Episode 34: Jennifer Cain Birkmose on How Improv Helps Your Business, Excellent Leadership, Conducting Great Product Research, and Defining Company Values

Tech

Jul 8

In this episode I’m sitting down with Jennifer Cain Birkmose who is co-founder of Viva Valet, a platform providing trusted services for elders. She has years of experience in healthcare ranging from work with the WHO, World Bank, even Pharma. It was really interesting getting her perspective on working with big organizations versus small business in terms of change enacted. The meat of our conversation centers around how to conduct really great product research before building the product.

We also get into defining company values and cementing culture early on. It’s the one thing that won’t change even if your product or service iterates. Culture is the oxygen that surrounds us, and it goes beyond words on a poster. It's embodied by leaders through language, stories, symbols, and interactions. Defining and living by your company's values and culture is key to success and growth. Culture is more than words on a poster; it's embodied by leaders through language, stories, symbols, and interactions.

One of the big reasons I was excited to chat with Jennifer is because of her passion for improv. I wanted to learn what values and skills that craft has taught her in her entrepreneurial career. Jennifer highlights that Improv is a life skill that positively impacts confidence and speaking abilities. It teaches presence, listening, humility, and failing with joy. Improv helps form connections, build teams quickly, and nurtures creative thinking. Improv provides tools to overcome hurdles and handle confrontation.

We talk about what great leadership looks like. How you will never grow beyond the amount of feedback you’re willing to receive. Also a leader, your job is to be a stable presence and create a an environment which others feel confident expressing their thoughts and inspiring them to do their best. These are tools that improv teaches.

Here are the key takeaways from the episode: