Ever feel like your career doesn’t fit neatly into a traditional box? Same. In this episode, we chat with Milly Tamati, founder of Generalist World, who’s made it her mission to support people like us—those who zigzag through careers, passions, and projects. Milly gets real about the ups and downs of building a path that doesn’t follow the rulebook and shares how she’s helping fellow generalists find their place in a world that doesn’t always get us. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not “just one thing,” you’ll want to tune in.

Milly shares how leaning into her diverse passions—whether it's cooking, playing guitar, or building a community-driven business—has been the key to her success. From navigating big decisions as a first-time founder to embracing creativity in everyday life, she offers insights for anyone who’s ever wondered, “Do I have to choose just one path?” Spoiler: You don’t!

Key Takeaways:

• Embracing the Creative Play of Life
  Milly and Kt discuss how creativity and play weave through their daily lives, whether through cooking, music, or some time time off screens. They highlight how exploring various creative outlets helps them disconnect from the demands of work while staying connected to personal joy.
• Navigating Advice as a Founder
  Milly breaks down her approach to seeking advice as a first-time founder: listening to those with direct experience, seeking out diverse perspectives, and ultimately trusting her own intuition. She emphasizes that the answer is often already within us, waiting to be uncovered.
• The Power of a Values-Aligned Team
  One of the best parts of Milly’s work is the deeply values-driven community she’s built within Generalist World. Milly shares the joy of working with a team that feels like family, underscoring the importance of shared values in long-term collaboration.
• Overcoming Challenges as a Visionary
  While Milly loves bringing energy and strategy to her work, she admits that operational details and processes aren’t her biggest strength. Thankfully, her first hire, Ece, excels in these areas, balancing Milly’s visionary mindset with grounded execution.
• Celebrating International Generalist Day on September 18
  Milly shares how the Generalist World team and community took a half-joking comment and turned it into an international celebration with meetups planned for generalists in 30 cities across the globe.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Take the Generalist Quiz (www.generalistquiz.com) and share your results with Kt and Milly on LinkedIn!
• Learn more about Generalist World, including International Generalist Day events at generalist.world
• Connect with Milly Tamati on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Renew Venture Capital
• Sign the Purpose Pledge

How do you sift through the noise of advice, embrace the messiness of life, and find success on your terms? Startup and venture capital veteran Anastasia Simon shares her framework for evaluating advice, how she’s redefining success in her life and, perhaps most importantly, her stance on Drake vs. Kendrick.

Episode Summary:
In this episode, we dive deep with Anastasia Simon, a force in the venture capital space, about her refreshing perspective on mental health, play, and what success really means. Anastasia candidly shares how she navigates the complexities of taking advice, embracing challenges, and learning to play again in a world that often prioritizes productivity over well-being. She reveals her strategies for maintaining mental health in a demanding industry, the importance of intergenerational relationships, and why it's crucial to discern which advice to take and which to leave behind. Whether you’re a founder, creative, or just someone trying to make sense of the noise, this episode is packed with wisdom on how to rethink success and find joy in the process.

Key Themes:

• Navigating Advice: How to determine what advice to take and what to leave.
• Mental Health & Self-Care: Strategies for maintaining well-being in a high-pressure environment.
• Rethinking Success: Challenging conventional ideas of success and finding your own path.
• Relearning Play: The importance of play and imagination in adult life.
• Intergenerational Wisdom: The value of learning from both younger and older generations.
• Being Right & Wrong: The importance of introspection and humility in decision-making.

Episode Summary:
In this episode, co-founder Stacy Bernstein of the innovative first aid and skin care company All Better Co. discusses her unique approach to building a brand that goes beyond just logos and packaging. Stacy shares insights into the importance of consumer experience, product design, and brand storytelling in creating a successful business. She delves into the complexities of running a startup, the challenges of staying true to a brand’s mission, and the hard choices founders face. Stacy also emphasizes the significance of collaboration, both within a company and among fellow entrepreneurs, especially for women in business.

Key Takeaways:

1. Beyond the Basics of Branding: Stacy explains that branding is more than just logos and colors; it’s about creating a holistic experience for the consumer. She uses the example of their innovative product design, which considers practicality and user experience, as a crucial aspect of their brand story.
2. The Challenge of Being Wrong: Stacy candidly discusses a pivotal moment early in her company’s journey when she had to end a partnership with a creative agency, despite significant investment. This experience taught her the importance of making tough decisions to stay true to the brand's vision.
3. Teamwork and Collaboration: Stacy highlights the importance of collaboration in her life, both personally and professionally. She attributes much of her success to the teamwork and support from her co-founder and other colleagues, illustrating that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be a solo journey.
4. Advocacy for Women’s Rights: Stacy is passionate about women's rights, particularly reproductive rights, and how these issues intersect with business. She discusses the importance of women growing their wealth to influence policy and create meaningful change.
5. Finding Joy in Play: Despite her busy schedule, Stacy makes time for play, particularly through her love of soccer. She shares how this activity brings her joy and balance, which are crucial for sustaining the energy needed to run a business.

Memorable Quotes:

• "Branding isn’t just about a logo; it’s about how a product makes people feel and how every aspect of that product has been thoughtfully designed for actual use."
• "We are only as strong as the team around us, and that’s why I always use 'we' instead of 'I.' Collaboration is key to success."
• "Policy change comes down to money, and when women can grow their wealth, real change can happen."
• "I find more joy in playing soccer now than I did during my college career. It’s my way of choosing joy and staying balanced."

Connect with Us:

• Learn more about All Better Co.
• Connect with Stacy on LinkedIn and All Better Co. on Instagram
• Follow Renew VC on LinkedIn
• Sign the Purpose Pledge
• Subscribe to our newsletter for more