YOUTUBE The Truth About Imposter Syndrome (and What to Do About It) – Alisa Carmichael AdminFebruary 7, 2025048 views At Makers Mindset, we always want to help support your goals. If you’re interested in creating your own podcast, our friends at Podigy can help you here: https://bit.ly/3DC8av4 Alisa Carmichael has built a reputation for backing category-defining consumer brands and building relationships with founders. Alisa has been instrumental in strategically scaling brands like Briogeo, The Honey Pot, and Drunk Elephant. She’s passionate about supporting founders of colour and investing in their vision for sustainable growth. In this episode, Nancy and Alisa talk about how to build investor relationships early, why you need a crystal-clear understanding of your financials before fundraising, and how to fight imposter syndrome. Alisa Carmichael is the proud mom of two growing boys and investment partner at VMG Partners. Like many investors, she got her start in investment banking before joining the world of private equity. As a Black woman, Alisa was grappling with imposter syndrome at every turn. Fast-forward to today, she’s not just embracing her role as mother, daughter, investor, mentor, and friend—she’s owning it. Her unrelenting focus on the BIPOC community inspired the firm’s formation of The Parity Collective, an initiative focused on investing in founders of color across the consumer industry. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [03:30] Transition from banking to private equity [04:05] Facing challenges in investment banking [05:11] Strategies to overcome imposter syndrome [06:27] Importance of community and self-talk [07:33] Decision-making as an investor [09:15] Vulnerability as a strength in business [09:33] Overview of private equity and its role [11:12] Value of private equity beyond capital [12:55] Key elements that make a business stand out [14:37] Importance of founder confidence in investment decisions [15:43] How entrepreneurs can build relationships with investors [17:16] Networking strategies for connecting with investors [18:08] Approaching fair company valuations [20:05] Importance of understanding cash flow for entrepreneurs [21:47] Avoiding fundraising pitfalls and dilution [23:25] Building successful investor-founder relationships [25:39] Aligning goals and ambitions with investors [26:27] Assessing the best investor type for your needs [27:36] Balancing career with parenthood [28:40] Creating a strong support system as a parent [30:23] Advice for working moms in corporate fields [32:40] Fundraising advice for tough environments [34:28] Role of mindset in professional success Follow Alisa Carmichael: https://www.instagram.com/alisacarmichael/ https://www.vmgpartners.com/ Resources Mentioned: VMG Partners: The Parity Collective | https://www.vmgpartners.com/paritycollective The Women by Kristin Hannah (Book) | https://bit.ly/3WHLcJt The Women by Kristin Hannah (Audiobook) | https://bit.ly/40SdhQJ More From Nancy: https://www.instagram.com/nancytwine/ Website | http://www.nancytwine.com/ More From Makers Mindset: https://www.instagram.com/makersmindsetspace/ @themakersmindset Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify | https://bit.ly/makersmindset source