Call Her Daddy - Phoebe Gates & Sophia Kianni: Rebounds, Roommates & Running a Business (Full Episode)
Phoebe Gates and Sophia Keani share their journey from meeting at Stanford to becoming business partners. Initially, they were intimidated by each other due to their different backgrounds and achievements. However, they bonded over shared experiences, such as dealing with family issues and breakups. This led to a strong friendship and eventually a business partnership. They launched FIA, a sustainable fashion company, and a podcast called The Burnouts. They discuss the challenges of being women in business, including dealing with competitiveness and societal expectations. They emphasize the importance of confidence, mentorship, and leveraging unique strategies to succeed. For instance, Sophia used a fake male assistant to negotiate better speaking fees, highlighting the gender biases in business. They also talk about their app FIA, which helps users find the best prices on fashion items, aiming to make secondhand shopping easier and more reliable. Their story is a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and resilience in entrepreneurship.
Key Points:
- Phoebe and Sophia bonded over shared personal experiences, leading to a strong friendship and business partnership.
- They launched FIA, an app that helps users find the best prices on fashion items, making secondhand shopping easier.
- Sophia used a fake male assistant to negotiate better deals, highlighting gender biases in business negotiations.
- They emphasize the importance of confidence, mentorship, and leveraging unique strategies to succeed as women in business.
- Their journey showcases the power of collaboration, innovation, and resilience in entrepreneurship.
Details:
1. 🎙️ Meet The Burnouts: New Podcast Alert
- Phoebe Gates and Sophia Keani have launched a new podcast called The Burnouts, focusing on sustainable fashion and entrepreneurship.
- As best friends and business partners, they bring a dynamic and entertaining relationship to the podcast.
- Both hosts are in their 20s and are active entrepreneurs based in New York.
- They have launched a company called FIA, highlighting their commitment to sustainable business practices.
- The podcast shares chaotic and engaging stories, reflecting their unique experiences in the entrepreneurial world.
- Their introduction to the podcast project came through a mutual friend via Zoom, exemplifying modern networking techniques.
2. 🚀 Launch Day Emotions: Introducing FIA
- Phoebe and Sophia were awake from early morning hours (2:00 a.m, 3:00 a.m, 5:00 a.m) on launch day, highlighting their commitment and excitement.
- The founders liken the launch to a major life event such as the birth of a child, indicating the personal and emotional investment in FIA.
- The launch day is compared to significant life milestones like the first day of school or a birthday, underscoring the excitement and anticipation.
- The introduction of FIA is aimed at personal branding and connecting with the audience, emphasizing the importance of establishing a strong founder presence.
- FIA represents a year of development and hard work, marking a significant achievement for the founders.
3. 🏈 Stanford Beginnings: From Frenemies to Friends
- The initial meeting occurred at a Stanford football game, marking the start of their acquaintance.
- One person worked for the UN and had a significant Instagram following, creating an initial impression of being intimidating and unattainable.
- Initial feelings of jealousy and intimidation were due to the other person's achievements and social media presence.
- It took about a year for these initial negative impressions to transform into a genuine friendship.
- Specific events, such as shared interests and mutual friends, contributed to the evolving relationship.
- The friendship developed further through regular interactions, shared experiences, and overcoming initial misunderstandings.
4. 💡 Ingenious College Hacks and FIA's Inception
- A student unexpectedly becomes roommates with another due to unforeseen circumstances, leading to an initial negative perception, highlighting the unpredictability of college living situations.
- The narrator initially has a dismissive attitude towards the new roommate because of differing social habits and goals, reflecting common social dynamics challenges in college.
- Despite differences, the situation encourages adaptation, exemplifying the importance of flexibility and open-mindedness in new environments.
- The narrator's initial plan includes ambitious academic and career goals, such as graduating from Stanford and attending law school, indicating the importance of setting clear personal objectives.
- An unexpected and initially challenging roommate relationship begins with a shared dinner, revealing that communication and openness are critical in forming new connections. Over time, the narrator learns to appreciate the roommate's perspective, demonstrating the value of patience and understanding in overcoming first impressions.
5. 👭 Friendship and Business: Building FIA Together
- A friend experienced emotional turmoil due to her parents' divorce, prompting a four-hour conversation, highlighting the importance of emotional support in friendships.
- Initially resistant to advice, this conversation eventually led to a breakup, demonstrating how external perspectives can influence personal decisions and life changes.
- The transition from strangers to roommates involved navigating personal challenges, underscoring how shared experiences can strengthen bonds and trust.
- The breakup and subsequent emotional support emphasized the role of empathy and understanding in building strong personal connections and how these elements can translate into effective business partnerships.