Rejecting CEO Path

Jess Mah shares her perspective on moving away from the traditional Silicon Valley CEO path to build a manifestation studio that creates multiple bold science ventures. After running inDinero for 10 years, she discovered that being an operator wasn't her ideal path and instead focused on creating a holding company to manifest ambitious ideas.

Key Points:

• Traditional CEO Path Limitations:

  • Silicon Valley rhetoric pushes founders to be operators and unicorn CEOs
  • Being a CEO/operator doesn't align with how most billionaires actually built wealth
  • Most successful people built diversified holding companies over decades

• Personal Evolution:

  • Ran inDinero for 10 years as CEO, reaching hundreds of millions in valuation
  • Experienced multiple near-death experiences with the business
  • Personal tragedy led to questioning traditional operator path
  • Realized running companies wasn't on her list of what would make her happy

• New Operating Model:

  • Created a holding company with 12 people to manifest ideas
  • Focus on bold science bets and unconventional approaches
  • Brings in experts and operators rather than being the operator
  • Currently involved with 10 companies, planning to add more

• Manifestation Studio Approach:

  • Don't need to be the domain expert
  • Hire experts who are better at specific areas
  • Manufacture money by raising funds through investor relations team
  • Focus on being the ideator rather than operator

• Philosophy on Resources:

  • "You create the time by hiring other people to do the work"
  • "You manufacture the money by raising the money"
  • Build teams and capabilities to manifest ideas
  • Not everything has to be for profit - focus on mission and thinking bigger

• Bold Science Focus:

  • Takes unconventional approaches to scientific problems
  • Partners with scientists to commercialize research
  • Willing to fund and support ambitious, long-term projects
  • Accepts high likelihood of failure for potential breakthrough impact