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She Leads with Carly
A weekly series with powerful leaders from all industries! Learn what it takes to rise to the top. We chat about everything from childhood to where they are today – and all the messiness in between.
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.
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