Robert Rodriguez’s Post

Love this guy 💛. The second most asked question when I talk to people about my #startup journey is what its like is what it's like working full time with my partner. What it looks like: - Our desks are next to each others in our loungeroom 🖥 . With the exception meetings and work travel, we #WFH so really are with each other 24/7. - We are deliberate about me being 'the face' of our companies 🙋♀️ . Women are grossly under-represented in #startups #technology #executiveleadership and we want to set the bar for our companies, for our kids and for society that women can lead and it be positive for everyone. - We are SO different 🤔 - our approach, experience, thinking patterns... Where we align is our #values, #vision and #riskpreferences which turns out is what counts. How we make it work: - Structured feedback, continuous improvement loops and strategy ➿ - since day 1 we invested in #hrtech and established a management operating system to support the delivery of our strategic objectives. We have formal weekly online checkins, a monthly strategy workshop and quarterly planning cycle that covers everything from financials through to mental health and wellbeing. - Flexible working and 4 day work week 🌴 - before starting we spent a LONG time reflecting, researching and designing an organisational structure, business model and policy framework to design a workplace that works for people. Work design is a core part of both Sans Prejudice Solutions and Reflectal and we wanted to make sure that we were leading by example. We work 4 days a week, spending the 5th day with our kids (which is awesome to do activities without weekend crowds). We also dedicate ~1 day a week to "growth" which includes personal growth, business growth and social impact. - Celebrating success 🎉 - starting a business is HARD, starting 3 simultaneously has been wild (1 is paused, we re-assessed and don't have time 😂). We have gone all in for the #vision... house sold, cars sold, shares sold... The whole way we have made sure to celebrate every single win, no matter how small. A bit of positive feedback from someone outside our network - celebrate, a new inquiry through our website - celebrate, a new client - a huge celebration! #partnership #cofounder #innovation #respect #mentalhealth

You can help Daniel Petre and the team at StartGiving level up the culture of philanthropy in Australia by completing this (short!) survey: https://lnkd.in/gMbrHWck - please also share this link! Curiously Australian philanthropy lags terribly compared to our global peers. We give an estimated 0.81% of GDP which is less than the UK (0.96%) and Canada (1%) and way behind New Zealand (1.84% and the US (2.1%) [1] To help understand why, StartGiving in collaboration with the Centre for Social Impact is inviting everyone in the tech sector to participate in their research about the current and future potential for philanthropy in the Australian tech sector [2]. By developing this evidence base (which doesn’t exist in Australia), they will raise awareness of and encourage a stronger culture of giving in the Australian tech community. StartGiving is inviting everyone in tech - founders, operators, investors, and anyone in the ecosystem to take the survey and share their attitudes and practices to giving. It's easy, anonymous, and will take less than 10 minutes. The survey results will be published publicly. Survey is here: https://lnkd.in/gMbrHWck Your action to complete this survey will boost philanthropy in Australia! [1] https://lnkd.in/gdc6NHAV [2] https://lnkd.in/g6Vz-Axs Arminé Simon UNSW Founders Liz

#JerooSays #GlobalSocialInnovation Day, was launched in 2023, I'm reflecting on why recognizing and celebrating this day is so meaningful. Social innovation is more than just a buzzword; it is a vital resource for communities and individuals grappling with complex challenges. Having seen the steadfast commitment of social entrepreneurs firsthand, I believe it is essential to recognize those who devote themselves to making a difference, often against significant obstacles. I am incredibly grateful for my journey in social innovation. By establishing transformative initiatives namely, Child Helpline International and Aflatoun International, Catalyst 2030, we have pioneered global movements that empower children, youth, and communities to take control of their lives. The approach exemplifies the power of innovative thinking in creating sustainable solutions for the world's most pressing social issues. Celebrating Global Social Innovation Day means acknowledging these changemakers, whose efforts are invaluable, and reinforcing our commitment to building a world driven by compassion, creativity, and resilience. "Global Social Innovation Day reminds us of our power to drive change across borders. It highlights the importance of creative, sustainable solutions to tackle global challenges, from poverty to education. Celebrating this day amplifies the voices of social innovators who inspire collective action, foster resilience, and pave the way for a more inclusive, compassionate world." If you a social innovator or know of any then please share it via DM or tag and I'll be glad to amplify your work. #strongertogether

#worldmentalhealthday is today! To celebrate, join me and this fantastic group of mental health funders *next Wednesday* in a conversation about how philanthropy, impact investment, and vc can (and should!) work together to advance youth mental health. TLDR: impact startups need different types of capital depending on what they do, how they do it, with whom they work, what growth looks like for them. Let's get into it.

completion of the Rural Innovation Project in Viralipatti: I successfully completed the Rural Innovation Project in Viralipatti, a pioneering initiative focused on harnessing grassroots innovation to drive sustainable development. Through immersive field research, community engagement, and collaborative problem-solving, I: - Identified local challenges and opportunities - Designed and prototyped context-specific solutions - Fostered community-led initiatives - Developed scalable and replicable models This project honed my skills in: - Human-centered design - Community development - Social entrepreneurship - Rural innovation Empowering me to create lasting impact in rural communities. "Completed Rural Innovation Project in Viralipatti! Unlocked grassroots innovation potential, empowered local communities, and fostered sustainable development. #RuralInnovation #SustainableDevelopment #CommunityEmpowerment"HICAS Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc.

Let #TechWeekNYC begin! 🌟 Thank you Allen Smith for hosting such a brilliant group of women funders and founders! #inspired Sharing several valuable insights that I am applying to #Arizona. (Beware, I’m looking with a critical eye): ⚡️There are A LOT more women in funding in other cities. AZ needs to grow there. We could easily be the best place for #womeninventure! ⚡️Early-stage startups is a focus, four women funders I spoke with at dinner told me their firms invest in #earlystage. Let’s bring some of that capital to AZ ⚡️Reproductive Health legislation has direct economic impact on AZ. We literally can’t afford to support laws that negatively affect women. We need more #womenCEOs and investors ⚡️If the AZ #startupecosystem wants to be known as a generous and inclusive community - which I’m very proud that we do - we have a lot of work to do to proactively create strategies and take real action towards this goal ⚡️The #social focus that many women founders around the country have is inspiring; solving real problems for good reasons - is this the future? 🦋 And a nod at such a special restaurant, Hav & Mar The food was as “divine” as we were promised! 😍 Shout out to sponsor, Citron labs, who provided the opportunity to make your own digital twin. 🤖 If I didn’t meet you at the #NY #TechWeek - #FemaleCreators and #Investors dinner, I would like to connect! #EconomicDevelopment #womenstartups #femalefounders #vc #angelinvestment Arizona Commerce Authority (My opinions are my own.)

Since Joining Abstract in 2023 I have achieved a lot, but don't always feel like I have. This is not a post to brag about achievements, nor is it to seek pity, but to remind everyone that you've got this, and your family, friends, colleagues and customers have you too. Today I go on leave for the longest period in over a year, and I will not be taking any work with me, down time is needed. Before I go, I want to say #ThankYou to everyone who has helped me, especially Minan, James & Emily at Abstract Group as well as partners I have worked closely with; to name a few Jenson, Tom & Amba at Britain's Got Startups & Novus Capital | Nick at Getronics | Ashley at DWF | Chloe & Jessica at TriggerHub . . . . #OutOfOffice #YouGotThis #MentalHealth #ProfessionalGrowth #TeamSupport #Gratitude #WorkLifeBalance #Appreciation #Downtime #Recharge #ColleagueSupport #Partnership #AbstractGroup #Reflection #SupportNetwork #BusinessConnections #TakingABreak

What does it take to solve the world's biggest challenges? I firmly believe it begins with collective effort—bringing together diverse perspectives, resilient leadership, and systems that can adapt to change. Over the past 35+ years, I've seen how innovative thinking and collaboration can transform obstacles into opportunities, both for businesses and society. Women leaders and founders, in particular, have a unique ability to blend compassion with strategy, driving community-centered solutions while creating sustainable growth. Yet, the road is rarely easy. It demands a clear vision, enduring resilience, and courageous decisions that shape not just the present, but a lasting legacy. How do we, as changemakers, continue to build systems that uplift communities while driving progress? And how might our shared wisdom unlock solutions that scale beyond our immediate reach? #WomenLeaders #SocialImpact #SystemsThinking

“We really focus on building community power because over the last four years, and really, my whole life. If we don't figure out how to work together, we are not going to be successful. I've been doing entrepreneurial ecosystem building for 10 years, but before that, for 20 years, I worked with young people, I worked with communities, and I did youth development education. What I've seen in my 30 years of work is if you're fragmented, you're weak. We need to figure out how to get fragmented and siloed groups of people to work together as a larger entity. This is the crux of this Summit. How do we get people doing great work connected and pooling resources? How do we advocate for more resources from the federal government, from our state governments, from our local governments? How do we actually work as a group with JP Morgan Chase and get some actual funding that can be systemic and long-term to actually grow small businesses? I think we have to create a space where we can all win together,” This is the vision behind the Building Community Power Summit the ESO Foundation is hosting with Startup Champions Network 10/30-11/1... check out the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gGAmUdq6 #SCNBayArea #Buildwhereyouare #Communitypower #startupecosystem #nexteconomy #ecosystembuilders

Innovation doesn't wait for perfect conditions - it happens in board rooms and campsites alike… As I sat in my foldout chair at a campsite, typing away while a friend watched my kids, I submitted my application for the Women in Innovation grant with InnovateUK. (Sarah Stock IOU!) I'm reflecting on the wild ride of 2024 so far: 1/ Delivered my first Innovate UK grant with a perfect 5/5 in project management, despite major setbacks. (“Stands out as a fine example of a growth SME in the creative sector. Marvellous!”) 2/ Finished the Techscaler Next Steps at CodeBase and pitched at the showcase (nerve-wracking but exhilarating and very good practice for what is to come!) 🙌 Claire Wheelan Callum Mullen Marius Urbelis Eilidh Mutch Inese Pritchard Aldin Wilson Angela Prentner-Smith (FRSA) Diane Duguid Matt Jenner 3/ And through 2, connected with incredible founders, advisors and really great humans in the Scottish tech startup scene. I certainly don’t aim to work on my holidays (and I don’t for a moment think this glamourises overworking 😆)… but sometimes, needs must. Can you beat my Cornish Campsite? What or where is the most unusual place you've worked on a crucial project? #WomenInTech #StartupLife #FemaleFounder