Jennifer Ludwig Clark

After ~3 years as Mindbloom’s General Counsel, I’m excited to share that Michael Petegorsky has been promoted to Chief Strategy Officer. 🎉 This year, I'm playing with leveling up from leading from a For Me mindset to leading from a Through Me mindset. I re-read one of my favorite books, The Surrender Experiment, and I contemplated, “What is the universe’s highest idea of itself that wants to manifest in and through me using Mindbloom as a vehicle?” The answer was clear. Since founding Mindbloom, it has appeared to me consistently during my psychedelic therapy experiences. Help others expand their human potential by: ☀ Designing transformational psychedelic therapy experiences 🚀 Propelling psychedelics into the mainstream and creating a movement 🤝 Building a stunning team and conscious culture To apply more focus and creative energy towards the above, I’m giving away some of my legos, a metaphor describing the essential process of delegating and relinquishing control as startups scale. This shift is crucial — handing off legos empowers teams to tackle new challenges and seize growth opportunities across the organization. Mike has been one of my closest friends since becoming fraternity brothers at UPenn 16 years ago. I’ve watched Mike thrive at every step of his career, so when he made the leap from big law to his first startup, I had high conviction he would succeed in the GC role. What I didn’t know was how quickly he’d be able to adapt to a completely new universe of work and culture, learn business and how to build, or how quickly he’d be able to contribute outside his core legal responsibilities. Mike has crushed everything we’ve thrown at him: turning regulatory from a risk to a strength, successfully lobbying Congress on telemedicine, becoming a trusted voice on our exec team and to our providers, leading PR, and more. I’m thrilled to see Mike level up to become a face and voice of Mindbloom and spearhead operationalizing our company-wide strategic initiative to become the largest provider of MDMA therapy in the world. Congrats, Mike! 🍾

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How to Successfully Launch Products in Crowded Categories Discover the secrets of successful product launches in competitive markets from Emma Grede, co-founder of Safely and Good American. 💡✨ 🔍 Key Takeaways for Founders: 1️⃣ Identifying Market Gaps: Look for significant gaps in the market that your product can fill. Genuine innovation is key; create something better and different. Ensure your product stands out and offers added benefits to consumers. 2️⃣ Real Innovation for Success: Consumer habits are hard to break; demonstrate a real upside to attract them. Build a best-in-class product with a unique approach. Prove the value of your innovation through a product that works exceptionally well. 3️⃣ Insights Behind Safely: Safely was born from insights about natural ingredients and avoiding compromises. Challenge the norms in product categories; in Safely's case, rethink cleaning products. Stand out on the shelf with a visually appealing product that breaks away from conventions. 4️⃣ Fragrance as a Unique Identifier: Create a product with a distinctive and identifiable fragrance. Differentiate your brand by offering a scent that sets your product apart. Break away from the familiar and redefine consumer expectations. #ProductLaunch #Entrepreneurship #MarketStrategy

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Which are the best privately managed Grocers by region, and what can we learn from their playbooks? These examples illustrate a variety of successful privately owned grocery retailers across different markets, highlighting their unique approaches to management, community engagement, and innovation. The criteria for this list include #strategy, #execution, #culture, #governance, and financial #performance. Schnuck Markets, Inc. 🛒 Selected as a Best for the third consecutive year. 🛒 Family-owned with >100 stores 🛒 Strong leadership and strategic alignment. 🛒 Recognised repeatedly for management excellence. 🛒 Significant regional presence and community involvement. 99 Ranch Market 🛒 Also named a Best for the third consecutive year. 🛒 Founded in 1984, with >50 locations across 10 states. 🛒 Ranked No. 85 in 2024. 🛒 Successful expansion and market penetration. 🛒 Consistent recognition for excellence. 🛒 Focus on serving specific community needs (Asian market) Non-US: Booths (UK) 🛒 Known for high-quality products and excellent customer service. 🛒 Family-owned, long history and strong regional presence in N England. Farmdrop (UK): 🛒 Innovative approach to delivery and sustainability. 🛒 Focus on local and organic. Harris Farm Markets (Oz): 🛒 Family-owned with a focus on fresh, locally sourced produce. 🛒 Known for innovation in store design and product offerings. Longo’s (Canada) 🛒 Family-owned, with a reputation for quality and community engagement. 🛒 Strong focus on fresh products and customer experience. Edeka (DE) 🛒 A cooperative of independent grocers, highly successful in maintaining local relevance while having a national presence. 🛒 Strong emphasis on quality and customer service. Tegut (DE) 🛒 Family-owned, with a strong focus on organic and sustainable. 🛒 Recognized for quality and innovation in product and store layout. E.Leclerc (France) 🛒 Cooperative structure similar to Edeka, allowing for local flexibility & customer focus. 🛒 Known for competitive pricing and wide product range. Intermarché (FR): 🛒 Part of the Les Mousquetaires group, with a cooperative model. 🛒 Strong emphasis on local sourcing and community involvement. Jumbo (NL) 🛒 Family-owned, known for its customer-centric approach and innovative retail concepts. 🛒 Strong growth and expansion within the Dutch market. SPAR (SA) 🛒 Part of the global SPAR network/ operates as independent retailers/ cooperative system. 🛒 Known for community engagement and supporting local producers. 🛒 Strong focus on fresh and quality products. Checkers (part of Shoprite Holdings): 🛒 Checkers operates with a high degree of local autonomy (within a larger group) and focuses on premium product lines. 🛒 Known for its wide range of products and competitive pricing. 🛒 Emphasises innovation in retail experiences, e.g. Checkers Sixty60 delivery app. Have we missed any? https://lnkd.in/en932ZHv

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CALLING ALL #FEMALEENTREPRENEURS #FOUNDERS IN THE LA/OC AREA. A "DON"T MISS" FREE EVENT. We all know that #femalefounders and #entrepreneurs often navigate more hurdles in business financing. Show Her The $$, stands out as a pivotal documentary that casts a spotlight on these challenges. Directed with compelling clarity and purpose, this film dives deep into the systemic barriers that women in business face, particularly in securing venture capital. Show Her The $$, isn't just a film; it's a critical educational tool that brings to light the underrepresentation and underfunding of women-led businesses in the venture capital arena. By sharing real stories and hard data, it empowers viewers, inspires action, and sparks necessary conversations about equality in business financing. Whether you're an aspiring #entrepreneur, a seasoned #investor, or someone passionate about gender equality, this documentary offers valuable insights into the complexities of the #funding landscape faced by women. It challenges viewers to rethink their perspectives and encourages support for female entrepreneurs striving to turn their innovative ideas into reality. Presented by The SHE Mark in partnership with Justworks join us on May 1st at The New Port Theater, Corona Del Mar, for a special screening of Show Her the Money - including food, drinks & plenty of networking - PLUS a bonus Q&A with special guests Kaitlin Mogentale, Carina Ayden Clementine and LaKeisha Landrum Pierre (who is featured in the film) moderated by Dr. Lara Ramdin 🇬🇧 You won't want to miss this !! Let's champion change in our networks and beyond. Share this post, talk about the film in your circles, and consider how you can support women in business to achieve a more equitable future. https://lnkd.in/exwgjV6Y #ShowHerTheMoney #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #femaleleadership #womensupportingwomen #womenempoweringwomen #GenderEquality #VentureCapital The SHE Mark Justworks Trashy Unimaginable Foods Sterling Champion Emmeline Ventures

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Another good #podcast for today A follow up to my question at GrepBeat yesterday Where can a first time founder learn to be a better #entrepreneur when competing with Serial Entrepreneurs for #investor capital ? And here is some knowledge ....

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I really enjoyed talking with Gene Hammett about #FixingWork on the latest episode of the Growth Think Tank podcast. We talk about the root causes of today's engagement crisis, the benefits and challenges of designing intrinsically motivating work, and the steps every leader can take their organization to the next level. #WorkDesign #EmployeeEngagement #Scaling #transformation #operatingmodel

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Our latest co-creation venture is building a professional development platform for doctors. It’s been a fascinating ride. To help us avoid making the wrong thing, we’ve done 100+ interviews with actively practicing doctors. There’s one question that reveals far more than anything else… Around halfway through we’ll ask: “Tell us when you first wanted to become a doctor….” The answer usually starts with being good at science, or wanting to help people. We reckon there's more. So we nudge them back to the start: to the first moment of realization; of sensing possibility; of when their curiosity was piqued. The real catalysts? 5 years old, breakfast every Thursday with their doctor grandfather; a close-up view of a family member’s health issues; even playing a particular role in a 3rd grade school performance. This simple question seems to act as a reminder: why they do this work, and who helped them along the way. It’s also a reminder for us that doctors aren’t really ‘healthcare professionals’, or ‘users’ of our product. They’re real people, with real stories. Just like the rest of us. It’s strange that part gets forgotten so often. P.S. Not all of us are following a vocation, a calling. But this simple question can still unlock something. Just substitute [job title] for [strength], [ skill], [curiosity]. Tell me when… ...the idea of hospitality first entered your life? ...you realized you were good at writing? ...you became curious about making charts and graphs? And whatever your first answer is, go back. Can you go back a little further…?

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Ever wondered how to set the consulting rate you deserve? I’m sharing my 25 years’ worth of nuggets now. Over the years, I’ve seen the landscape evolve dramatically. Setting up your consulting rate isn’t as simple as picking a number out of thin air. It’s a nuanced process influenced by different factors like: ▪️ Expertise and Experience: Clients pay for the depth of knowledge you bring to the table. ▪️ Market Rates: See what others are charging so you can set up competitive prices. ▪️ Scope of Work: The scale of the project is crucial. Extensive and time-consuming projects usually warrant higher rates. ▪️ Industry Demand: Higher-demand sectors allow for higher rates. ▪️ Client Budget: It’s essential to know your worth, but you should also consider the client’s budget constraints to tailor the best services. Remember that setting a rate is all about balance. You should know your worth while understanding the current market dynamics. If you’re not sure how to take the first step, our rate calculator is a great place to start: https://lnkd.in/gZcw6eHC You can also join our community https://www.theconsult.co/ for more tools and frameworks you can use! I’d love to hear about how you set up your rate. Share your experiences below and let’s learn from each other.

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Book Recommendation for #Founders: "Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building" by Claire Hughes Johnson (former COO of Stripe). This is the why, what, and how to building a fast growing team with intentionality, sustainability, and wisdom. Claire lays down some fundamental operating principles (which are gold) and then explains the nuts and bolts of four core frameworks (planning, hiring, team development, and performance management). This will be immediately applicable for founders who are leading teams. The templates alone are worth the price of the book, and the authentic understanding of the leadership struggle and advice on how to thrive will encourage and strengthen you. Recommended by: David Sutton at Nivoda. #startupdevelopment #startup #founder #scaleup

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Interesting research from Kellogg Insight! Did you know nearly 26 million people in the U.S. lack a #credit score? Without a credit score, people are often denied when they seek #financial support. In the meantime while financial institutions continue to improve access to their services, what if they sought other means of #data points, like grocery store buying habits to help them make informed decisions about potential clients. Acoording to Eric Anderson's research — grocery shoppers who tend to buy whole ingredients, shop at consistent times, and generally spend roughly amount the same tended to have healthier habits that included high credit scores. On the opposite end, more erratic food buying patterns at unpredictable times often inhabited riskier credit positions. Items like pre-processed foods or cigarettes were red flags in many cases too. We're approaching a much more data-driven culture in the future, and surely one day when traditional methods of defining credit become more obsolete, new methods will take its place. What do you think of this study? Do you find this to be a valid way to determine credit when none exists? Is this approach too judgemental when food politics are concerned?

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Would you pay your employees for getting good sleep? Should you? It might seem crazy, and in this case, part of a marketing ploy by Whoop, but.... .. they are not the first company to do this! Just one other notable example of #sleepleadership : Almost a decade ago, the American health insurance company Aetna, already had such a policy. They paid workers who got at least 7 hours of sleep 20 nights in a row $25 per night. Up to $500 a year. Keep in mind: a health insurance company is well positioned to run the numbers: They KNOW how much they gain by people getting better sleep. And it's easily much more than just $500 a year. I would say you need more than just a policy though. Think about those suffering from insomnia, who WANT to get better sleep but can't. Or those working late nights, now getting punished twice. You need a "sleep-positive" work culture, leadership on board, role-modeling, training, and great health insurance with access to (sleep) psychologists to tackle root cause issues including sleep disorders. Oh and let's not forget about great maternity and paternity leave!! Would it be a game-changer for you to get money to sleep better? ----------------------------------------- 💥 I'm Dr. Els van der Helm 🎤 Keynotes, training, video content, and consultancy I write about leadership, productivity, and my favorite topic: sleep. Want to read more? 🔔 Ring the bell on my profile 🔝 Follow me 👉🏽 Sign up for my newsletter: link up top 🔝 #sleep #hr #wellbeing #performance #retention #employerbranding

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I was fortunate to get to work with Casey Winters when he advised us at Ritual.co, and his blog is a treasure trove of product and growth lessons. His article "Finding the Next Wave of Growth: S-Curves and Product Sequencing" (Nov '23) dives into the specific strategic bets made by GrubHub, Pinterest, and Eventbrite – with firsthand insight. (he worked at all 3) There are just so many gems in this article. Read slow. Enjoy! #product #growth #strategy

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This Juneteenth, I’m celebrating progress and reflecting on the long road ahead for true freedom and equity for Black founders. Here are the stats: - Black-founded startups received less than 0.5% of the $140.4 billion in venture funding all U.S.-based startups received last year. - Funding for black founders has declined every year since 2021 - a 86% drop. - The statistics are even more abysmal for women: less than 0.1% went to Black and Latino women founders. Of the total capital under management by Black VCs, Black women only managed 0.03%. - Unfortunately the story isn’t any better in the impact investment world. A Village Capital study found that only 10% of capital in East Africa went to startups with local founders, with the majority of dollars going to expats. Here is what it all means: - I’ve seen the consequences of statistics play out in our community - particularly among my Black women founder friends. These statistics translate to high rates of burnout. - They mean unique, world-changing ideas and community programs aren’t realized. - They mean better-for-you and better-for-the-planet products don't reach enough store shelves. - In short, when we underinvest in Black founders, we all lose. What can you do? - Investors: Hire and promote more Black (particularly Black women) decision makers to deploy and manage capital. Reach out to Black founders for recommendations of underrepresented founders who deserve investment dollars. - Customers and Retail Buyers: Continue to support Black founders and seek out Black brands long after the trend has passed. - Business Leaders: Leverage your network and customer relationships to support Black founders with social capital. As a 2023 report from McKinsey put it “Underrepresented founders are often tokenized; they tend to be offered a barrage of programs to mentor or support them, but don’t provide meaningful help, connections, or long-term contracts.” With Love, Kwami Williams Co-Founder & CEO, True Moringa

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There are very few people who are as much of an authority on startups and what makes them succeed or fail as Midas List venture capitalist Mike Maples, Jr. from Floodgate. This book explains how the best entrepreneurs are literally “living” in the future, and there they realize how much certain things in the present make no sense and will change the moment something comes along that does make sense. Then they create just that, and win.

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Running a startup is lonely. You need a thought partner to brainstorm and build a foundation for your company to scale. As the CEO of UpperLevel Solutions, that's what I do with CEOs of world-changing technology companies. I've led two companies to be the fastest growing in Massachusetts and grew G-P (Globalization Partners) from 3 people to a $4.2 billion valuation in less than 6 years. I'm getting a lot of DMs from talented individuals seeking guidance on scaling, growth, and operations - so, I've opened up 5 exclusive 1:1 mentorship slots on Intro. 10% of proceeds through July 31st will go to the Museum of Science. What can we cover together?  ✔️ How to build a unicorn  ✔️ Managing hyper-growth ✔️ Building global teams  ✔️ All things tech startups Honored to be on Intro alongside world-class entrepreneurs like Emil Michael (former Chief Business Officer at Uber), Kathryn Minshew (Founder & CEO of The Muse), Jack Brody (former Head of Product at Snap), and Dinesh Moorjani (co-founder of Tinder). Comment “interested” and secure your spot now:

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In their quest to grow fast, startups often fail to take the time to create systems that ensure accountability. But that can come back to haunt them later on. Accountability isn't just about setting rules—it's about fostering a culture where people, systems, and initiatives are interconnected and working cohesively.   As the leader of an early-stage company, ask yourself some important questions:    ➡️Do you have clear expectations and consequences in place?  ➡️Are you fostering a culture of ownership and responsibility?  ➡️Can you remove someone from your team, even if they're a close friend or relative?   In my latest article about foundation-building for startups, I talk about how young companies can avoid the kind of accountability gaps that lead to painful bumps down the road.    #Startups #Accountability #Leadership 

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Activity without progress and meetings without outcomes are alarmingly common in many organizations, leading to a vicious cycle of underperformance. To combat these challenges, leaders must redefine roles and expectations, ensuring accountability at all levels. This can transform symptoms of underperformance into milestones of success and significantly boost morale and engagement. Jeff McKinney Dwight Davis Klyne Smith, Dr.Eng. Rick Gallot John Pierre John W. Thompson Rodney Adkins Oliver Sims III, MBA Anthony Barber Richard Wilson, Jr. Kent Montgomery Pete Poorman Rod Wetterskog Leon Winkler Stanley Pierre-Louis Sarah Bond Charles Pankey Shawn Gunn. #leadership #accountability #success #One2grationAdvocate #PINCommunityAdvocate

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What does success mean to you?

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Hello, I'm Anthony and I'm looking for a A+ killer Head of Growth for Equip Foods! Here are some wild stats on Equip: 🚀 Mid 8-figures in revenue, bootstrapped, and highly profitable (no VC BS) ✌️Only 2 FTE at the moment (no micromanaging or endless meetings) ❗️Only currently focusing on one marketing channel (affiliate/influencer) 🛍️ Industry best CR, LTV, and subscription #s (clear product market fit) 🥤Real food supplement products that are clean, transparent, and of the highest-quality that people absolutely love (actually doing something important in CPG) Perfect role for anyone who gives a damn about health, wants to get their hands dirty and build out a growth process, have huge amounts of agency and autonomy, and keen to make a dent every day when they show up to work. Here's a link to why we exist: https://lnkd.in/gGb-qCA4 Here's a link to the job description and app: https://lnkd.in/gxwE7xk7 (TIP: DO NOT APPLY IF YOU ARE PLANT-BASED) Please tag anyone you think could be a good fit! (P.S. I've been a tad quiet here. Are you interested in anything else about this business? Should I share more on LinkedIn?)

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