Rachel ten Brink is known by many as the "Stealth Latina," and a true trailblazer. She has always believed in the power of diversity and has used her unique background and perspective to make a difference in the worlds of venture capital and tech. Her commitment to bringing value to every aspect of her life - from work to relationships to family - is a testament to her dedication and passion.
As the first Latina to raise $29M for her tech company, Rachel knows what it takes to succeed in a competitive industry. She has learned the importance of what not to do as much as what should be done, and she believes in investing in companies that empower the economy and improve people's lives.
Rachel's killer instinct and boundary-setting skills are equally matched by her kindness and compassion. She understands the importance of mentor relationships as a two-way street of communication and sharing, and she values education as a key to unlocking one's full potential.
In this podcast, Rachel inspires us to put our own skin in the game, to believe in ourselves, and to never let anyone else define our worth. Join us as we learn from Rachel's incredible journey and gain the inspiration and insights we need to break through barriers in our own lives.
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Highlights
[02:44] Rachel’s background
[04:01] Taking the leap into tech
[05:16] Importance of establishing your brand
[13:31] Moving into the venture capital world
[17:44] The power of diverse teams
[20:01] Voicing your opinion
[23:20] Building strategic relationships
[27:36] Drawing boundaries around helping others
[31:00] Lightning round questions -
Quotes
“If you want to go from Point A to Point B, think about what’s going to build our bridge.” – Rachel ten Brink
“When you think about building your brand, it can’t all be about me, me, me. You have to think about your audience.” – Rachel ten Brink
“Seek out people who complement and who are strong where you are not.” – Rachel ten Brink -
Lightning Round Questions
What book has greatly influenced you?
“Art of the Start” by Guy Kawasaki
What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?
“Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did except backwards and in heels.”
What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?
Stealth Latina
What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?
Intentionality around my schedule.
What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?
“Whenever, Whenever” by Shakira -
About
Rachel ten Brink is General Partner and Co-Founder of Red Bike Capital, a Latinx and woman-led Venture Capital fund based in New York that invests in early stage, high-growth startups that drive the economy and improve people’s lives. Red Bike supports US-based founders in FinTech, Ecommerce SAAS, Marketplaces, and Wellness. Rachel has been a board member and senior advisor for various companies and serves on the Board of Directors of AboveBoard and Dyper.
Rachel is a Y Combinator Founder turned VC. Prior to founding Red Bike Capital, she was Co-Founder and CMO of Scentbird, a Y-Combinator backed ecommerce startup that raised $29MM in venture funding- which makes her one of just 90 Latinas to have ever raised over $1M in funding. Leading Growth, Brand and Revenue, she scaled Scentbird to 500,000 paid subscribers and built 74 partnerships with corporations including Coty, Macy’s and Glossier. Before this, she spent fifteen years building global billion-brands at P&G, Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder and L’Oreal.
Named Entrepreneur Magazines' 100 Powerful Women of 2020, she has been featured in The New York Times, TechCrunch, WSJ, and Forbes. She is a champion diversity in the tech ecosystem through her work as a mentor at Y-Combinator, Techstars, Entrepreneurs Roundtable, 500 Startups, Columbia Business School Lang Center and NYU Entrepreneurship Center, and a member of Top Latinx in Tech, LatinxVC, VCFamilia, Transact, DealmakeHers and Latino Corporate Directors Association.
She graduated magna cum laude from Babson College and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. She lives in New York City with her husband and two kids.
Links:
Website: https://www.projectdiane.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-ten-brink-a08151/