To me, mentorship means leading by example – not telling people what to do, but showing them that with drive, grit, and a lot of positivity you can achieve great things. I’ve had some amazing women mentor me over the years and I think that’s why they were all so powerful for me.

Q5:  What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received to help you with your career?
 

Take risks! Especially while you’re young. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t taken a few leaps of faith. You’ll probably fail at some point, but I think the scrappiness you learn from being a risk-taker will also help you pick yourself up by your bootstraps when that time comes.
 

Q6:  What’s the one piece of advice you would give to yourself 5 years ago?

Stop comparing yourself to others. You’ll get a lot further by focusing that energy on yourself!

This profile is published as part of Pledge 1%’s Women Who Lead series, which celebrates women in the Pledge 1% community who are creating change within their workplace and communities.

Heather Sittig Jackson is an entrepreneur who has dedicated her career to making the world of real estate a better place for agents and homeowners.  Her bay area brokerage, Maison Nouveau was acquired in 2011 providing her the opportunity to leverage her experience as a broker and agent in technology.  Today Heather brings her expertise on content sharing for the modern agent and her firm belief in the power of transparency to her role as CoFounder and CEO of Relola.

Read the post below from Heather to learn more about her career journey and her dedication to giving back.

“Building Big Business Starts at Home” by Heather Sittig Jackson, CEO + CoFounder, Relola

Real Estate is everywhere, impacts all people, and is a thrilling industry to be a part of.  In 2015 I founded Relola to provide technology tools to the real estate industry, which gather and share the opinions of local market experts about homes and neighborhood amenities.  I am incredibly fortunate to have a talented team and supportive group of investors who share in the company vision and the commitment of making it a reality.

When forming Relola we realized that we are building a company that will have global reach and the ability to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Recognizing the potential we have to use our corporate platform to build and nurture communities around the world immediately inspired us, so we created the Relola Cares initiative very early on.  Relola Cares represents our dedication to make financial contributions to the philanthropic organizations our customers care about.  When we learned about the Pledge 1% program we jumped at the opportunity to sign up because it gives us one more way to demonstrate corporate stewardship in the form of philanthropy.

At home I teach my children to be loving and kind in all of their actions.  I teach them that how we treat others is the most important quality of who we are.  While my children may grow up to be anything they desire, it is my dream to see them become good citizens and to employ our family mantra of being loving and kind in everything they do.

And this is exactly the kind of company we seek to create.  This dedication to doing good goes beyond our commitment to corporate philanthropy, but is also the essence of how we treat our co-workers, our customers, and our extended community.  Beyond the intrinsic reward of feeling good, we are creating a company that treats people right and ushers positive change in the world. This ripple effect creates opportunity and the right environment to build a company poised to realize tremendous value.  It’s simply good business.  And as a leader in an industry with unlimited potential, when I see a better way it’s my job to make it happen.

Jacqueline Ros is the co-founder and CEO of Revolar, a technology company that builds wearables and software to help people stay safe and live fearlessly.  Read her profile and story below to learn more about how she is leveraging her business to help others.

I’ve always had a passion for social issues, which led me to work with Teach for America after I graduated from the University of Florida in 2012. I began working on the idea that became Revolar while I was still teaching, and once my program was complete, I decided to pursue Revolar full time. Over the months and years that followed, my team took Revolar through a successful Kickstarter campaign, two Techstars accelerator programs and a $3 million funding round from Boulder-based venture capital firm Foundry Group.

Revolar is now helping people around the world feel safe and protected.

Technology Underwriting Greater Good (TUGG) is the nonprofit arm of Greater Boston’s tech community. The organization connects and engages local entrepreneurs and technologists with innovative social enterprises and is one of the only funders of major grants to emerging nonprofit startups. A sampling of TUGG’s portfolio includes Inner City Weightlifting, Resilient Coders, Media Girls, and First Teacher.

TUGG is run by Zoe Anetakis, Executive Director, and Elizabeth Dobrska, Managing Director. Both women bring experience from the private sector and a passion for social innovation. Zoe comes to TUGG from Accomplice, Boston’s most active early stage venture capital firm. She leads TUGG’s strategic direction and partnerships as well as general operations. She built her career in marketing and fundraising for investment firms and joined TUGG in 2014. “In TUGG, I saw an opportunity where I could roll up my sleeves and get to work. Beginning my career in financial services, I never dreamt that I would be a part of the philanthropic community in this way. I love the challenge of running TUGG, a non-profit, like a tech start up, and I love challenging our portfolio to do the same. We ask a lot of our portfolio, but when they deliver, it’s amazing to see what they can do with a lean team, a smart business model, and above all perseverance.”

Elizabeth Dobrska is an active change-maker in the Greater Boston social impact space and joined TUGG in 2016. As Managing Director she leads programming and manages community relationships and the organization’s nonprofit portfolio. Elizabeth’s background intersects the worlds of tech start-up and non-profit. Dobrksa says about her work with TUGG, “I am passionate about social entrepreneurship, and specifically finding ways to maximize impact through lean and innovative models in the non-profit landscape. TUGG’s model is both an inspiration and a blueprint for organizations across the country who are interested in social innovation. I’m proud to be in the driver’s seat to catalyze this work in Boston.”

Through its work at the intersection of the tech and nonprofit communities TUGG’s leadership team has positioned the organization as a leader in Boston’s innovation ecosystem, making it the natural partner to ignite the Pledge 1% movement in Greater Boston through Pledge 1% Boston together with the Boston Foundation.

TUGG and The Boston Foundation’s partnership represents a dynamic duo, each bringing its own set of complementary strengths to the Pledge 1% movement.  Together the two organization are championing collaboration between the nonprofit and for-profit sectors with unique and transformative initiatives.

Kudos to TUGG for serving as a proverbial light bulb to help company’s take their first step towards charitable involvement in the community, and for pioneering unique funding opportunities in the local philanthropy community.

Janine Sickmeyer is the CEO & Founder of NextChapter, a web application for attorneys to prepare, manage and file bankruptcy cases online. As a business leader and entrepreneur, Janine provides strategic vision and direction for NextChapter and is particularly fascinated in the intersection between law and technology in the bankruptcy market.

In addition to being CEO of a legal tech company, Janine is also a wife and mother of a one year old girl and a boy on the way. She is passionate about sharing her story with female entrepreneurs and business leaders to help them overcome challenges when starting a new venture. Janine is inspired by business leaders like Gary Vaynerchuk, Sheryl Sandberg and Marc Benioff. She lives by the quote:  

“Be relentless. The difference between success and failure isn’t talent, it’s hunger.” Tony Robbins

The Inspiration

NextChapter was inspired from Janine’s personal experience as a paralegal in the bankruptcy field. She started a virtual paralegal firm, preparing bankruptcy documents for attorneys all over the U.S. While doing this, Janine was using competitor software and found it to be time-consuming, unreliable and inefficient. She knew there was a need for cloud-based bankruptcy software so Janine learned how to code, built a team of skilled developers and two years later NextChapter was born. NextChapter launched in January 2016 and has seen enormous growth month over month.

NextChapter’s Pledge 1% Commitment

Since their founding, NextChapter has been passionate about giving back to the community and helping those in underserved markets. Inspired by Salesforce, the Pledge 1% model allows NextChapter to achieve this goal through integrated philanthropy. NextChapter donates its product for free to attorneys providing pro bono bankruptcy services to support low-income families in disadvantaged communities. In addition to the product donation, the NextChapter team works with deserving non-profits in the local community using employee Volunteer Time Off.

Encouraging Women in Business

NextChapter is a proud partner of the Lean In movement and through this partnership, Janine encourages and supports young women who are ready to make the leap as an entrepreneur or become a leader in their industry.  

Challenges as a Female Founder

All bets were against Janine when building her company.  She struggled with losing two cofounders, running out of money and pitching NextChapter 82 times to VC firms from New York to Silicon Valley only to be rejected and offered unfair deals and below market terms.  Despite these challenges and more associated with being a female founder in a male-dominated industry, she kept going. She was resilient and tenacious. She managed to her get company off the ground by self-funding and staying lean and in the process, she learned a lot about business, patience and the power of believing in yourself. Janine is writing her first book for women of all ages who want to build a business and become a leader, even if they also plan to become a mom.

Advice to Women Starting Tech Businesses

Janine shares: “I have 5 pieces of advice for women who are interested in starting their own venture in the tech space:

1. Be patient and persistent. Even with most calculated business plan and beautifully branded pitch deck, a company will not blossom overnight.


2. Stay confident in yourself and your idea because it will shine through in everything you do from product development to customer support to marketing and branding.


3. Refine your elevator pitch to one sentence and say it proudly. People will judge your entire company based on how well you can explain it.


4. Never settle. There were many times when I was offered funding but the terms were not close to what I had in mind. I got creative with bootstrapping efforts so I didn’t have to sell all my company off before it even got started.


5. Always choose happiness. Starting a technology company is hard. Being a solo founder is lonely. It’s up to you to find the sunny on even the darkest days.”

Connect

For more information about NextChapter, visit the website or follow on Twitter. You can find Janine on Twitter or LinkedIn.

This profile is published as part of Pledge 1%’s Women Who Lead series, which celebrates women in the Pledge 1% community who are creating change within their workplace and communities.

Darine Pokawatana is the Director of Product Development at Causecast.

Q1: How long have you been working for your company?

I’ve been working with Causecast for 5 years. Having started off as a Quality Assurance Engineer, I made my way into Project Management and continued on into Product Management and Development.

Q2: What inspired you to work in this industry?

The opportunity to bring technology and innovation to philanthropy inspired (and continues to inspire) me. I find it difficult to not acknowledge the state of what is currently around us, and feel that providing to the various organizations that are aimed at improving the different areas in need is key in making our world a better place. At Causecast, technology has given us the tools we need to build a platform that benefits several nonprofit organizations, while focusing on engaging employees to make a societal impact through their workplace.

Q3: What would you tell women who are looking to work in tech? Any advice on how they can build their career?

My advice would be to find your passion within it, and go forth with full force. While the tech industry is currently male dominated, there’s something to be said about the women in tech that are on the rise. Find an employer who doesn’t see you for your gender, but for the skills and knowledge you have. It’s important to remember that the limits we encounter are those that we set for ourselves, so never settle for less. Know your worth, be confident in yourself, and let that be seen!

Q4: Is your company a Pledge 1% member or do you personally give back to your community? If so, how do you give and to what cause?

Causecast is a proud Pledge 1% member. Our social technology platform allows us to give back to many nonprofit organizations through the employees of companies that are passionate in making a difference in their communities. Outside of work, I am passionate towards supporting causes that benefit human rights, animals and wildlife, and the research and development of cures for various diseases, to name a few.

Q5: Do you serve as a mentor? What does mentorship mean to you?

I would consider myself a mentor-in-training. Surrounded by powerful women in life and leadership, I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learned from them to support and lift up those around me. I find mentorship to be an integral part in developing and empowering future leaders, especially in an industry like technology that is ever-growing.

Q6: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received to help you with your career?

The best advice I’ve received to help with my career (and life in general) is to always ask questions and to not be afraid to fail. Joining a new industry or organization can be quite intimidating, but over the years I have learned that every company will run their businesses differently and it’s up to you to figure out how that is. Don’t worry about how you would look by asking a question that seems silly, especially if it means that you’ll be equipped with the right knowledge on how to get your tasks done effectively and efficiently. Should you forget to ask, do remember that failing is not the be-all end-all. As Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Q7: What’s the one piece of advice you would give to yourself 5 years ago?

The advice I’d give to myself 5 years ago would be to trust and believe in yourself. It’s easy to forget your better qualities when you don’t feel confident in your space and are stacked up against several others. I spent an unnecessary amount of time being critical of myself and in things that didn’t really matter much in hindsight. While feeling in doubt may be difficult to avoid, do allow yourself the space to prove yourself wrong. Always keep in mind what it is you are trying to achieve and don’t give up. Be both a fighter and your own cheerleader!

PLEDGE 1%: How did you get started in business? By accident, by design?

Kate Bradley Chernis: I’d spent a dozen years in radio, my last gig broadcasting to 20 million listeners a day for XM — what a boys club; nothing could’ve prepared me better for venture capitalists! But the tough part was that I was constantly frustrated… my ideas weren’t taken seriously, I was told they were too “radical” and that folks felt threatened by me. And I felt bad about this! I was actually deeply ashamed because I thought I was disappointing my bosses. Therapy alert!

Then, after a whole lot of crying my eyeballs out, my dad, a lifelong entrepreneur himself, lovingly shook me by the shoulders and shouted, “You can’t work for other people! There’s no shame in that!” Okaaaaaaay.

So I read The Secret (I know, roll your eyes), which reminded of one key thing: whenever I’d hit a line drive in softball (I’d played softball), I wasn’t thinking, “I suck;” I was thinking, “I rule!” And needed to start thinking and being, “I rule.” So I stopped all the toxic work-bitching, which was so hard — I was totally addicted to it!

Next, my husband gave me Guy Kawasaki’s The Art of the Start and I got like six or so pages in and it said, “Don’t waste time planning, just get started.” So I closed the book. A few days later, I met my first investors who gave me $50,000 to start my first company.

Pledge 1%: Anything you’d wish you’d done better or differently?

KBC: I totally wish I’d learned how to fire customers that aren’t a good fit sooner :-). And bought more expensive eye cream. Sleep is not something I do very well… I blame Lately entirely!

Pledge 1%: Any advice for other women building their careers?

KBC: Be shameless, be a little ruthless and be authentic. Because you have to be shameless if you’re selling. I’ll ask anyone for money again and again, all day long. I don’t care how many times they say no. You’ve also gotta be a little ruthless because this is a competition. I’m competing for money from my customers and I’m competing for money from my investors. So you have to be not just out to win the game — you have to be out to beat the machine.

And yes, being authentic is cliché. But it’s the thing that lit it up for me. Because myself is goofy and embarrassing and uncool and imperfect and I don’t know what I’m doing a decent chunk of the time. As soon as I not only embraced that that was okay but shoved it right out front and center, everything changed. Because I am who I am and the business is who I am. Lately was built around me and my experience — my team even calls me Kately. And, in the end, as amazing as my team and the product are, the customers are investing in me and the investors are investing in me.

About Kate Bradley Chernis

Kate Bradley Chernis is the Founder & CEO of Lately, the only complete marketing management software that organizes, simplifies and streamlines all your marketing in one place, with a step-by-step playbook. As a marketing agency owner, Kate initially created the idea for Lately out of spreadsheets for then-client, Walmart. Thanks to a 130% three year, year-over-year ROI with Walmart in her spreadsheet system, Kate found similar success with all of her clients, regardless of industry or company size. She created Lately to pull back the “black curtain” of marketing, so that for the first time, anyone – from CMOs to nonprofits to entrepreneurs – can stop feeling overwhelmed and instantly understand what’s working, what’s not and why. Lately is proud to be a Pledge 1% company.

Prior to founding Lately, Kate served 20 million listeners as Music Director and on-air host at Sirius/XM. She’s also an award-winning radio producer, engineer and voice talent with 25 years of national broadcast communications, brand-building, sales and marketing expertise.

Susan Jones is the COO and Co-founder of Wear+Care, a Pledge 1% Member company.  

Q1: What inspired you to work in this industry?

My father passed away from cancer 11 years ago and I always wanted to find a way to get involved in the community. Care+Wear was a passion project at first and was the first time I felt like I had found the right way for me to make an impact on the community.

Q2:  What would you tell women who are looking to work in tech? 

Any advice on how they can build their career? Do what interests you. I started out in the fashion industry and found a way to take what I loved from that and channel it into Care+Wear and my role here.

Q3:  Is your company a Pledge 1% member or do you personally give back to your community? If so, how do you give and to what cause?

Yes, we are a Pledge 1% member and have made giving back a part of our business.

Q4:  Do you serve as a mentor?  What does mentorship mean to you?

Mentorship means taking the time to teach and listen to team members. I try to always be available as a mentor, especially to our new team members who are still learning about the company and are new to their roles. It’s fun for me to explain concepts and see them learning.

Q5: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received to help you with your career?

Always care for everybody.

Q6: What’s the one piece of advice you would give to yourself 5 years ago?

Find a good mentor.

Q1:  What is your Name and Title?

Gemma Sole, Cofounder and COO/CMO of Nineteenth Amendment

Q2: How long have you been in your current position?

3 years (!). Before this I worked in Venture Capital and Strategy and Communications consulting.

Q3:  What inspired you to work in this industry?

I’ve always loved bringing beautiful things to life. I’m an artist on the side and was very into fashion growing up. I went from consulting to the startup space and Nineteenth Amendment allows me to combine things that I care about: 1) helping creative makers do what they love , 2) helping small businesses grow and scale, 3) building things that are awesome.

In terms of fashion tech, the fashion industry really hasn’t had much innovation aside from effects of globalization (good and bad). What out platform does is provide the first real process innovation in fashion that is a win-win for all players. There is nothing more exciting than creating a business where everyone can win and talent is the determining factor.

Q4:  What would you tell women who are looking to work in tech?  Any advice on how they can build their career?

My greatest piece of advice would be to have conversations with real people in the industry you want to go into. This applies to any industry, but especially startups. The startup environment, the tools people use, the players change so quickly. You will learn so much more in one hour of conversation than an entire week or research, and you’ll be networking to boot.

As a woman, you have the ability to connect with other women in the industry who often want to help. So take advantage of it, just don’t forget to get the coffee and send that thank you. It’s also important you ask what you can do for them to show that you are willing to help and understand the value of their time.

Q5:  Is your company a Pledge 1% member or do you personally give back to your community? If so, how do you give and to what cause?

Yes! Nineteenth Amendment is a Pledge 1% member initiated by my cofounder, Amanda. We mentor for Girls Who Code and personally do volunteer work for groups for disadvantaged children.

Q6:  Do you serve as a mentor?  What does mentorship mean to you?

Yes, I mentor a lot in my college alumni network. I love mentoring. I like to give mentees real world advice to hopefully save them time and effort as they begin the process. Mentorship is really about making the next generation a kinder, smarter generation so they can make the world better for everyone. Sounds wishy/washy but it’s true! If I can pass along lessons and examples of integrity and kindness in business and personal life, I feel like that’s building a better future for everyone.

Q7:  What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received to help you with your career?

Have faith in your ability to deliver. If you don’t understand something, speak up and ask about it. The worst thing you can do is just nod… Half of how you achieve in the long run is by trying something, understanding what you did well and what you didn’t, and suggesting ways to do it better next time….and then actually going and doing it (i.e. executing). What you quickly learn, as entrepreneurs or as employees, is that a lot of people have good ideas, but the best people actually do something about it.

Q8:  What’s the one piece of advice you would give to yourself 5 years ago?

Five years ago is actually when I met my cofounder and quit my first corporate job. I had a great consulting job, had been promoted early, but wasn’t feeling like it was right for me. At the time, I moved from DC to Boston to live with my parents and figure out what to do next. I was scared and it was a lot of work. I’m so glad I did. My advice would be lead with your head but follow your gut. Mitigate risk but follow your feelings – if you do both of those things, at the end of the day, you know you will have made the best decisions and won’t have regrets.