Jul 5, 2025

It creates companies that people want to be part of, not just buy from. W omen-led businesses are on the rise, and the data shows they often outperform their peers. From fostering strong company cultures to driving innovation and long-term success, women bring unique strengths to entrepreneurship and leadership. What are the key reasons behind their success? As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Isabella Ghassemi-Smith Isabella is the Head of the Aurora Tech Award at inDrive, a mobility and urban services platform operating across 48 countries and the world's second most-downloaded ride-hailing app , where she leads a global award to back the boldest women building the companies of tomorrow. With a background spanning venture capital, startups, and media, she brings a rare blend of commercial acumen and deep purpose, focused on delivering real value for female founders. Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path? T wo years ago, I started asking myself a difficult question: What do I actually wake up for in the morning? I had a great job in venture capital, but I didn't find that work fulfilling. It wasn't burnout from overworking — it was burnout from apathy. I couldn't connect to what I was doing. This was around the same time my partner gave me the book ‘We Should All Be Millionaires' by Rachel Rodgers. The question it posed, among other insights, was “what's your area of genius?” Not what you're good at, but what comes naturally to you. For me, it was leaving people better than I found them. I didn't know what job that was, but I knew I needed to build something from that place. Feeling inspired, I launched a podcast where I asked women one simple thing: Tell me about a moment you did something not because you had to, but because you wanted to. It wasn't about big exits or perfect bios. It was personal. And even though I only ever released three episodes, the impact was real. People kept reaching out. And unexpectedly, that podcast — not my eight years of VC experience — got me the job at inDrive. Now, I lead Aurora: an award for women founders of tech startups in emerging markets. I am in this position because I stopped waiting for a role to make sense, and built something that finally did. Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career? Getting hired off the back of my podcast was a wild moment. I remember seeing the recruiter's message and thinking it was a scam. I'd never heard of inDrive. But it was real. And the fact that this deeply personal side project, something I made out of pure “gut feeling”, changed my career trajectory completely? That still feels surreal. It taught me that the things we make when no one's watching can end up being the most powerful. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that? Early in my career, I once asked for a promotion in a way that was… probably too honest. I laid out everything I was doing, how I was outperforming, and then said, “So I assume this means a title change and salary bump?” My boss looked at me like I had grown a second head. I later learned the culture in that company was more “wait to be tapped.” But I don't regret it. It taught me how uncomfortable self-advocacy can be, but also how necessary it is. No one's coming to hand you more. You have to ask. If they don't give it to you, then leave. None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that? My mother. Easily. She left Iran after the revolution and raised me with two rules: ● Never lose your financial independence to a man. ● You can do anything. That gave me a kind of “delusional confidence” or “delulu mindset” as my friend and I say. That became my baseline. If I wanted to play football, I played. If I wanted to switch careers, I did. I didn't have a voice in my head saying, “You can't.” I didn't realize how rare that was until I entered the workforce and saw how many brilliant women were still waiting for permission. Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much? As I mentioned, the book ‘ We Should All Be Millionaires' by Rachel Rodgers had a huge impact on me. It reframed how I think about money, value, and identity — especially as a woman. One question in the book — What's your area of genius? — changed everything. That moment set me on the path that led to Aurora. Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work? “Effort doesn't always equal reward.” It sounds harsh, but it's true. I spent years thinking if I worked hard, I'd be recognized. But hard work alone doesn't guarantee opportunity. You need visibility, you need to ask, and sometimes, you need to walk away and find people who see your worth without having to convince them. How have you used your success to make the world a better place? I lead something I wish had existed for me earlier in my career: a platform that doesn't just spotlight women founders, but backs them with cash, visibility, and networking. Through Aurora, I'm helping shift capital and credibility toward the boldest women in tech — especially those building their companies in places often ignored by traditional investors. Ok, thank you for that. Let's now jump to the primary focus of our interview. What unique strengths do women bring to leadership that give them an edge in building successful companies? Women are deeply attuned to systems — how people feel, how culture scales, where unspoken gaps are. They build differently. They consider impact earlier, not as an afterthought. And they often lead with empathy and edge — not either/or. That combination is powerful in startups. Can you share a moment in your entrepreneurial journey where your perspective as a woman helped you solve a major challenge? In one role, I noticed we were over-indexing on founders who sounded confident but hadn't validated their markets. I suggested we dig into how we assess “credibility”, and we realized we were rewarding loudness, not traction. That shifted our lens. And it helped us find founders, often women, who were building quietly but powerfully. What role do mentorship and networking play in the success of women-led businesses, and how have they influenced your own path? Mentorship is valuable, but sponsorship is what changes lives. People who open doors, not just give advice. For me, it wasn't a traditional mentor — it was people who saw something in me when I was mid-pivot and said: “You should be in the room for this.” Those moments changed everything. What misconceptions still exist about women as business leaders, and how do you push back against them? That we're “risk-averse” or “less aggressive.” In reality, women often take smarter risks because they've had to think five steps ahead their entire lives. I push back by building visibility — telling stories that highlight exactly how bold and visionary women founders really are. Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. Can you please share “5 Reasons Why Women Build Great Companies”? If you can, please share an example or story for each. 1. They solve real problems. Women often build from lived experience — things they've felt or seen firsthand. That creates companies with purpose baked into their business model. 2. They scale trust. Culture isn't an afterthought. It's fundamental. And when you scale trust, you retain talent, attract the right customers, and grow stronger. 3. They're capital efficient. Because many women don't have the same access to funding as men, they're forced to be sharper. They do more with less, and still outperform. 4. They see systems. Women leaders often pick up on patterns others miss, for example interpersonal dynamics, community shifts, market timing. That makes them great at anticipating change and taking the necessary steps to prepare for it. 5. They build with others in mind. Not just for themselves. The “invite others to the table” mindset is powerful. It creates companies that people want to be part of, not just buy from. How do women-led companies tend to approach company culture and employee engagement differently, and what impact does that have on success? They often design for dignity. That means psychological safety, work-life integration, and shared wins. And that creates companies that are not just productive, but also magnetic. What are some underrated strategies women entrepreneurs use to secure funding and scale their businesses? Relationships over pitches. Many women founders build strong, trust-based relationships with investors long before the “ask”. That creates deeper alignment, and better long-term backing. If you could change one systemic barrier that makes it harder for women to build companies, what would it be and why? Bias in capital distribution. Only about 3% of funding is allocated to women-led ventures worldwide, so a significant share of funding still goes to people who “look like” past successes. We need new archetypes, and new evaluators. Until capital matches actual talent, the playing field won't be level. You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. Teach women to trust their internal signals, before external permission comes. That kind of belief system changes everything. We need more women asking “Why not me?” instead of waiting to be invited. We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them. Grace Beverley (founder of TALA, Shreddy, and The Productivity Method). She's done it her way, done it publicly, and built more than one successful business in the process. She hasn't just launched companies, she's created an entire ecosystem around inspiring other women to believe that they can do it too and giving them the tools to do so. What I really admire is her track record. She has scaled real products, spoken honestly about the process, and brought thousands of others along with her. It's rare to see someone operate at that level of ambition while staying that connected to their audience. One of my dreams is to work with her. I actually was in a final round of interviews to lead her podcast, but ultimately another exceptional woman got the job. How can our readers further follow your work online? You can follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram where I share a behind-the-scenes look at Aurora, thoughts on leadership, and stories of the boldest women in tech. You can also learn more about the Aurora Tech Award via our website: auroratechaward.com Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this. A bout The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa's talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO's in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world's leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder's Award, Ernst and Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill , teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children. Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack Instagram Facebook , and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle