The Leap Podcast: Real stories of women who built something of their own.

Chandrima Das: All in. Again

Hester Spiegel

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0:00 | 53:12

What really happens after you take the leap into entrepreneurship?

In this episode of The Leap Stories, I sit down with Chandrima Das for a candid conversation about what building companies actually demands - emotionally, professionally, and personally.

Chandrima has lived both ends of the entrepreneurial spectrum. She built Bento, which was acquired by Grab, and later founded Teleskop, a venture in a new space, that she ultimately had to wind down. 

Along the way, she experienced the highs of rapid growth and acquisition, and the far less discussed but so relevant reality of shutting a company down.

We talk about:

  • The illusion of freedom when leaving corporate, and why founders often become their own worst bosses
  • Why working for yourself doesn’t automatically mean more time, especially as a parent
  • The emotional weight of closing a startup - and why we need more honest stories about failure
  • Why innovation rarely comes from incumbents, and why true customer centricity matters
  • Practical lessons for women founders on delegation, guilt, and letting go of the 'superhero' myth
  • Why community often matters more than capital

This is a grounded, honest episode for anyone navigating a second act, considering entrepreneurship, or already in the deep end and wondering if what they’re experiencing is normal.

If you’re looking for inspiration and raw truth, this conversation is for you.

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