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She Leads with Carly
She Leads features authentic conversations with women leaders across industries—founders, executives, athletes, and change-makers. Hosted by Carly Malatskey, each episode dives into leadership, career growth, and the real challenges behind building influence and impact. Designed for listeners seeking inspiration, practical advice, and powerful stories from women shaping the future of business and beyond.
She Leads with Carly
WTF Moments, Delusional Optimism, Failing Publicly and Going Direct to Consumer with Sara Cullen (Founder/CEO, GEM)
Sara Cullen is the founder and CEO of GEM, a pioneering brand creating the first real food vitamins. Sparked by her own health challenges and a frustrating experience in the supplement aisle, Sara took a hands-on approach to nutritional science. Before launching Gem, she was part of the Venture for America Fellowship and previously started Plant Water, a CBD beverage brand.
In this episode, Sara shares how her upbringing on a farm shaped her maker mindset, lessons learned from a failed first startup, and why she believes true founders must be “delusionallyvely optimistic.” She talks candidly about navigating solo entrepreneurship, fundraising over $22M, hiring effectively, and the realities of building a company while raising a newborn.
For a deeper dive into the episode, check out Carly's Substack: https://carlymalatskey.substack.com/
Where to find She Leads:
Where to find Carly:
Where to find Sara:
Where to find GEM:
Referenced:
- Sara Blakely: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarablakely27/
- Venture for America: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venture-for-america/
In this episode, we cover:
(1:22) Growing up on a farm and childhood influences
(5:09) Pivoting majors at Cornell
(6:28) Being practical vs. the dreamer
(9:14) Joining Venture for America
(12:33) The lessons from founding Plant Water
(16:25) The health crisis that inspired GEM
(19:28) Finding the conviction to launch
(22:57) Balancing taste with nutritional function
(25:23) Operating as a DTC brand
(26:27) The greatest challenges working on GEM
(28:49) Remote work challenges and culture trade-offs
(33:35) Advice for CPG founders on venture capital
(39:36) Juggling motherhood and leadership
(41:34) Redefining success
Read Carly's deeper dive in her substack: https://carlymalatskey.substack.com/p/wtf-moments-delusional-optimism-failing?r=jt2na