Blog

2025 has truly been a year for the books! Over the last four years, the GSD Factor Podcast has brought you 129 incredible conversations with GSDers from around the world, visionaries, entrepreneurs, and innovators across every industry who are doing the work and getting shit done. We’ve shared laughter and tears. We’ve unpacked resilience, creativity, and leadership. […]

  Azin van Alebeek is a co-founder and general partner at Emmeline Ventures, an early-stage fund investing in businesses that empower women to manage their health, build their wealth, and live in a cleaner, safer world. With over 30 years of experience as an executive and board-level advisor, she leverages her strategic planning and coaching […]

  Azin van Alebeek is a co-founder and general partner at Emmeline Ventures, an early-stage fund investing in businesses that empower women to manage their health, build their wealth, and live in a cleaner, safer world. With over 30 years of experience as an executive and board-level advisor, she leverages her strategic planning and coaching […]

  Joy Kolin, founder of Giving Joy, a nonprofit supporting women entrepreneurs worldwide through micro-grants and mentorship.   She is a multilingual international development leader with over two decades of experience managing projects across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. She’s worked with global organizations to strengthen institutions, develop leaders, and build cross-sector partnerships and […]

  Joy Kolin, founder of Giving Joy, a nonprofit supporting women entrepreneurs worldwide through micro-grants and mentorship.   She is a multilingual international development leader with over two decades of experience managing projects across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.   She’s worked with global organizations to strengthen institutions, develop leaders, and build cross-sector partnerships […]

  Abigail “Abbie” Goddard is a 16-year-old entrepreneur, storyteller, and changemaker on a mission to make the world safer — one drink at a time. She’s the founder of Spikey, a discreet keychain that can detect common date-rape drugs in seconds. The idea was born from a deeply personal experience when her family member was […]

  Kavya Sharman, PhD is a data scientist and founder of Phase Capital, with a unique edge at the intersection of biotech, data, and early-stage investing. She is passionate about equipping scientific founders with the strategic skills and capital to scale transformative technologies.   With over a decade in Nashville’s growing life sciences ecosystem, she […]

  Kavya Sharman, PhD is a data scientist and founder of Phase Capital, with a unique edge at the intersection of biotech, data, and early-stage investing. She is passionate about equipping scientific founders with the strategic skills and capital to scale transformative technologies.   Her background includes a PhD in data science with research in […]

  Lynn Reckamp is the Executive Director of Holiday Heroes, where she channels her passion into bringing joy and comfort to pediatric patients—work that truly lights her up. For Lynn, life is about spreading happiness, staying connected, and making the most of every moment.   The mission of Holiday Heroes is to provide joy and […]