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Ever wonder what it really feels like to be at the helm of a startup? We’ve gathered firsthand insights from 13 CEOs and founders, revealing the essence of their day-to-day leadership. From listening to your customers to help your business to scale to allowing the unpredictability of it all to fuel your passion, join us as we pull back the curtain and show what life could be like for aspiring founders. • Listen to customers to find the path forward • Abundantly gratifying, yet challenging • You’re always learning and adapting • No two days look the same • Get comfortable finding your business rhythms • Best and worst job you could have • Inspiration and responsibility go hand in hand • Be ready to touch each aspect of business • Master time management and delegation • Embrace challenges, celebrate ‘yes’ • Be flexible • Grit behind the glamour • Allow unpredictability to fuel passion Listen to customers to find the path forward Whether you’re the CEO of a startup or a public company, you should be spending most of your waking hours thinking about how to grow and scale the business. It’s been nearly 20 years since I started ZoomInfo, and the one thing that I still do constantly is listen to customers and ask for feedback. If you’re not front and center selling your product or service—and getting beaten up along the way—you won’t be successful. It’s the only way to learn and improve. It forces you to remain nimble and flexible as a leader, ready to pivot at any given moment depending on market needs. I also apply this same logic to other areas of the business. Henry Schuck Founder and CEO, ZoomInfo Abundantly gratifying, yet challenging I’ve found that it’s one of the most abundantly gratifying spaces to be in—when I finally was able to stop working in my business for two minutes and start working on it—it’s a different mindset altogether. To be a CEO who thrives, the time spent working on myself is equivalent to or greater than working on the business. They say that in difficult times, we don’t rise to the occasion but rather fall to the level of our training. It’s not glamorous—it’s hard work. Micah Smith CEO, Micah Abigail You’re always learning and adapting Being the CEO of a startup means constantly needing to learn new things as your company’s needs grow. Every day, I’m challenged to do something I’ve never done before, and that is one of the most exhausting things about being a founder. Everyone looks to me to make the right decisions, but I have no idea what those are. I can only do my best with the information I have. Sometimes things go well, sometimes they don’t. The most important thing is knowing that you can adapt and that there are very few decisions you can’t recover from. There are good and bad days, but the bad far outweighs the good in the beginning. It does get better. The only way forward is through. Melissa Kwan Cofounder and CEO, eWebinar No two days look the same Being the CEO of a startup is a challenging yet rewarding role. Each day is different, which makes the job exciting. My cofounder and I each start our day early to maximize productivity, checking and responding to urgent emails and messages. Continuously refining the business model and strategy based on market feedback and company performance is crucial. This includes analyzing daily sales reports and making decisions about the most effective channels. A key part of the role is leading the team and ensuring effective communication across all departments. Some days involve attending industry events and conferences to network and promote the company—these are some of the most enjoyable days as they provide opportunities to build valuable connections. Having your own brand and working for yourself is truly a pleasure, but it comes with great responsibility. Inessa Vike CEO, VIKE BEAUTY Get comfortable finding your business rhythms Being the CEO of a startup is all about finding the rhythms of your business and recognizing that not every season should be a sprint for the fastest growth. Starting and running my business has often looked like taking the time to set strategic goals, leveraging the expertise of my team to collaboratively create and execute a game plan, and then collecting and analyzing data on what’s working in order to make changes to the plan. There are certainly times when it’s all hands on deck to respond to an opportunity, a problem, or a rapid shift in the market, but for the most part, it’s my goal for my business to move toward intentional, sustainable, and profitable operation. This is what frees up the creative space, team bandwidth, and other resources to be able to continue innovating in how we serve our customers. Emily Hall CEO, Rhetorik Agency Best and worst job you could have It’s simultaneously the best and the worst job. On one end, I have the privilege of being at the forefront of all our exciting initiatives—getting paid to learn on the job. On the other end, when we’re experiencing rough patches, I’m the one who has to deliver—laying off friends, making unpopular but necessary decisions, facing numerous rejections, and the list goes on. I was always told this prior to Doorvest but never truly grasped it until experiencing it firsthand. Andrew Luong Cofounder and CEO, Doorvest Inspiration and responsibility go hand in hand Being the CEO of a startup is like piloting your own spaceship: It’s both inspiring and full of responsibility. Every day, I don’t just solve problems—I live my mission, inspiring and energizing my team, clients, and partners with my vision. This role demands not only creativity but also the ability to live in a multitask regime, make crucial decisions, manage products and finances, and create a sustainable system that brings about positive change in the world. At the same time, I never lose sight of my identity as a woman, both at home and at work. As a mother of three and the CEO of several startups, I believe the key to female leadership in startups lies in our ability to perceive subtly and make less aggressive decisions, which ultimately makes us stronger. These personal features contribute to the creation of a sustainable system that brings about positive change in the world. Aliya Grig CEO, Kosmos Foundation Be ready to touch each aspect of business I went from working at a large global corporation to running my own global agency alongside my business partner. The freedom, ability to make decisions and move quickly, and closer ties to risk and reward are all amazing. But all of a sudden, we also need to think about every single aspect of a business—finance, HR, operations, client work, marketing, talent development, etc. It’s equal parts thrilling and mind-numbing—compartmentalizing your day and switching among all of those can be difficult. But so far, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Joel Leeman Cofounder, Vivace Content Master time management and delegation Running a startup requires mastering the art of time management amid the chaos of ramping up the business. My company provides free content for marketers through virtual events, a podcast network, and newsletters, with all revenue coming from paid sponsorships of these media products. Each day is a balancing act, demanding focus on the most impactful tasks first. We internally always call it “eating the frog,” to ensure progress on key initiatives. Another critical key to success is effective delegation skills. Delegation is crucial but challenging to master; yet, it’s essential for scaling operations and managing myriad responsibilities. The last element that is going to determine success is time management. Your calendar is the driving force behind being able to move things forward. Enabling the juggling of diverse activities from content creation to revenue growth to building out your team is a massive daily effort. By prioritizing high-impact tasks and developing strong delegation skills, managing the daily demands of your company becomes more manageable and sets the foundation for sustainable growth. Jay Schwedelson Founder and CEO, GURU Media Hub Embrace challenges, celebrate ‘yes’ After spending more than a decade working for other companies as an employee, I decided to take the leap and start my own shop. And it certainly is a massive change. Being the CEO of a startup, you get to see what you’re really made of. It stops being about your technical skills or how good you are at doing a specific job. Instead, it pushes you to learn about many areas you’ve never had to deal with before (and fast) and also challenges you to think outside the box you know so well. You have to have very strong self-belief and a strong stomach to digest the multiple “nos” you get on a daily basis. That said, when you get a “yes,” it’s an exceptional feeling, and the freedom you get to build a company based on your philosophy and your ideas is, for me, one of the most amazing creative expressions I can imagine. It’s definitely not an easy journey, and you don’t know if there will be a happy ending, but it’s a journey that builds you up into a stronger person, and it’s worth taking. Jo Lambadjieva Founder, Amazing Wave Be flexible As CEO, I’m constantly juggling diverse responsibilities, from product vision to sales execution and administrative tasks. My day starts with one to two hours of strategic solo work, leveraging my peak clarity and energy, followed by meetings with my team or potential clients. Critical projects, such as sales generation or product development, are a key focus, alongside tasks such as bookkeeping and HR. I prioritize my own growth through coaching, therapy, and peer discussions. The highlight of my day is engaging with the participants in our women’s leadership program, empowering them to advance in their careers. The biggest surprise for me as CEO is that I’m always working on the next big milestone, and it never seems to feel easier. It’s fun but always a learning curve. Shivani Berry CEO and Founder, Arise Leadership Grit behind the glamour These days, social media makes running a business look like it’s filled with trips to Italy and long lunches with girlfriends. However, starting and running a business requires grit, ambition, and intense amounts of motivation to get you through the hard moments. In the beginning, you have to put the blood, sweat, and tears in order to reap the rewards of being a CEO and founder. Day to day, I’m jumping among client calls, meetings, content creation, marketing plans, signing off on concepts for events, recording podcasts, replying to emails, and so much more. You are the visionary, executor, operations head, marketing genius, and so much more, all at once. It’s truly so fulfilling and can be equally exhausting if you do not have the right systems, structure, and direction in place. Having a strong enough “why,” as cliché as it sounds, is essential. Having a dream that is bigger than you gets you through those hard days when you just want to throw in the towel. Also, normalize having those meltdown moments of thinking you need to give up—you’re human! Do not compare yourself to someone who’s been in business for eight years when you’re just starting out. They started in a different climate, they have privileges that you don’t have, and you need to put in the work to stand out. Additionally, don’t try to do it all at once. When you’re starting out, build the know, like, and trust with one thing, and then you can expand later. Especially in the day and age of artificial intelligence, you need to ensure your authenticity is staying at the forefront of what you’re doing. People buy from people, not robots. Monica Yates CEO, Monica Yates Health Allow unpredictability to fuel passion The magic—and the challenge—of working as a startup CEO lies in the uncertainty and unpredictability of each day. Some days, I’m in a blazer speaking at a conference, and others, I’m in my pajamas all day fixing bugs in our app. Often, you’ll find me scouring the internet for ways to solve a problem I’m facing or on back-to-back calls with our customers to get their feedback on new features. In an early-stage startup, the CEO title doesn’t just mean “chief executive officer.” It sometimes means “chief everything officer.” Despite the chaos of wearing many hats, one thing always remains true: My deep passion for the problem I’m trying to solve keeps me going. I’m constantly learning, troubleshooting, and listening to feedback in service of my company’s mission. Kay Rodriguez Founder and CEO, Outerly

How do you balance being a mom and a CEO?

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Navigating the world of investing can be daunting, but the right advice can make all the difference. Here, 12 seasoned entrepreneurs and investment experts offer the single best piece of investing wisdom they ever received. • Prioritize reinvestment for growth • Invest in yourself to fuel growth • Invest in familiar industries • Adopt a “just keep buying” strategy • Embrace patience in investing • Seek long-term value over valuation • Invest in solutions for real needs • Continuously learn as an investor • Understand the power of compounding • Respect market knowledge, avoid fads • Never cease to network • Diversify savings for future security Prioritize reinvestment for growth The best investing advice I’ve ever gotten is to focus on reinvestment. I run an agency alongside other digital ventures and even some traditional businesses. No matter which one brings in money, I prioritize putting it back to work. Whether it’s expanding an existing project or starting something entirely new, reinvesting keeps the money growing and creates a snowball effect. Constantly reinvesting keeps the money flowing and growing instead of letting it sit idle. Scott Gabdullin CEO & Founder, Authority Factors Invest in yourself to fuel growth The most valuable lesson I’ve learned about investing came from my entrepreneurial journey: Invest in yourself. Despite the success of our first product, securing outside investment proved impossible. Instead, we reinvested every dollar into the company to fuel our growth. This commitment to self-investment has paid off tremendously! Today, with three successful products and a valuation of $1 billion, we’ve achieved this milestone without relying on external funding. It’s a testament to the power of believing in yourself and your vision. Nenad Milanović Founder & CEO, CAKE.com Invest in familiar industries The best investing advice I’ve ever received was to invest in what I know. I used to focus my resources on picks that were hot in the market, only to get burned because I didn’t understand what I was putting my money into. Now, I try to focus on what I know. As a digital marketer and content creator, I use and research a number of products and services as part of my work. So, I’ve developed a degree of expertise across a narrow range of industries and specific companies. When I notice trends in these areas, I can make a more informed decision on how I choose to invest, and it tends to work out much better than just following what everyone else is doing. Dennis Consorte Digital Marketing and Leadership Consultant for Startups, Snackable Solutions Adopt a ‘just keep buying’ strategy Nick Maggiulli’s book is titled Just Keep Buying, and that title is the best advice I’ve ever received because it reminds me that I should not time the market and that my investments should be automated. This idea further reinforces Charlie Munger’s quote, which says, “The first rule of compounding is to never interrupt it unnecessarily.” If you just keep buying, you’ll be surprised at just how much you can compound your investments over time. Joel Polanco Senior Product Manager, Intel Embrace patience in investing For me, the best investing advice I’ve ever received is to be patient. This was the first and best piece of advice I got, and it still holds true. The real money is made not in the frequent buying and selling but in the waiting. Many people are too anxious; they worry too much. Success in investing comes from being patient but also being ready to act aggressively when the right time comes. This is because even if you’re dedicated and work hard, finding great investment opportunities isn’t easy. You shouldn’t rush into things. It’s better to continue your diligent search until you discover an investment that truly feels right, rather than jumping on a shaky profit opportunity just to claim a quick win. I believe that my success has come not from constant activity but from patience. Eric Croak, CFP President, Croak Capital Seek long-term value over valuation There is one piece of investment advice that I have ever gotten, and it is to look for value, not just valuations. Indeed, early on in my journey as an investor, a wizened pundit of investment opined, “While market trends and numbers are important, the true value of an investment rests on the potential it carries to make a big difference and deliver lasting benefits.” That philosophy has guided investments at my company to be fundamentally driven toward growth and sustainability in the long term, rather than gaining short-term profits. It has helped us to be resilient in the face of the ups and downs of different market cycles and to keep delivering value to all our stakeholders. Roman Shauk Founder & CEO, EducateMe Invest in solutions for real needs Focus on investing in people and companies that are solving real needs. Ensure that the problem they are solving will continue to exist in the future so that you are truly “investing” and not just trading shares for a quick buck. The real value of an investment is generated over time, not based on short-lived trends. Nils Lange Nordic Scouting Lead, Antler Continuously learn as an investor The best investing advice I received is to always keep learning. The financial markets are continuously evolving, and investor sentiment is constantly shifting. What has worked today may not work tomorrow or the day after. As investors, we always have to be on our toes, looking out for these changes and staying humble. Geetu Sharma Founder & Investment Manager, AlphasFuture LLC Understand the power of compounding I’m a longtime marketer in the fintech space. After spending years working with finance experts, I’m pretty confident that some investment advice I got as a kid is the best advice there is. The takeaway: Compounding interest is the eighth wonder of the world. The advice: When I was a kid, my dad sat me down and calculated what would happen if I started investing $100 a month from the time I turned 18 until the time I turned 68. It blew my mind that a 7% interest rate would turn my $1,200 a year into $500,000. By following his advice to be frugal enough to always save at least a little, I’ve gotten to a place I’m really happy with. And I recently taught my kids the same lesson. When we were done, I told them, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world”—and gave credit to my dad (instead of its true author, Albert Einstein). Elliott Brown Marketing Leader, Cache Financials Respect market knowledge, avoid fads Assume everyone knows more than you. It’s very easy to fall victim to the Dunning-Kruger effect and think you know a “sure bet.” Spending my early career in finance quickly taught me how all knowledge of the market is absorbed into stock prices rapidly (sometimes in as quick as a trillionth of a second). With that in mind, I learned that if I wanted to invest successfully, it wasn’t about jumping on the latest fad or believing in a “secret stock tip”—instead, it’s about trusting the fundamentals, understanding how businesses grow profitably over time, and how to take the long-term view. It might not be the fanciest approach ... but then again, smart investing shouldn’t be—it should be positively boring. Patrick Ward Founder, NanoGlobals Never cease to network Never. Stop. Networking. This advice is something I was given early on in my career, and it’s probably the one that has stuck with me the most. Even as an established business professional or entrepreneur, deciding to stop networking can lead to stagnation and isolation in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Without these continuous connections, you risk missing out on new opportunities for collaborations, partnerships, and innovation. You may become disconnected from industry trends, emerging technologies, and shifts in consumer behavior, making it difficult to adapt and stay competitive. And from a more personal point of view, networking forces you out of your comfort zone, allowing you to develop essential skills such as communication, negotiation, and relationship-building. These skills are not only beneficial for your business but also for personal growth and development and can help you to always have a circle of trusted people around. Entrepreneurship can also be very challenging, and having a strong support system is essential. Networking allows you to connect with like-minded individuals who understand the journey you are on and can provide valuable support, advice, and encouragement. Ceasing any additional communication, or not checking in with your already-established network, is a slippery slope that could lead to you being left behind. Renan Ferreira Head of Communications & Director of Sales, RealCraft Diversify savings for future security Something I never really grasped until just a few years ago is that letting your money pile up in your main bank account isn’t wise. My savings account’s APY was 0.03%! Luckily, I already had a 401(k) going, but it wasn’t until I was almost 28 that I got advice to set up a Roth IRA with investments and a high-yield savings account with a 4.25% APY. Now that I’ve got these three streams going, I’ve figured out an easy, free way to stretch my income to help me later in life. Sarah Blocksidge Marketing Director, Sixth City Marketing Featured is a knowledge sharing platform that connects subject matter experts with publishers to create Q&A content.

• Prioritize reinvestment for growth • Invest in yourself to fuel growth • Invest in familiar industries • Adopt a “just keep buying” strategy • Embrace patience in investing • Seek long-term value over valuation • Invest in solutions for real needs • Continuously learn as an investor • Understand the power of compounding • Respect market knowledge, avoid fads • Never cease to network • Diversify savings for future security Prioritize reinvestment for growth The best investing advice I’ve ever gotten is to focus on reinvestment. I run an agency alongside other digital ventures and even some traditional businesses. No matter which one brings in money, I prioritize putting it back to work. Whether it’s expanding an existing project or starting something entirely new, reinvesting keeps the money growing and creates a snowball effect. Constantly reinvesting keeps the money flowing and growing instead of letting it sit idle. Scott Gabdullin CEO & Founder, Authority Factors Invest in yourself to fuel growth The most valuable lesson I’ve learned about investing came from my entrepreneurial journey: Invest in yourself. Despite the success of our first product, securing outside investment proved impossible. Instead, we reinvested every dollar into the company to fuel our growth. This commitment to self-investment has paid off tremendously! Today, with three successful products and a valuation of $1 billion, we’ve achieved this milestone without relying on external funding. It’s a testament to the power of believing in yourself and your vision. Nenad Milanović Founder & CEO, CAKE.com Invest in familiar industries The best investing advice I’ve ever received was to invest in what I know. I used to focus my resources on picks that were hot in the market, only to get burned because I didn’t understand what I was putting my money into. Now, I try to focus on what I know. As a digital marketer and content creator, I use and research a number of products and services as part of my work. So, I’ve developed a degree of expertise across a narrow range of industries and specific companies. When I notice trends in these areas, I can make a more informed decision on how I choose to invest, and it tends to work out much better than just following what everyone else is doing. Dennis Consorte Digital Marketing and Leadership Consultant for Startups, Snackable Solutions Adopt a ‘just keep buying’ strategy Nick Maggiulli’s book is titled Just Keep Buying, and that title is the best advice I’ve ever received because it reminds me that I should not time the market and that my investments should be automated. This idea further reinforces Charlie Munger’s quote, which says, “The first rule of compounding is to never interrupt it unnecessarily.” If you just keep buying, you’ll be surprised at just how much you can compound your investments over time. Joel Polanco Senior Product Manager, Intel Embrace patience in investing For me, the best investing advice I’ve ever received is to be patient. This was the first and best piece of advice I got, and it still holds true. The real money is made not in the frequent buying and selling but in the waiting. Many people are too anxious; they worry too much. Success in investing comes from being patient but also being ready to act aggressively when the right time comes. This is because even if you’re dedicated and work hard, finding great investment opportunities isn’t easy. You shouldn’t rush into things. It’s better to continue your diligent search until you discover an investment that truly feels right, rather than jumping on a shaky profit opportunity just to claim a quick win. I believe that my success has come not from constant activity but from patience. Eric Croak, CFP President, Croak Capital Seek long-term value over valuation There is one piece of investment advice that I have ever gotten, and it is to look for value, not just valuations. Indeed, early on in my journey as an investor, a wizened pundit of investment opined, “While market trends and numbers are important, the true value of an investment rests on the potential it carries to make a big difference and deliver lasting benefits.” That philosophy has guided investments at my company to be fundamentally driven toward growth and sustainability in the long term, rather than gaining short-term profits. It has helped us to be resilient in the face of the ups and downs of different market cycles and to keep delivering value to all our stakeholders. Roman Shauk Founder & CEO, EducateMe Invest in solutions for real needs Focus on investing in people and companies that are solving real needs. Ensure that the problem they are solving will continue to exist in the future so that you are truly “investing” and not just trading shares for a quick buck. The real value of an investment is generated over time, not based on short-lived trends. Nils Lange Nordic Scouting Lead, Antler Continuously learn as an investor The best investing advice I received is to always keep learning. The financial markets are continuously evolving, and investor sentiment is constantly shifting. What has worked today may not work tomorrow or the day after. As investors, we always have to be on our toes, looking out for these changes and staying humble. Geetu Sharma Founder & Investment Manager, AlphasFuture LLC Understand the power of compounding I’m a longtime marketer in the fintech space. After spending years working with finance experts, I’m pretty confident that some investment advice I got as a kid is the best advice there is. The takeaway: Compounding interest is the eighth wonder of the world. The advice: When I was a kid, my dad sat me down and calculated what would happen if I started investing $100 a month from the time I turned 18 until the time I turned 68. It blew my mind that a 7% interest rate would turn my $1,200 a year into $500,000. By following his advice to be frugal enough to always save at least a little, I’ve gotten to a place I’m really happy with. And I recently taught my kids the same lesson. When we were done, I told them, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world”—and gave credit to my dad (instead of its true author, Albert Einstein). Elliott Brown Marketing Leader, Cache Financials Respect market knowledge, avoid fads Assume everyone knows more than you. It’s very easy to fall victim to the Dunning-Kruger effect and think you know a “sure bet.” Spending my early career in finance quickly taught me how all knowledge of the market is absorbed into stock prices rapidly (sometimes in as quick as a trillionth of a second). With that in mind, I learned that if I wanted to invest successfully, it wasn’t about jumping on the latest fad or believing in a “secret stock tip”—instead, it’s about trusting the fundamentals, understanding how businesses grow profitably over time, and how to take the long-term view. It might not be the fanciest approach ... but then again, smart investing shouldn’t be—it should be positively boring. Patrick Ward Founder, NanoGlobals Never cease to network Never. Stop. Networking. This advice is something I was given early on in my career, and it’s probably the one that has stuck with me the most. Even as an established business professional or entrepreneur, deciding to stop networking can lead to stagnation and isolation in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Without these continuous connections, you risk missing out on new opportunities for collaborations, partnerships, and innovation. You may become disconnected from industry trends, emerging technologies, and shifts in consumer behavior, making it difficult to adapt and stay competitive. And from a more personal point of view, networking forces you out of your comfort zone, allowing you to develop essential skills such as communication, negotiation, and relationship-building. These skills are not only beneficial for your business but also for personal growth and development and can help you to always have a circle of trusted people around. Entrepreneurship can also be very challenging, and having a strong support system is essential. Networking allows you to connect with like-minded individuals who understand the journey you are on and can provide valuable support, advice, and encouragement. Ceasing any additional communication, or not checking in with your already-established network, is a slippery slope that could lead to you being left behind. Renan Ferreira Head of Communications & Director of Sales, RealCraft Diversify savings for future security Something I never really grasped until just a few years ago is that letting your money pile up in your main bank account isn’t wise. My savings account’s APY was 0.03%! Luckily, I already had a 401(k) going, but it wasn’t until I was almost 28 that I got advice to set up a Roth IRA with investments and a high-yield savings account with a 4.25% APY. Now that I’ve got these three streams going, I’ve figured out an easy, free way to stretch my income to help me later in life. Sarah Blocksidge Marketing Director, Sixth City Marketing Featured is a knowledge sharing platform that connects subject matter experts with publishers to create Q&A content.

• Prioritize reinvestment for growth • Invest in yourself to fuel growth • Invest in familiar industries • Adopt a “just keep buying” strategy • Embrace patience in investing • Seek long-term value over valuation • Invest in solutions for real needs • Continuously learn as an investor • Understand the power of compounding • Respect market knowledge, avoid fads • Never cease to network • Diversify savings for future security Prioritize reinvestment for growth The best investing advice I’ve ever gotten is to focus on reinvestment. I run an agency alongside other digital ventures and even some traditional businesses. No matter which one brings in money, I prioritize putting it back to work. Whether it’s expanding an existing project or starting something entirely new, reinvesting keeps the money growing and creates a snowball effect. Constantly reinvesting keeps the money flowing and growing instead of letting it sit idle. Scott Gabdullin CEO & Founder, Authority Factors Invest in yourself to fuel growth The most valuable lesson I’ve learned about investing came from my entrepreneurial journey: Invest in yourself. Despite the success of our first product, securing outside investment proved impossible. Instead, we reinvested every dollar into the company to fuel our growth. This commitment to self-investment has paid off tremendously! Today, with three successful products and a valuation of $1 billion, we’ve achieved this milestone without relying on external funding. It’s a testament to the power of believing in yourself and your vision. Nenad Milanović Founder & CEO, CAKE.com Invest in familiar industries The best investing advice I’ve ever received was to invest in what I know. I used to focus my resources on picks that were hot in the market, only to get burned because I didn’t understand what I was putting my money into. Now, I try to focus on what I know. As a digital marketer and content creator, I use and research a number of products and services as part of my work. So, I’ve developed a degree of expertise across a narrow range of industries and specific companies. When I notice trends in these areas, I can make a more informed decision on how I choose to invest, and it tends to work out much better than just following what everyone else is doing. Dennis Consorte Digital Marketing and Leadership Consultant for Startups, Snackable Solutions Adopt a ‘just keep buying’ strategy Nick Maggiulli’s book is titled Just Keep Buying, and that title is the best advice I’ve ever received because it reminds me that I should not time the market and that my investments should be automated. This idea further reinforces Charlie Munger’s quote, which says, “The first rule of compounding is to never interrupt it unnecessarily.” If you just keep buying, you’ll be surprised at just how much you can compound your investments over time. Joel Polanco Senior Product Manager, Intel Embrace patience in investing For me, the best investing advice I’ve ever received is to be patient. This was the first and best piece of advice I got, and it still holds true. The real money is made not in the frequent buying and selling but in the waiting. Many people are too anxious; they worry too much. Success in investing comes from being patient but also being ready to act aggressively when the right time comes. This is because even if you’re dedicated and work hard, finding great investment opportunities isn’t easy. You shouldn’t rush into things. It’s better to continue your diligent search until you discover an investment that truly feels right, rather than jumping on a shaky profit opportunity just to claim a quick win. I believe that my success has come not from constant activity but from patience. Eric Croak, CFP President, Croak Capital Seek long-term value over valuation There is one piece of investment advice that I have ever gotten, and it is to look for value, not just valuations. Indeed, early on in my journey as an investor, a wizened pundit of investment opined, “While market trends and numbers are important, the true value of an investment rests on the potential it carries to make a big difference and deliver lasting benefits.” That philosophy has guided investments at my company to be fundamentally driven toward growth and sustainability in the long term, rather than gaining short-term profits. It has helped us to be resilient in the face of the ups and downs of different market cycles and to keep delivering value to all our stakeholders. Roman Shauk Founder & CEO, EducateMe Invest in solutions for real needs Focus on investing in people and companies that are solving real needs. Ensure that the problem they are solving will continue to exist in the future so that you are truly “investing” and not just trading shares for a quick buck. The real value of an investment is generated over time, not based on short-lived trends. Nils Lange Nordic Scouting Lead, Antler Continuously learn as an investor The best investing advice I received is to always keep learning. The financial markets are continuously evolving, and investor sentiment is constantly shifting. What has worked today may not work tomorrow or the day after. As investors, we always have to be on our toes, looking out for these changes and staying humble. Geetu Sharma Founder & Investment Manager, AlphasFuture LLC Understand the power of compounding I’m a longtime marketer in the fintech space. After spending years working with finance experts, I’m pretty confident that some investment advice I got as a kid is the best advice there is. The takeaway: Compounding interest is the eighth wonder of the world. The advice: When I was a kid, my dad sat me down and calculated what would happen if I started investing $100 a month from the time I turned 18 until the time I turned 68. It blew my mind that a 7% interest rate would turn my $1,200 a year into $500,000. By following his advice to be frugal enough to always save at least a little, I’ve gotten to a place I’m really happy with. And I recently taught my kids the same lesson. When we were done, I told them, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world”—and gave credit to my dad (instead of its true author, Albert Einstein). Elliott Brown Marketing Leader, Cache Financials Respect market knowledge, avoid fads Assume everyone knows more than you. It’s very easy to fall victim to the Dunning-Kruger effect and think you know a “sure bet.” Spending my early career in finance quickly taught me how all knowledge of the market is absorbed into stock prices rapidly (sometimes in as quick as a trillionth of a second). With that in mind, I learned that if I wanted to invest successfully, it wasn’t about jumping on the latest fad or believing in a “secret stock tip”—instead, it’s about trusting the fundamentals, understanding how businesses grow profitably over time, and how to take the long-term view. It might not be the fanciest approach ... but then again, smart investing shouldn’t be—it should be positively boring. Patrick Ward Founder, NanoGlobals Never cease to network Never. Stop. Networking. This advice is something I was given early on in my career, and it’s probably the one that has stuck with me the most. Even as an established business professional or entrepreneur, deciding to stop networking can lead to stagnation and isolation in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Without these continuous connections, you risk missing out on new opportunities for collaborations, partnerships, and innovation. You may become disconnected from industry trends, emerging technologies, and shifts in consumer behavior, making it difficult to adapt and stay competitive. And from a more personal point of view, networking forces you out of your comfort zone, allowing you to develop essential skills such as communication, negotiation, and relationship-building. These skills are not only beneficial for your business but also for personal growth and development and can help you to always have a circle of trusted people around. Entrepreneurship can also be very challenging, and having a strong support system is essential. Networking allows you to connect with like-minded individuals who understand the journey you are on and can provide valuable support, advice, and encouragement. Ceasing any additional communication, or not checking in with your already-established network, is a slippery slope that could lead to you being left behind. Renan Ferreira Head of Communications & Director of Sales, RealCraft Diversify savings for future security Something I never really grasped until just a few years ago is that letting your money pile up in your main bank account isn’t wise. My savings account’s APY was 0.03%! Luckily, I already had a 401(k) going, but it wasn’t until I was almost 28 that I got advice to set up a Roth IRA with investments and a high-yield savings account with a 4.25% APY. Now that I’ve got these three streams going, I’ve figured out an easy, free way to stretch my income to help me later in life. Sarah Blocksidge Marketing Director, Sixth City Marketing Featured is a knowledge sharing platform that connects subject matter experts with publishers to create Q&A content.

• Prioritize reinvestment for growth • Invest in yourself to fuel growth • Invest in familiar industries • Adopt a “just keep buying” strategy • Embrace patience in investing • Seek long-term value over valuation • Invest in solutions for real needs • Continuously learn as an investor • Understand the power of compounding • Respect market knowledge, avoid fads • Never cease to network • Diversify savings for future security

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