Resume Writer & Remote Career Coach + I’m “That Remote Guy” 🙋🏻‍♂️ Helping people find the remote career they’ve dreamed of in less time + Join 30K+ on the Escape the Cubicle Newsletter👇

You can work from anywhere. I’ll show you how. 👇

A Google search back in 2015 changed the course of my career, “How do you make money online?”

I was at a crossroads in my career and ready to make a change. I knew it was time to start building my own thing, a thing that someone couldn’t take away overnight. 

After discovering the world of freelancing, I replaced my income and never looked back. By the second year, I was able to triple that income (more than I ever thought possible) because of one platform: LinkedIn

LinkedIn allowed me to connect with clients all over the world, right at my fingertips. The opportunities that LinkedIn has opened up have been life-changing.

Now, I get to help others use LinkedIn to build a remote career as a Career Coach & Resume Writer and their own profitable brand as a Growth Strategist. I’ll help coach you on growing an online income through LinkedIn, a newsletter (like Substack), and a digital product.

…oh, and I still write amazing, interview-winning resumes if you need that. Just send a DM, and I’ll provide a free review for you. Or email it to me at (JohnHancockResumes@gmail.com).

---
Here’s what I've built:

✅ 125,000+ engaged LinkedIn followers
✅ 50,000+ LinkedIn newsletter subscribers
✅ 5,000+ Escape the Cubicle Substack subscribers
✅ 500+ transformed through my masterclasses
✅ 3000+ resumes written for every industry 

“Press Start” Here 👇

📌 Subscribe to my Substack at: www.EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.Com

📌 Join my Free 5-Day Email Class on “How to Grow & Monetize on LinkedIn” at the link top of my profile (or Featured Section)

📌 Connect for a 1on1 Coaching Call (by sending me a DM); I’ll help you build an actionable 30-day strategy to grow your brand on LinkedIn & Substack

📌 Grab my Six-Figure LinkedIn Growth Masterclass (& Playbook) with 500+ of my other students; click the link at top of my profile (or Featured Section)

📌 Get a newly polished resume at www.JohnHancockResumes.com

There's a better way to work. Let me show you how to find it.

Wes Pearce

I'll never forget the dream job I thought I had locked down. And then ghosted. 


Four rounds of interviews. Met with the hiring manager twice. Presented to the team. 

Even had a final conversation with the VP where he said, "We're really excited about bringing you on board. You'll hear from us this week."

Four weeks later, No call. No email. Not even a generic rejection.

I followed up once. Then twice. Then realized I was chasing people who clearly didn't respect my time enough to send a two-sentence email.

Here's what made it worse: I'd turned down other interviews because I thought this was a done deal.

That experience taught me something I'll never forget: How a company treats you during the hiring process is exactly how they'll treat you as an employee.

And companies wonder why they can't attract top talent.

Here's the reality: Every person you ghost tells 10 other people about the experience.

If you're hiring: Send the email. Even if it's a template. Even if it's bad news.

Candidates deserve basic human decency, not radio silence.

And if you're job searching: Remember that ghosting tells you everything you need to know about that company.

You didn't dodge a bullet. You dodged a whole firing squad. 

Has this ever happened to you?

—
📌 If you’re tired of being ghosted, I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass for you.

& my DIY Resume & Cover Letter Kit.

It’ll show you exactly what to do if you want to start making recruiters reach out to YOU:

https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

Resume Writer & Career Coach helping you “work from anywhere” 👨🏻‍💻 Follow for Career, Remote Job Search, and Creator Tips | Writing daily on EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.com Join 10,000+ Subscribers

I turned down a job offer that paid $40K more than the remote role I was considering.


Everyone thought I was crazy.

"You're walking away from that much money?"

“Yes.” Because the higher-paying job was in-office. Same kind of culture that had burned me out at my last place. 

The remote job paid less, but I could work from anywhere.

So, I ended up taking the remote job and never looked back.

That $40K difference? I made it back within two years. But more importantly, I got my life back.

No commute. No office politics.

Here's what I learned: Money gets you in the door. But it won't keep you somewhere that drains you.

I've watched people chase the biggest paycheck and end up miserable.

And I've watched people take less money for better culture and flexibility. They stay longer, they’re actually happy.

Money is important but it’s not the only thing. 

Choose the place that gives you your life back, not just the one that pays the most.

—
📌 If you’re ready to make a move to your find your best fit, I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass for you. 

& the DIY Resume & Cover Letter Kit. 

This masterclass will help speed your job search up 3X, bypass job boards, and attract the right recruiters & opportunities: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

My client Jessica came to me after being passed over for a promotion three times in two years.

Same manager every time. Same excuse every time.

“You’re not quite ready yet.”

Meanwhile, she was training the people getting promoted over her. Running projects her manager took credit for.

She’d spent two years trying to prove herself to people who’d already decided not to see her value.

“Maybe I’m just not as good as I think I am,” she told me.

Here’s what I told her: You’re not the problem. You’re just at the wrong table.

We built her exit strategy. Updated her resume. Optimized her LinkedIn. Targeted companies where her skills would actually be valued.

Six weeks later, she had two offers. Both paid more than her current role. Both came with the title she’d been chasing for two years.

She took the better one and handed in her notice.

Her manager’s reaction? Genuine shock.

“We were planning to promote you next quarter.”

Sure they were.

Here’s what I’ve learned: The people who never saw your value don’t suddenly see it until they’re about to lose you. And by then it’s too late.

If you’ve spent years being overlooked and undervalued, stop trying to prove yourself to people who’ve already decided not to see it.

Find the people who already do.

My client didn’t become more talented when she left. She just finally found somewhere that could see what was already there.

Stop waiting to be discovered at the wrong table.

—
📌 Tired of being overlooked? I created the Remote Dream Job Masterclass to help you land a remote role at companies that see your worth.

…and the Resume & Cover Letter Kit to help show your value on paper.

You can join here: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

I’ve watched people stay in the wrong job because they were scared of being called a “job hopper.”


Not because they were happy.

Because someone told them that leaving too soon would ruin their career.

So they stayed.

-Another year going through the motions.
-Another annual review that led nowhere. 
-Another promise of growth that never came.

All to avoid a label that most good hiring managers don’t even care about.

Here’s what I know after a decade of coaching people through this:

Job hopping doesn’t mean someone is unstable.

It means they know what they bring to the table and refuse to settle for less.

I’ve had clients with four jobs in five years. 

Every single move was a step up. 

More pay. Better culture. Work that actually excited them.

-They weren’t running away from something.
-They were running toward something better.

Staying somewhere that doesn’t value you doesn’t prove commitment.

It just proves you were too afraid to leave.
Know your worth.

Move accordingly.

—
📌 You know your worth and know it’s time to find the role that matches it. 

The Remote Dream Job Masterclass will show you how to tap into the hidden job market, land more interviews, and negotiate the salary you actually deserve.

You can join here: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

Some recruiter once told me I was a “job hopper” because I switched jobs three times in two years.


Want to know what else happened during that time? I doubled my income and landed a fully remote position.

I'm done watching capable people stay miserable because they're worried about how their resume will look.

Grinding away at roles that drain them. All because conventional wisdom says you need to hit some magic two-year mark or you're "uncommitted."

That thinking is outdated. And it's trapping talented people in the wrong places.

Here's the reality of those three moves:

❌ First company? Figured out in four months the environment was dysfunctional and offered zero advancement. Walked away.

❌ Second company? Decent bump in pay, but management was a mess. Walked away.

✅ Third company? Found the right match. Remote setup and nearly double what I started with.

Every transition was on purpose. Every step moved me toward what I actually wanted to build.

The reality is, exiting quickly isn't careless. It's knowing what you won't settle for.

The leaders worth working for don't hold it against you for walking away from bad situations fast.

They appreciate that you know your value and won't compromise on it.

Exit what's wrong quickly. Find what's right faster.

That's not instability. That's strategy.

—
📌 Ready to build your exit plan? I put everything I teach my clients into the Remote Dream Job Masterclass…

How to leave toxic jobs, position your story, and land remote roles at companies that actually value you.

You can join here: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

PS - the Resume & Cover Letter Kit alone are worth joining.

Wife & Mother of 7 | Venture Capital | Scientist | TOP 30 Patent Drafters | United States Patent Examiner | Violinist | Polyglot | STEM Children's Author | #1 LinkedIn Global Influencer in Innovation/IP Law

Kathryn Vatt is a scientist, former USPTO Examiner, and devoted wife and mother of seven, with over 25 years shaping the future of innovation. Recognized as one of the Top 30 Patent Drafters and Prosecutors and the #1 LinkedIn Global Influencer in Innovation/IP Law, Kathryn has built a career at the intersection of science, law, and business—helping inventors, startups, and global companies turn creativity into competitive advantage.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.S. Biology) and Johns Hopkins University (M.S. Biotechnology), Kathryn is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor in Patent Law at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, one of the world’s leading IP programs. Her rare cross-disciplinary background gives her both the scientific insight and the legal strategy to protect ideas at the highest level.

At the USPTO, Kathryn examined thousands of patent applications, conducted exhaustive prior art searches, and made determinations that shaped industries and influenced global innovation. After leaving the Patent Office, she founded Vatt IP Management, where she develops bulletproof IP strategies, drafts airtight applications, and supports litigation teams in defending patents. She also mentors engineering and life science students through Arizona State University’s Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute and judges international startup competitions, nurturing the next generation of innovators.

Her entrepreneurial vision extends to her ventures:

My Startup Shield™, a founder-focused program that helps startups secure their innovations before they pitch. It protects ideas at the earliest, most vulnerable stage and positions founders to raise capital with confidence

My AI Examiner™, the world’s first proprietary patent search platform that combines examiner-trained AI Patent Examiners with Kathryn’s own human review. Unlike conventional tools, it doesn’t just search faster—it “thinks like an examiner,” offering inventors and startups clarity, precision, and strategy.

MyKidVentors™, a STEM-inspired children’s book series born from her seven children’s real “What if?” questions. Through these imaginative stories, she nurtures curiosity in the next generation, showing that every big invention begins with a single question.

For Kathryn, the same motherly instinct that guides her family fuels her professional mission: to protect, guide, and nurture startups with care, strategy, foresight, and integrity. She believes innovation doesn’t just start in labs or boardrooms—it starts in the curious minds of those brave enough to ask, “What if?”

Kathryn V.

OREOS FOR MOTHER’S DAY

At a small neighborhood shop, a man quietly changes lives.

He gives free food to kids who show him their grades...a reward not just for doing well in school, but for trying, for caring, for showing up.

In this video, one young boy steps up to the counter, offered the chance to choose anything he wants.

Today, he picks milk, bread, eggs...and cookies for Mother’s Day.
And the shop owner...touched by that choice...adds a bouquet of flowers for him to bring home.

Neither of them realizes that what just happened will be remembered for years.
Because kindness like that doesn’t end at the counter...it multiplies.

Every act of generosity plants a seed:
A child whose confidence blooms.
A parent who feels seen and loved.
A community reminded that humanity still shines bright.

So here’s to the everyday heroes: the ones who lift others quietly, who give without expecting anything in return.

You may never see the full impact of your kindness...but someone’s world is brighter because of you. 


------
If you enjoy my posts please follow me:
Kathryn V.
VATT IP Management
My AI Examiner™
My Startup Shield™
https://lnkd.in/gAERstmz
https://lnkd.in/gmAS9P7Z
https://lnkd.in/gJyb28T8

Your Company ≠ Their Company

Startup culture is loud.

Announcements.
Rounds.
Launches.
Leaps.

And even the most confident founders feel it.
That quiet comparison.
“Should I be further by now?”
“Why does their growth look easier?”
“Am I missing something?”

But when you compare, you slowly lose sight of what’s yours to build.
And what’s yours was never meant to look like anyone else’s.

Different wiring.
Different gifts.
Different responsibilities.
Different seasons.

Some are drawn to bold, public momentum.
Others move with careful protection.
Some are compelled to disrupt.
Others feel called to preserve and strengthen.

None of it is accidental.
And none of it is a hierarchy.

But when you try to imitate someone else’s arc,
you drift from your own.

You trade alignment for applause.

At Founder Chapel, we care deeply about stewardship.

Stewarding your vision.
Stewarding your ownership.
Stewarding your influence.
Stewarding the people who trust you.

Because leadership isn’t about matching someone else’s leap.
It’s about faithfully tending what’s been placed in your hands.

That’s why we created Founder Chapel Learning Pods.
Small, steady circles where founders can step out of comparison and return to clarity...about their gifts, their values, and the kind of company they are called to build.

I’m deeply honored to be leading the pod focused on intellectual property and building your moat; helping founders protect what they’ve been entrusted with and think carefully about how they bring it into the market with integrity.

My incredible Founder Chapel family: David Y., Jay Jin, and Katrena Drake are leading pods of their own, each walking alongside founders through different pressures and seasons.

You don’t need someone else’s platform.
You need to steward your own.
And you don’t have to do that alone.

Come as you are.
We welcome you to apply here → https://lnkd.in/gM9xz6qk

FIRST TOGETHER


At Founder Chapel, we believe real leaders don’t climb alone.
They rise by lifting others.

In a world obsessed with rankings, valuations, and visibility, it’s easy to believe leadership means standing above everyone else. 

But the founders who build legacies understand something deeper:
Nothing meaningful is built alone.

Behind every breakthrough are unseen sacrifices, honest conversations, shared burdens, and people who stood steady when things felt uncertain.

True leadership isn’t about guarding the top spot.
It’s about making space on it.

Because titles fade.
Headlines move on.
Momentum comes and goes.

But character remains.
Stewardship remains.
The way you build...and who you build with...remains.

That’s why Founder Chapel exists.

Through our Learning Pods, founders gather not just to scale companies, but to sharpen judgment, strengthen conviction, and build with integrity alongside others who believe leadership is a responsibility, not a spotlight.

If you’re building something that matters and you want to build it with depth, wisdom, and community...we invite you to apply here → https://lnkd.in/gM9xz6qk

Founder Chapel: Build well. Lead faithfully. Rise together.
David Y. Jay Jin Katrena Drake

“You cannot have a symphony made entirely of soloists.” – David Y.

I’ve been thinking about that line ever since I read it in David's latest piece in Unicorn Parents (https://lnkd.in/gzUt3QHV ).

How easy it is, as parents, to confuse shaping with loving.

When you hold a newborn for the first time, you don’t see a résumé.
You don’t see a title.
You don’t see a future LinkedIn headline.

You see a soul.

And yet somewhere along the way, the noise creeps in.

Be confident.
Be exceptional.
Stand out.
Lead.
Win.

But what if the truest work of parenting isn’t pushing our children toward a spotlight…
but learning the light they already carry?

I have seven children.

Seven hearts.
Seven temperaments.
Seven entirely different ways of moving through the world.

One feels deeply and needs time before speaking.
One runs headfirst into new rooms.
One studies quietly before acting.
One wants clear direction.
Another wants room to explore.

If I tried to mold them into one “ideal” personality, I would crush something sacred in each of them.

Not every child is meant to be loud.
Not every child is meant to be first.
Not every child is meant to lead in the way our culture applauds.

Some are anchors.
Some are builders.
Some are bridges.
Some are protectors.
Some are steady flames that warm a room without ever demanding attention.

And all of it matters.

I think the real discipline of motherhood is restraint.

Resisting the urge to project our unfinished dreams.
Resisting comparison.
Resisting panic when they don’t fit the mold.

And instead, choosing to watch closely.
To listen carefully.
To guide gently.

Children unfold. They don’t perform.

Their identity is not something we engineer. It’s something we steward.

And when they feel safe enough to become who they truly are...not who we wish they were...something beautiful happens.

They grow in confidence that is quiet but rooted.
They make choices that feel aligned, not forced.
They step into responsibility when they’re ready...not when we’re anxious.

The world does not need copies.

It needs fully formed humans.

Our role isn’t to script their story.

It’s to love them so well that they have the courage to write their own. 💛

BUILD THE BOOTH ANYWAY

I saw the cutest video today.
A man is driving through his neighborhood and spots a golden retriever standing behind a little booth.

Handmade sign.
“Kisses: $100”

The man gets out of his car in disbelief.
“What? No one is going to pay $100 for a kiss.”

The camera pans.
There’s a long line of women waiting their turn.
Almost fighting each other to pay.

And I thought…
That’s entrepreneurship.
There will always be someone who rolls down the window and says:
“No one will buy that.”
“That’s too much.”
“Who do you think you are?”

And meanwhile…
There’s a line forming you can’t see yet.

Not because the golden retriever was the loudest.
Not because he begged.
Not because he discounted his kisses to $5 to prove a point.
But because he believed in the booth enough to build it.

Founders...
don’t listen to the person in the car.

Build the booth.
Put up the sign.
Set your price.
If it’s real, if it’s authentic, if it’s aligned...
your people will feel it.

And when you build something with heart?
It becomes contagious.
Investors don’t line up for desperation.
They line up for conviction.

Happy Valentine’s Day to the ones brave enough to put their idea out there.
Build it with love.
The right line will form. ❤️

I’m excited to share that Arizona Tech Week (April 6–12) will be hosting my Patent Pending Party™ this year.

To celebrate, I’m opening my calendar every Saturday this month for short 15-minute pitch sessions. To make scheduling easy, the pitch sessions will be booked through Hubble.

Let’s make the application process a little more human...and a little more fun.

No forms.
No essays.
No long applications.

No paying an application fee only to receive the classic email weeks later:
“We had an incredible pool of qualified candidates…”
…and still not knowing why you didn’t get selected.

Instead, just a live pitch and a real conversation.

If you’re building something amazing...a new product, a new system, a new way of solving a real problem...you can grab a slot and pitch it directly to me.

You get 15 minutes.

You explain what you’re building.

I ask questions the way an investor with an IP strategist lens would.

From those sessions, I’ll select three founders to be invited to my Patent Pending Party during Arizona Tech Week. 

Don’t worry...you don’t have to live in Arizona to apply. If you’re selected, we will Zoom you in. 

At the party, we’ll run a live patent hackathon, and the three selected founders will leave the event officially patent-pending. On me.

And if you aren’t selected as one of the three, don’t worry.
You’ll either receive feedback on your pitch, or I may connect you with someone from my network of angels and VCs.

And you’re always welcome to come back and pitch again for the next party.

Ideas are everywhere.
Protected, scalable ideas build real companies.

If you want to pitch yours, you can book a Saturday slot here:

https://lnkd.in/g_jESdm3

Slots are limited.

See event details here: https://lnkd.in/g3dJgkzm

Open article: RSVP to A Patent-Pending Party #AZTechWeek | Partiful by partiful.com

RSVP to A Patent-Pending Party #AZTechWeek | Partiful

THE FOUNDER CHAPEL SOLO CUP CHALLENGE

As I watched this video, I kept thinking about the founders I walk alongside every day.

Building a company can feel exactly like that hallway.

Contracts.
Hiring decisions.
Fundraising.
Intellectual property.
Go-to-market strategy.
Partnerships.
Ownership rights.

So many cups.
So little margin for error.

Some founders charge ahead.
Some try to leap everything at once.
Some quietly step out of the hallway altogether.

But sometimes the wisest move isn’t speed.
It’s slowing down long enough to understand the structure of the room.

At Founder Chapel, we don’t believe every founder should move the same way.

Different temperaments.
Different wiring.
Different seasons.

Some need bold momentum.
Some need careful navigation.
All need companionship.

That’s why we created Founder Chapel Learning Pods.
Small groups of founders walking through their own hallways...together.

I’m deeply honored to be leading the Learning Pod focused on intellectual property and building your moat: helping founders move carefully through decisions that affect ownership, protection, and ethical market entry.

My incredible Founder Chapel family...David Y., Jay Jin, and Katrena Drake... are leading pods of their own, each supporting founders in different ways.

No bulldozing required.
No leaping necessary.
No walking away alone.

Just steady steps.
Thoughtful guidance.
And a community that understands the weight of the hallway.

This year, you don’t have to navigate the cups alone.
Come as you are. Feel the presence. 💛             

We invite you to apply --> https://lnkd.in/gM9xz6qk

I’m honored to be returning for the second year in a row as a judge for Pitch the Pros® on April 10th in Greenville, SC.

As a former United States Patent Examiner I have spent more than 25 years helping founders and inventors protect what they build.

And I have seen how often founders focus on perfecting the pitch, raising capital, and gaining traction...only to think about protection later while losing ownership rights in the process. 

That is why this year, I am proud to personally offer a Protection Prize to the Top 3 presenters through moatly™.

Each of the top founders will receive dedicated intellectual property strategy support to help ensure what they are creating is properly protected. Not just celebrated. Not just visible. Protected.

Pitch the Pros® brings together a select group of founders, investors, and industry experts in an intentional setting. 

Ten founders will pitch live. The top three will also be invited to a private VIP evening featuring a Fireside Chat and networking experience with Daymond John of Shark Tank, along with dinner and live entertainment.

If you are building something meaningful and ready to step forward, I would love to see you there.

You can learn more here:
https://lnkd.in/eZyx78ge
Christopher Guerrera LSSMBB The Modern Inventor

Looking forward to supporting the founders who take the stage and helping them protect what they have worked so hard to create.

More than a thousand years ago, an army approached the gates of a Persian fortress.

Warriors gathered. Fear spread through the walls.

And then something unexpected happened.

A young woman rode out to meet them.

Her name was Gordafarid.

In the great Persian epic Shahnameh, written by poet Abul-Qâsem Ferdowsi, Gordafarid sees her homeland under threat. 

Warriors gather. 
Fear spreads through the fortress.
So she does something no one expected.

She fastens her armor.
Mounts her horse.
And rides into the battlefield herself.

Even her enemies were astonished. They had never seen such bravery from someone so young.

But Gordafarid was not written as a fragile figure or a symbol of tragedy. 

Ferdowsi portrayed her as a strategist as well as a warrior. When she realized she could not defeat her opponent by strength alone, she relied on her wit, delaying the enemy long enough to protect her people.

For many Iranians, Gordafarid has become a symbol of something timeless:
the courage of women.

Today, on International Women’s Day, I find myself thinking about that courage. 

Not just in ancient stories, but in the lives of women all around us.

Women who stand up.
Women who speak out.
Women who lead.
Women who lift others even when the path is difficult.

Because women have always done this.

One woman opens a door.
Another holds it open.
Another widens the path so others can walk through it.

We all rise when we lift each other.

Today I want to honor women everywhere.

And I want to dedicate this day especially to the women of Iran whose courage continues to inspire the world.

Your courage has reminded the world that the strength of women is one of the most powerful forces on earth.

Across centuries, from Gordafarid’s battlefield to the voices we hear today, one truth remains:

The courage of women cannot be extinguished.

Happy International Women's Day to all of the amazing women in the world 💐

DOLPHINS IN THE DESERT 🐬🌵

Today is the day, Arizona!!

I am so excited to be serving as a panelist and workshop speaker for Dolphin Tank with Springboard Enterprises.

For more than two decades, Springboard has been accelerating women-led, high growth companies with an extraordinary track record:

850+ portfolio companies
$36.4B+ in value created
225+ exits
26 IPOs

And today, Dolphin Tank is happening at Grand Canyon University.

This is not your average pitch event.
It is a true launchpad. Women founders receive real time, thoughtful feedback from investors and operators who genuinely care about growth, strategy, and long term success.

I am honored to join an incredible panel and lead a special session during the Founder Workshop from 3-5 PM focused on protecting what you are building before you pitch, scale, or raise.

Joining me on the panel:
• Mitzi Krockover, MD, CEO, Founder, Investor at WomanCentered and Women’s Health Council Member at Springboard Enterprises
• Azin Radsan van Alebeek, Co founder and General Partner at Emmeline Ventures
• Rory Bidinger, Community Development Officer at Stearns Bank N.A.

If you are a founder, investor, operator, or supporter of women entrepreneurs, this is where you should be.

And Arizona…it is not too late.
🔗 Dolphin Tank RSVP: https://lnkd.in/eQDSywgq

🦾 Founder Workshop (3 to 5 PM): https://lnkd.in/ei4XZGSW

Come support the founders who are bravely stepping forward to pitch what they are building.

There is something powerful about watching vision meet opportunity in real time.

Proud to support this right here in Arizona. 🌵🐬

There is something defining about walking into a room and realizing you may be the only woman there and deciding that you belong anyway.

I have felt that in government spaces. In investor meetings. In high level technical discussions. In rooms where expertise is tested before it is trusted.

What I have learned is this. Leadership is not about blending in. It is about standing grounded in who you are, even when the room was not designed with you in mind.

My path began internationally, where at 21 I cofounded a company in Pakistan and learned firsthand that leadership is rarely about position and always about responsibility, requiring conviction, cultural awareness, and resilience. I later served as a United States Patent Examiner, and went on to found and lead my own firm, invest in innovation, mentor founders, and raise seven children. 

Each chapter has shaped how I understand leadership, not as authority, but as stewardship.

As Women’s History Month begins, I am honored to join a panel at The New York Public Library on March 4th for a conversation on growth and leadership alongside remarkable women whose journeys are equally layered and powerful.

We will be speaking candidly about what it truly takes to build influence, the pivots, the pressure, the persistence, and the quiet strength behind the scenes that rarely gets highlighted.

If you are building something, a company, a career, a life, while trying to remain fully yourself, this conversation is for you.

Grateful to James Corry for creating space for this meaningful dialogue and for bringing together such an inspiring group of women. I look forward to sitting alongside Christina Mitine, Laura Kavanagh, Olga Alcaraz, and Rechelle Balanzat for this important conversation.

👉🏼 Join us this Wednesday: https://lnkd.in/gtz_23Eu

Sr. GTM Leader at AWS | Head of GTM at Women in AI | Agentic AI Strategy & Digital Transformation | Industry Speaker

I know what it feels like to be the only woman in the room. If you’ve ever navigated climbing the leadership ladder while authentically showing up, this conversation is for you.

As Women’s History Month begins, I’m honored to be a panelist for “Five Powerful Women: Their Journeys of Growth and Leadership” on March 4th hosted by The New York Public Library.   

I’m joining four resilient women to share our career journeys and dive into the real grit required to build influence in both the corporate and government sectors.

Huge thank you to James Corry for hosting this important conversation! See you soon, Kathryn V., Laura Kavanagh, Olga Alcaraz, Rechelle Balanzat. 

👉🏼 Join us this Wednesday: https://lnkd.in/gtz_23Eu

#WHM2026 #WomensHistoryMonth #LeadingTheChange #IWD2026 #GiveToGain #WomenInTech #NYPL #Leadership

Open article: Five Powerful Women: Their Journeys of Growth and Leadership by nypl.org

Five Powerful Women: Their Journeys of Growth and Leadership

So, so good, Jason Butcher!

Founders - isn’t this true of any relationship? 

Trust isn’t built in moments of performance...it’s built in the quiet, consistent ones. 

In how you communicate when it’s uncomfortable. In whether your actions match your words. 

Investors, like all humans, are looking for patterns. 

Consistency builds trust. Trust builds confidence. And confidence is what ultimately moves capital.

Multi Exit Founder, seasoned advisor and strategic investor backing bold ideas in Payments, Fintech, AI, Sports Tech, Mental Health and creative Innovative projects while empowering founders to make a positive impact.

Long-term trust with investors isn’t built during a pitch.
It’s built, how you behave when nothing is being sold.

Investors pay close attention to patterns, how you communicate, how you handle uncertainty, and whether your words consistently match your actions.

They don’t expect certainty. They expect judgment.

Being realistic earns more trust than being optimistic. Saying what’s actually happening, especially when it’s uncomfortable, builds far more credibility than waiting to “fix it first.”

Small commitments matter more than big promises.
If you respect timelines, follow up when you say you will, and communicate clearly, investors assume you’ll respect their capital the same way.

Numbers alone don’t build confidence. Context does.
Explaining why things changed shows awareness. Avoiding the conversation signals risk.

What ultimately compounds trust is ownership. Founders who take responsibility, without defensiveness or excuses, earn long-term support, even through volatility.

The strongest investor relationships aren’t transactional.
They’re built on transparency, consistency, and alignment over time.

Capital follows confidence.
Confidence follows trust.

#InvestorRelations #TrustBuilding

Professionalism and humanity start with respect. Every message. Every time.

Monday rant.    Apologies in advance but I have to...

IYKYK, I'm here on LinkedIn alot.   

I follow lots of you, I read your posts, I comment on many.   

I love the power of this platform.   Because sometimes, serendipity happens.  Some of your LinkedIn DM's, Hubble calls or Boardy intros leads to me Investing or actively Advising many of you.   The power of connecting, sending that DM, a Hubble call, and having that conversation, it never ceases to amaze me.  

I connect with all of you who request.   I read all your DM's.   My inbox buried but I try to respond to all.  And the DM's I receive, most all are genuine and respectful.    Thank you.

BUT

Sometimes I get -  Terrible.   Not kind.  Not polite.  And some bordering on things I shouldn't have to deal with in 2026.   Seriously.  Can't even repeat here.  But It's so wrong and hurtful.  

And here's what I've learned after 4 decades in Silicon Valley as an Operator and Investor.  The ones who win long term are the ones who treat everyone with RESPECT before they need something.   
Not selectively.   
Not after. 
Never.  

For my entire life, being KIND has never put me back.  
It has never ever been a handicap.  
I think its one of my strengths.

So here's my ask...

Before you send that cold DM, before you hit  'connect'  ask yourself
Would I say this to someone's face at a dinner table?
Will my Mom or Dad be proud of me? 

If the answer is no, pls. DON'T SEND IT 

To the 90% of you who show up with kindness, curiosity, and good intent 
Thank you so much.   

To the other 10%.   PLEASE DO BETTER.  
Be kind.  Be respectful.  Be human.  It's not that hard.

Thank you.   Okay, Rant over.  
I promise to be my colorful smiley positive self soon.  

p.s. - Turns out I don't have 'gloomy moody not smiling pics' but this one styled by ChatGPT, I think did a good job of showing how I really feel right now...

Reposting this from Hubble because every founder needs this reminder. 👇

The desert is real.
The no’s are loud.
The pivots are humbling.

But:
• Anything is possible.
• You’re not trying to be right...you’re trying to get it right.
• Give before you receive.
• And don’t forget to celebrate the milestones.

Kevin's lessons aren’t just inspirational...they’re practical survival strategy.

To every founder building right now (especially in the quiet, unseen moments), you are not alone. Keep going. 🚀

And congratulations to the graduating founders of Spring 2026, Founder Institute Caribbean!! 🎓🚀

Starting a company is choosing one of the hardest, and most rewarding journeys of your life.

Recently, our cofounder Kevin Jurovich was a keynote speaker at the Founder Institute Caribbean Spring 2026 Graduation Ceremony.

Here are Kevin’s 4 personal lessons to carry any new founder through the hardest days as a founder:

1/ Never, ever let go of the feeling that anything is possible.

“In 2016, I left my job in banking, packed up all my stuff, got in my Ford Explorer Sport, and drove up to San Francisco to chase that dream.”

Once you enter the real world, it won’t be kind.

You'll pitch 10, 50, maybe 100 investors who say no.

Cofounders will decline, and customers will churn.

Those rejections will get to you if you don’t do something about it.

You have to find a source of inspiration to pull you out of the cycle.

For Kevin, it was listening to hours and hours of founder podcasts. 

You have to do the same for yourself.

2/ You’re not trying to be right. You’re trying to get it right.

"Every opportunity is an opportunity to run an experiment and learn.”

It’s inevitable you will face a time called “the desert.”

The period when you’re at a dead end, trying to find the path forward.

Kevin spent five years wandering his own desert.

When you arrive, don't panic.

The product you just pitched might look completely different in a year.

Your GTM will shift. 
Your story will evolve. 
You might pivot entirely.

Don’t resist this time.

This is where you get it right.

3/ Always give before you receive.

"Do the most with what you have, give to the world, and karma has a funny way of working it all out in the end.”

Before Hubble, Kevin started writing on LinkedIn about his journey.

His goal was simple: to help other founders.

One day, he wrote a viral post about Uber's first investor, and caught the attention of Mike Walsh.

After a friendly back-and-forth for months, Mike slid into Kevin's DMs:

"Hey pal, I want in."

He led Hubble's pre-seed round.

Being a founder is not about what you can extract from people.

It's about what value you can create for them first.

The returns come when you stop chasing them.

4/ Don’t forget to celebrate the milestones.

"You are exactly where you need to be. You have exactly the abilities and attributes you need.”

As a founder, you’ve one of the hardest paths a human can walk.

The stakes just keep rising.

Don’t skip the milestones.

Everyone’s on their own timeline.

You are exactly where you need to be.

To every founder reading this:

You're not alone.

The journey will be difficult, but you have everything you need already inside you.

P.S. Congratulations to the graduating founders of Spring 2026:

Andrew Phillips, Brian Branch, Dr. Sophia Morgan, Gerard Llanos, Jasmine Greene, Javanna Haughton, Jonathan Joel Mentor, Laureano Leguizamon, Michael Staniewicz, Mileyska Rodriguez, Navin Seeterram, Rodney Browne, Ryan R. Roper, Samantha Carter, Ph.D., Silvia Guzmán, Darren T., and Angela W.

Founders: if you are fundraising, you do not want to miss this event.

And if you can, make sure you are in Bettina’s room.

I am not just saying that because she is one of my dearest friends. Bettina is truly one of the most thoughtful, caring, and brilliant investors I know.

The level of care and intention she brings to every founder conversation is rare. 

She listens deeply, asks the questions that actually matter, and shows up for founders long before there is ever a deal on the table.

That kind of stewardship is something special in venture. 💛

Are you #FundRaising?  Come join me, along with 100+ other VCs, Angels, FO's

I'm hosting a networking room at the VC Virtual Conf on March 31 hosted by Max Pog.    There will be 40+ breakout rooms & 6 hours of VC networking & insights.

If you’re interested in joining the discussion
Register here:   https://vcconf.com?172

See you on the 31st... 
I'll probably be the only one in a #BucketHat

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