Season 6 - Episode 4: Empathy and Innovation: Natalie Kaminski’s Journey from Coder to CEO

Today, we’re chatting with Natalie Kaminski, the founder and CEO of JetRockets. She’s a tech entrepreneur with a knack for empathetic leadership and a powerful story about moving her entire company to align with her values.

Welcome to Startup Different.

Takeaways

• Natalie's journey began in the Soviet Union and moved through various countries.

• She transitioned from coding to project management and eventually to CEO.

• The importance of networking and saying yes to opportunities.

• Freelancing was a necessary step before founding Jet Rockets.

• Building a team is crucial for startup success.

• Natalie learned a lot about the software development business.

• Her early experiences shaped her entrepreneurial mindset.

• The significance of work-life balance in career decisions.

• Serendipity played a role in her partnership with Igor.

• Jet Rockets started with just a small team and grew over time. One Tribe is an effective leave management system for remote teams.

• Empathetic leadership fosters loyalty and dedication from employees.

• Simplicity in management can lead to greater productivity.

• Relocating employees during crises demonstrates strong leadership principles.

• Sustainable businesses should be celebrated, not just unicorns.

• Profit-first companies contribute significantly to the economy.

• Investing in employee well-being leads to better business outcomes.

• Leadership styles can evolve with personal growth and maturity.

• The startup community needs to recognize the value of smaller, sustainable companies.

• Crisis management requires quick, principled decision-making.