The Journey of Resilience

Black Women in Business (BWIB): Maya, what was the hardest part of moving from startup to scale-up?

Maya Vance: It was letting go. As a founder, you are the chief salesperson, the head of HR, and the product developer. Scaling requires hiring people smarter than you in their respective fields.

Key Lessons Learned

• Cultural Alignment: Your first 10 hires set the culture forever.
• Sustainability: Growth at all costs is a trap. Build for profit first.

Actionable Takeaways

• Build a board of advisors that challenges your status quo.
• Invest in automated systems early, even when it feels expensive.