life. She co-founded the Malala Fund, a multi-billion dollar global nonprofit focused on ensuring girls have access to 12 years of free education. She also launched her own Now Ventures, investing in purpose-driven startups, and is the co-founder of OurPlace, a direct-to-consumer kitchenware and home goods brand known for its focus on creating multifunctional, aesthetically pleasing, and inclusive kitchen products.

Listeners can learn more about Shiza Shahia at IG @shiza and on X @shiza

Resources:

Malala Fund

OurPlace

He Named Me Malala

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:25) Leah introduces guest, Shiza Shahid to Breaking Precedent
• (2:45) Breaking precedents - Shiza's journey
• (4:30) Growing up in Pakistan - education and family influence
• (7:20) Parental support and benevolent neglect
• (9:30) Protesting for Rule of Law
• (12:00) The importance of protests for youth
• (17:00) Journey to Stanford University
• (20:00) College experience and loneliness
• (23:00) Meeting Malala and organizing the summer camp
• (28:45) Malala’s shooting and recovery
• (37:00) Transition to entrepreneurship - NOW Ventures
• (40:00) Purpose-Driven startups
• (43:00) OurPlace - a brand for inclusive cooking
• (48:30) The Traditionware Collection
• (53:00) Ending questions and closing thoughts

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan dives into the extraordinary journey of Alejandra Campoverdi, an award-winning author and trailblazer who has navigated the complexities of social mobility and the emotional toll of being a first-generation achiever. Alejandra's memoir, "First Gen," offers a poignant and relatable account of what it means to be a trailblazer, resonating with readers across various demographics. Alejandra shares her experiences with vulnerability and empathy, highlighting the dual rejection faced by first-generation achievers, her role in the Obama White House, and her non-profit : The First Gen Fund.

Guest Bio and Links:

Alejandra Campoverdi is a nationally recognized women’s health advocate, an award-winning author of First Gen: A Memoir, a groundbreaking account of her journey as a first-generation college graduate and professional. Alejandra served as the White House Deputy Director of Hispanic Media during the Obama administration and is the founder of the First Gen Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support to first-generation students.

Listeners can learn more about Alejandra at her website, and on IG @acampoverdi

Resources:

Alejandra’s book: First Gen

First Gen Scholarship Fund

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:30) Leah introduces guest, Alejandra Campoverdi
• (2:00) Happy Book Birthday to First Gen by Alejandra Campoverdi
• (4:30) The inspiration behind first gen
• (9:30) Leah reads a snippet from First Gen
• (11:30) Supporting the next generation and balancing personal and professional life
• (15:45) The pain of losing friendships
• (17:30) The emotional toll of being a first gen
• (20:30) Invisible inheritances and emotional imprints
• (22:15) How Alejandra found the courage to break cycles
• (25:00) The immigrant story and risk-taking
• (27:15) Joining the Obama campaign
• (30:35) “I’d rather fail than have regret.”
• (33:45) The concept of "blindfolded cliff jumping" in taking risks
• (39:45) The impact of Angela Bassett's words
• (44:00) The importance of self protection
• (52:00) The White House - embodying the entire experience
• (56:45) Benefits of long term mentorship and support
• (59:00) The easter eggs in Alejandra's book
• (1:03:30) Alejandra - Precedent breaker, setter or maintainer
• (1:05:35) “It is a special soul that is born into a family line to change the direction. To change the cycles, to break the cycles, to set a precedent, to break a precedent.”
• (1:07:00) Hopes for the nex generation
• (1:09:30 First Gen Scholarship Fund
  
  

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Dr. Eiman Jahangir, a cardiologist, associate professor at Vanderbilt University, and newly minted astronaut. Together, they discuss Dr. Eiman’s childhood dream turned reality of shuttling to space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard. Dr. Eiman shares the trials of his astronaut applications, his unexpected journey through the world of NFTs and cryptocurrency, and the sheer emotion of achieving a lifelong dream.

Guest Bio and Links:

Dr. Eiman Jahangir, MD, is a cardiologist with extensive training and experience in research investigation and clinical patient care. He has a special interest in hypertension and cardiac oncology. Dr. Eiman became the first commercial physician from Nashville to fly into space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard.

Eiman's Website

Space for Humanity

Moondao

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:25) Leah introduces guest, Dr. Eiman Jahangir to Breaking Precedent
• (2:25) Dr. Eiman’s childhood space dreams
• (4:00) Applying to NASA
• (10:00) Web3 and NFT’s
• (11:00) Winning a seat on Blue Origin through Moondow
• (22:00) Precedent breaker or maintainer
• (24:30) Post-flight interview with Dr. Eiman
• (25:25) NASA’s launch preparation and training
• (29:00) The launch
• (38:00) Emotional and physical experience of liftoff
• (42:00) “You have become the actualized version of the person you dreamt of 20 years ago.”
• (45:30) Zero Gravity - The profound impact of seeing Earth from space
• (49:00) First impression of space
• (51:00) Reflections on returning to Earth and the landing process
• (52:30) Post flight reflections
• (55:30) Future of space travel and predictions
• (1:04:30) “We aren't too far away from moon bases and suborbital space stations.”

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed