I moved from South Carolina to the 'Hamptons of England.' I feel more supported as a mom here in the Cotswolds.

Audrey Ann Masur, 37, has lived in the Cotswolds for five years.

Frederick Hunt for BI

• America's rich and famous are moving to the Cotswolds, the 'Hamptons of England.'
• Audrey Ann Masur moved from South Carolina to the Cotswolds with her family five years ago.
• She loves the history, pace of life, and — most of all — being a mom in the Cotswolds.

This essay is based on a conversation with Audrey Ann Masur, 37, an influencer and a mother of three from Indiana, who has lived in the Cotswolds, UK, for five years. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Before I moved to the UK with my husband and family, I had visited once before on a cycling trip with my church group. Even as a 16-year-old, I had a sense that I would one day return and that it was where I belonged.

I'd seen all of the Jane Austen adaptations with my Anglophile grandmother, and my husband and I had watched Downton Abbey. We enjoy the peacefulness of the countryside, so we really thought this part of the world — The Cotswolds — could be for us.

Read more of Joshua Nelken-Zitser's reporting on The Cotswolds becoming a hotspot for Americans:

• I'm an American who moved to the Cotswolds to open a luxury deli. We serve A-listers — but locals are key.
• I left the Hamptons and moved to the 'Hamptons of England.' Both are magnets for the rich, but life is completely different.

There's history and tradition everywhere in England. I'm an old soul, and being in older settings reminds me that there's so much beyond the right now. That's comforting. In the US, we get excited by anything from the 1700s, because that is seriously old to us.

My husband, who had never been to the UK, applied four times for our family to move to England from near Charleston, South Carolina, where he worked for the US military. But a posting in the UK — and one near the Cotswolds, at that — is extremely sought after.

We finally moved to the Cotswolds in late 2020. In my five years here, I've found that the child-inclusive culture in the UK helps me feel more supported as a mother.

Stow-on-the-Wold, pictured, is one of many historic villages in the Cotswolds.

Frederick Hunt for BI

Choosing where to live wasn't easy

A major obstacle at first was driving. I was terrified of the narrow, countryside roads and driving on the left-hand side, but I've since found that drivers are very patient here. You're not getting honked at all the time, and now, it feels normal. Finding a place to live near my husband's work also wasn't easy, because we knew nothing about the area.

As Christians, we tried to find somewhere with an active church scene and amenities for our children. One of my husband's coworkers recommended our village and, sure enough, a cottage to rent became available. We moved in around Christmas 2020.

Our first few weeks in the Cotswolds were during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were only allowed outside for an hour a day. Being at home alone with my children while my husband was on base was very hard. I worried we weren't going to get to enjoy England and that we'd never meet anyone.

Moving to a US city would have been a bigger culture shock

I was lonely for a period, but I never despaired. I knew it would take a little longer to make friends here as an American. We found friendly people who cared for us through our church.

Since moving to Gloucestershire, one of the counties that make up the Cotswolds, I've met some other Americans, including a few people from Los Angeles. I grew up in rural Indiana and never lived in a big city: I'm used to driving 45 minutes to get to a big store. I feel more connected to the Brits than someone from LA or another major US city.

Audrey Ann Masur moved to the UK from South Carolina.

Frederick Hunt for BI

Our pace of life is slower than it was back in the US. There's a culture in the Cotswolds of walking and enjoying things that aren't necessarily expensive. Of course, there are the luxury brands and Land Rovers, but it's also about enjoying the simple things, like the natural surroundings or having a "cuppa."

One thing that has become very apparent is that no matter how beautiful the setting, there's still heartache and people who struggle with all sorts of things. As a parent of a child with additional needs, that has rung very true for me. I'm thankful, however, for the beauty I get to see every day, like the sheep beside our cottage. Watching the lambs grow has been very soothing through it all.

I think the Cotswolds can be a very restorative place.

I feel supported as a mom in the Cotswolds

I'm also grateful for all the ways that children are included here. Mine are two, six, and eight, and most places you go will have a trail guide, scavenger hunt, or something else for the kids to do.

I love how intentionally children are included, even in historical places where they might break things. All this adds up to feeling supported as a mom, rather than a nuisance. In the US, I often felt as though there's a delineation between "for children" and "for grownups."

There are also so many supportive groups for moms and little ones, because women here typically take off more time than in the US, where maternity leave can be very short. I had my third child in the UK, and I really liked how they have all these preschool playgroups where you can settle into motherhood and get to know other moms.

The Cotswolds are a slice of heaven

Our parents would be the main thing that would make us need, or want, to go back to the US. But, for now, we love living here.

Every day, I drive through the beautiful, relaxing countryside to get my children to their lovely little school. We have access to all these beautiful spots. Sometimes, after the school run, my husband and I might go for a walk around stately homes.

I've been reminded, though, that even though the Cotswolds is a slice of heaven, we're still on earth, and we can't escape the hardships. I think if people were to consider moving here, they should bear that in mind.

Still, we'd like to stay longer because, after all, it's a great place to be a mom.

Read the original article on Business Insider

from Business Insider https://ift.tt/T0Q8U4K

I commute to work by plane. People are shocked when they learn how affordable and efficient it really is for me.

caption

Christine Ma-Kellams

• When people hear that I commute to work by plane, they often assume I have lots of money.
• Thanks to credit-card points, though, I often travel at virtually no cost.
• I've also developed best practices for saving money, like booking flights during seasonal sales.

As a college professor who lives in Los Angeles but teaches in San Jose, I fly to work on a weekly basis.

I used to live in the San Jose area before the COVID-19 pandemic, but when my workplace went remote, I moved about 350 miles away to Los Angeles.

When remote work ended in 2021, I decided to stay in Los Angeles — largely because my husband and kids preferred Southern California and its proximity to our extended family. So, I had two options: drive over 10 hours a day in California's notorious traffic, or take a short flight there and back.

I chose the latter, and now, I've been flying to work for nearly four years.

There are a few strategies I follow for a smooth commute

caption lax

Robert Way/Shutterstock

Flying from Los Angeles to San Jose usually takes just over an hour, and the entire journey from my front door to my office rarely takes more than three.

Usually, I'll fly out of Los Angeles International Airport, which is just 15 minutes from my house. Once I arrive, I take a bus from San Jose International Airport to the light rail station, which is just a 20-minute ride to campus.

Although this does take longer than an Uber ride, it's also a fraction of the price, so the trade-off is well worth it. As a bonus, bus and rail rides are the perfect time to catch up on work emails.

To minimize the risk of flight delays, I always try to book the first flight out and never the last one back. In my experience, this has helped me get where I'm going on time, because earlier flights are rarely dependent on another plane's tightly timed arrival.

This rule also helps ensure I don't get stuck in San Jose overnight if my return flight is canceled — a fate I've managed to avoid to date.

My commute is cheaper than people think, thanks to a few go-to rules

caption tk

Christine Ma-Kellams

Ticket prices to and from airports can vary greatly, so being flexible about location saves me both time and money. On occasion, I'll fly out of Long Beach — which is about 15 miles from my house — if I find a cheaper flight.

Booking all my flights for the semester at once during seasonal airline sales helps, too.

My biggest hack, though, is using an airline credit card. I normally wouldn't use any card with an annual fee, but I made an exception for the Southwest Rapid Rewards one — and it remains one of the best decisions I've made for my commute.

I primarily fly through Southwest, and the $99 annual fee is a no-brainer considering how many round-trip flights I've taken for virtually no cost by using points I've accrued.

I typically spend between $5 and $60 a flight, thanks to credit-card points and strategic planning.

To save even more money, I also try to avoid purchasing food and drinks at the airport.

Instead, I bring my own flight-friendly food. My favorite hack is to pack instant oatmeal or ramen and ask for hot water on the plane. Voila: an instant breakfast or lunch.

My commute isn't the easiest, but it works for me

caption

Christine Ma-Kellams

When people find out that I commute by plane instead of by car, they usually assume that I'm exceedingly rich (or my employer pays for my miles) and that I basically live at the airport.

The truth is, this kind of commute is far more affordable and efficient than some people might think — and I genuinely love the journey.

My commute not only gives me the chance to live in my favorite city while working in another, but it also keeps the rest of my family happy and close to what they love.

Besides, sitting in an airplane seat with snacks in one hand and my laptop in front of me beats driving in traffic any day of the week.

Read the original article on Business Insider

from Business Insider https://ift.tt/V6yFA5W

I mingled with 10,000 doctors and scientists near CDC headquarters. It was like looking into a public-health crystal ball.

The author at IDWeek on Atlanta, Georgia.

Julia Naftulin

• I attended a top conference for infectious disease professionals to learn about the state of public health.
• Amid frustrations with funding and pay, new and seasoned attendees highlighted the importance of community.
• This article is part of "IDWeek," a series on one of the leading conferences for infectious-disease experts.

Following a day of back-to-back lectures, I settled into my metal folding chair among thousands of doctors and scientists. My eyes darted between the medical society promotions projected on massive screens suspended above and the empty, blue-lit stage before us.

I was ready for my formal welcoming to IDWeek, an annual conference for professionals in infectious disease medicine and research. Instead, I got a full-on Broadway show.

At five minutes past 6 p.m., the stage went dark, and the excited chittering that first overtook the ballroom fell silent. Suddenly, a spotlight made way for a tuxedo-clad Javier Muñoz, the actor best-known as Alexander Hamilton from Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical. He broke out into a Hamilton song — reciting, I'm not throwin' away my shot — and whoops and applause followed.

IDWeek's opening plenary, held on October 19 in Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center, was not what I expected from a sea of public-health aficionados. But as I spent four days observing and mingling with these infectious disease experts and professionals-in-training, I came to understand that initial fanfare as the staccato of a largely melancholy tune.

At the global conference, I met workers passionate about public health during a time riddled with uncertainty over the field's future: A handful of former and furloughed workers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were in attendance, some giving talks as the government remained shut down. Seasoned and newly minted doctors spoke with deep conviction about their work, then commiserated over dried-up funding for it. Students weighed the field's poor pay against their hunger to make a difference in a world that's more interconnected than ever before.

No one I interviewed at IDWeek could say exactly what the future of public health will look like. Instead, they shared their challenges and strategies for navigating an uncertain future.

After arriving in Atlanta on a sunny Saturday, I made my way to the sprawling Georgia World Congress Center.

The Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta was the site of this year's IDWeek conference for infectious disease professionals.

Julia Naftulin

While checking in at the registration desk, I noticed that I was one of a handful of people, most of whom were GWCC employees, inside the conference venue. I guess most people reserve their Saturdays for fun, not retrieving a paper name tag.

I headed outside for some Georgia sunshine and saw jersey- and scarf-clad Atlanta United fans heading to a soccer game at the adjacent Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

That evening, I decided to have some fun myself. On my solo date, I had dinner at the bar and told the woman sitting alone next to me about my reason for visiting. When I asked her about the city's atmosphere amid the government shutdown, her voice went briefly somber. She shared that two of her friends worked for the CDC, where hundreds of staffers were laid off days earlier as part of the Trump administration's plan to shrink the federal government.

I wanted to ask her more, but she quickly moved on to asking about my nose ring and chatting with the couple to our right.

The next day, a former CDC executive took the stage to accept an award — and offer a heartfelt plea met with a standing ovation.

Javier Muñoz hypes the audience up at IDWeek. He sang numbers from the Broadway hit musical "Hamilton" and shared his experience as someone living with HIV.

Julia Naftulin

At the opening plenary, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis received the HIV Medical Association Transformative Leader Award.

In August, Daskalakis resigned from his position as the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, writing that HHS leaders' views challenged his ability to do his job.

When receiving his award, he said that he believed an effective response to infectious diseases requires science, political will, and co-creation with affected communities.

Daskalakis went on: "All of those, right now, are under attack. This, however, is an important opportunity for leadership. Public health is being dismantled. The political will is not to build. The political will is to destroy. Science is being contaminated by ideology. Communities are being erased. We must all become transformative leaders together."

As the Associated Press' Mike Stobbe reported, some CDC workers said they were told not to attend the conference after being invited. In response, HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard said that the Trump administration believes federal scientists should share their research and expertise with peers and the public. She also said that conferences are vetted "to ensure compliance with ethics rules and the responsible use of taxpayer funds."

In August, HHS told medical organization leaders, many of whom were at IDWeek, that they could no longer contribute to vaccine recommendations, a procedure they have historically participated in.

Daskalakis concluded his speech by asking the audience to lead with "moral courage" through "the dark ages," and then got a standing ovation.

In an email to Business Insider, Hilliard said: "Secretary Kennedy has been clear: the CDC has been broken for a long time, and he is committed to restoring it as the world's most trusted guardian of public health through sustained reform. His focus is on returning the CDC to its core mission and ending the culture of insularity that has undermined public confidence."

At times, the conference felt like a reunion or homecoming celebration.

IDWeek attendees mingle in the poster hall.

Julia Naftulin

Over the next few days, no matter where I found myself — outside the conference center, in its sprawling lobby and cafés, or on the way to presentations — I saw colleagues wave each other down or gleefully squeal over the chance to reconnect.

Dr. Yohei Doi, an IDWeek chair representing the Infectious Disease Society of America, had told me that the annual conference is a prime networking opportunity for students interested in the field and career professionals. He added that attendees with the same institutional affiliations tend to hang out together, but it's also a chance for former coworkers to catch up.

I saw two researchers — who later told me they encountered each other as internet friends who bonded over their similar areas of research and home country, Sudan — revel in the joy of their first in-person meeting.

Pharmaceutical companies had a major presence on the floor — and even in the bathrooms.

You couldn't avoid pharmaceutical ads at IDWeek.

Julia Naftulin/Jorge Castillo

Companies known for developing various drugs and disease treatments had elaborate stations set up, featuring a peach cobbler bar, a ritzy espresso maker, a playpen filled with puppies, and virtual-reality headsets.

These were just a stone's throw away from dozens of attendees' poster presentations outlining research they conducted in areas like pediatrics, sexual health, and COVID-19.

The conference teemed with attendees, and I noticed that pharmaceutical companies found ways to be front and center. In addition to eye-catching booths, they had banner ads, branded cardboard stools, and signs in bathroom stalls (which looked and smelled pristine, I must add).

Everyone seemed to be talking about the lack of government funding for research.

IDWeek attendees take a look at research findings in the poster hall.

Julia Naftulin

During presentations and my one-on-one talks with attendees, one question came up over and over: How can public health research continue with less government financial support?

Doctors, scientists, and pharmacists told me that they've become self-taught experts in financial management, figuring out how to secure private funding or maximize their available funds.

Jacinda C. Abdul-Mutakabbir, a doctor of pharmacy who runs a community-led vaccine initiative in California, said that she carries her laptop almost everywhere ("like Beyoncé," she said) so that she can show her funding presentation to anyone who will listen.

There were advice sessions on how to manage burnout and compensation.

IDWeek attendees gather around the centrally located BugHub stage for a presentation.

Julia Naftulin

Compared to doctors working in other specialties, infectious disease experts tend to have lower salaries and fewer money-making opportunities because their jobs don't typically involve performing surgeries or working in private practices, which are more lucrative areas of medicine.

Several sessions featured seasoned professionals' advice for balancing volunteer work and paid work, general time management, and leveraging relationships with healthcare executives.

Alexandria Burtness-Guard, a medical fellow who primarily works at a hospital in Iowa, said that she typically works 12-hour days, seeing anywhere between five and 12 patients and offering her expertise to other doctors. That time doesn't include the notes she takes home with her and occasional overnight calls, she told me.

Medical students mingled during mentorship events and while wandering around the venue.

Programming at IDWeek was often geared toward students who are new to or considering careers in infectious disease.

Julia Naftulin

On Tuesday, I stood outside a student-specific networking event where young attendees met leaders in the field.

I asked nearly 20 students about their qualms about infectious disease medicine, and they had two answers: one, it's tough to work in an area that's often highly politicized, and two, the pay is low compared to other specialties.

Most of them also spoke about how welcoming the specialty is compared to other areas of medicine, citing the availability of mentorship opportunities.

"One of the best aspects of ID is how friendly and open the staff is to helping," Burtness-Guard told me. "In other fields, sometimes not knowing everything or asking questions, you might get berated, but ID is different. Their office doors are always open, and you can just walk in and ask a question."

I also asked Abdul-Mutakabbir about mentorship opportunities in infectious disease work. She recited a list of mentors she admires, then shed a few tears while speaking about her own mentee. "I think that's the best part: You get to see this new generation and how brilliant they are. It's been such a rewarding experience."

There seemed to be a values-based pull toward the profession. For example, one student told me that they wanted to prioritize LGBTQ+ patient advocacy in their career, and that the infectious disease field seemed to highlight that more than other medical specialties.

Multiple presenters talked about using artificial intelligence in research and patient care.

IDWeek attendees watch a presentation.

Julia Naftulin

Ahead of IDWeek, Doi told me that AI would be a major theme at the conference, and I later spotted at least three presentations on how to apply it to infectious disease work.

Dr. Alfredo Mena Lora said that he's been using AI to assist with recruiting fellows to the infectious disease medical program at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Lora, the program's director, said that resources like time and money are limited, so using generative AI tools to create recruitment video voiceovers and B-roll, social media posts, and website updates has been helpful. Lora went to show how he used the free AI tool Veed.io to make videos more quickly than before, when he ofted had to hire a videographer.

Another presenter, Dr. Cornelius A. James, talked about using AI in educational and patient-care settings. James, an assistant professor of internal medicine, pediatrics, and learning health sciences at the University of Michigan Medical School, said that generative AI can create interactive case studies to help students practice clinical skills.

He added that clinicians can use AI to automate note-taking while in the doctor's office, an application other IDWeek attendees often cited when I asked about their AI usage.

Unlike the start, IDWeek didn't end with a bang. It was more like an air of silent determination.

Each day, I walked to the Georgia World Congress Center alongside other IDWeek attendees.

Julia Naftulin

Unlike the jaw-dropping opening plenary, my last hours at IDWeek felt like a slow fade out.

The October air finally turned chilly, and I walked alongside doctors, scientists, pharmacists, and students past Centennial Park and into the GWCC one last time. Some stopped on the sidewalk outside the conference center to give farewell hugs to their long-distance colleagues.

Just inside the entrance, dozens of suitcases, organized in neat rows and packed into a corner, marked their impending departures.

A floor below, a bevy of attendees remained, listening to educational talks on topics like cancer care and strategies for combating antibiotic resistance.

Read the original article on Business Insider

from Business Insider https://ift.tt/wnsVXmd

I'm an American who moved to the 'Hamptons of England' to open a luxury deli. We serve A-listers — but locals are key.

Jesse D'Ambrosi and the signage for her store, D'Ambrosi Fine Foods, in Stow-on-the-Wold.

Courtesy of Jesse D'Ambrosi/Frederick Hunt for BI

• Jesse D'Ambrosi, from Massachusetts, left France to launch a luxury deli in the Cotswolds.
• Americans, including celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, are moving to the "Hamptons of England."
• But locals, D'Ambrosi said, are the business's most loyal customers.

This essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Jesse D'Ambrosi, who runs D'Ambrosi Fine Foods in Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds. It has been edited for length and clarity.

The Hamptons are where New Yorkers go to summer. For Londoners, the Cotswolds is the same, only without the sea.

It's really close to London — just an hour and 20 minutes on the train — so it couldn't be easier to pop into the city for restaurants and culture and the rest of it. But even out here, there are luxury amenities: Pilates classes, estheticians, and upscale stores.

Where I grew up, in the deep suburbs of Boston, wasn't a far cry from this — a lot of conservation land and horses, and farms. So, I feel very much at home here.

D'Ambrosi Fine Foods is in Stow-on-the-Wold, a village in the Cotswolds.

Frederick Hunt for BI

Locals are so important to us

I moved to the Cotswolds six years ago from France, where my ex-husband and I ran a restaurant in the Loire Valley. We came here to launch D'Ambrosi Fine Foods.

He's a chef. I'm an interior designer, but I attended culinary school a long time ago. I never had the intention of cooking professionally, but when we separated, this business was mine to run. It's how I keep a roof over my head and take care of my kid.

For the past few months, I've been cooking my tail off, and it's been going really well.

We launched a couple of months before the COVID-19 pandemic, in January 2020. At the time, we didn't see many tourists, but now I find the number of tourists overwhelming.

To be honest, tourism doesn't work that well for our business. It's mainly coach tours.

There isn't much to visit in Stow-on-the-Wold other than the door at St Edward's Church, known as J.R.R Tolkein's inspiration for the Doors of Durin in "The Lord of the Rings." People just wander around, going in and out of shops, but not necessarily spending any money. That's why the locals are so important to us.

This door in Stow-on-the-Wold is said to have been J.R.R Tolkein's inspiration for the Doors of Durin in "The Lord of the Rings."

Frederick Hunt for BI

I have the most extraordinary clientele. We have celebrities from all genres, from Hollywood stars to incredible musicians. But the locals are my bread and butter; they keep my doors open.

We do quite a lot of catering for Londoners with second homes here. They'll come out for a long weekend, invite friends over, and want to do something easy — just hunker down at home. That's where we come in. We have quality food that's ready to take out.

Sometimes, a client will pop in, saying they have 10 people and just don't feel like cooking. We try to make life easy. And our offering is different from everything else in the area.

D'Ambrosi Fine Foods sells a mix of continental, British, and American-inspired foods.

Frederick Hunt for BI

We have a large number of American visitors — they've always been here. Now, we have American items on offer: Teddy Grahams, Tootsie Rolls, and Hershey's.

When we opened, that was never my intention. What started as a joke became a success. In the store, I had this big communal table in the center, which I'd pile high with beautiful products, as well as some American crap, just to see how it went. It flew off the shelves, definitely with Americans, but also with nostalgic Brits who'd lived abroad.

Now, every year, I offer a Thanksgiving meal kit for six people that people can order in advance. It's a traditional but elevated Thanksgiving meal, typically in the £200 range. It has turkey, all of the sides, and even the absolutely disgusting, classic American green bean casserole.

A green bean casserole typically consists of green beans that are boiled to within an inch of their life, topped with a sludgy Campbell's cream of mushroom soup, and garnished with store-bought fried onions. But we elevate it: a very light blanche on our green beans, some sauteed wild mushrooms, cream and garlic sauce, and fried shallots that we make in-house. So it's a delicious version of the standard.

In recent years, we've seen more of these kits sell. Maybe from Americans, but also from a lot of people who just want an excuse to have a great, fun dinner party and celebrate something different.

A shelf in the store displays typically American food, including candy and snacks.

Frederick Hunt for BI

When I first moved here, the culture shock was around food. I have food depression. I'd previously lived in France, the Netherlands, and the US. I crave flavors and colour — not just sausage rolls — in my diet. The pub culture is not my own, even though I can do it once in a while.

But Stow-on-the-Wold has become more upmarket. I'd like to think we have something to do with that. We now have an amazing little wine bar. Even the shops are of better quality, not just selling the Made in China magnets you'll see in some other touristy villages.

Nearby, you now have these mega-luxury destinations, like Estelle Manor, Restoration Hardware, and the Bamford Club at Daylesford. What makes the Cotswolds stand out is that you have these upmarket amenities that you might not have in other parts of rural Britain.

Jesse D'Ambrosi said she loves living in the Cotswolds.

Frederick Hunt for BI

People can live the way they do in the city, with the luxury of space and city amenities, and be able to zip back into London. The countryside — and the Cotswolds — is very restorative for me.

I love life here. I have friends and family in Paris, which is only two trains away.

I have an 8-year-old daughter who attends an exceptional public school. It's nurturing and safe, and I couldn't ask for anything better for her education.

I get to live in a beautiful, remote place, and I absolutely can't get enough of it.

Read the original article on Business Insider

from Business Insider https://ift.tt/MglPSRK

I pitched to Sheryl Sandberg and Accel as a young founder. Here's how I raised $5 million and what you can do to get a yes.

Michelle Lim, 28, is the founder and CEO of Flint, an AI startup. Flint is an AI tool that automates website building for companies.

Michelle Lim

• Michelle Lim, 28, is the founder and CEO of Flint, an AI startup.
• She raised nearly $5 million in seed funding from investors like Accel, Neo, and Sheryl Sandberg.
• Working at an early-stage startup and having a track record helps a lot when fundraising, she says.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michelle Lim, the founder and CEO of Flint, an AI startup based in San Francisco. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her employment and academic history.

Entrepreneurship wasn't on the top of my mind when I was a high schooler in Singapore.

It was only when I went to Yale that I told myself I needed to start exploring different things. That was when I started to seriously consider entrepreneurship as a career.

My entrepreneurial ambitions led me to major in computer science, which opened the door to internships at companies like Meta, Slack, and Robinhood.

My desire for more agency and autonomy over my work drove me to intern at progressively smaller companies.

My first internship was with Facebook, which at that time had about 12,000 employees. When I joined Slack, it was a 1,200-person company. And finally, when I got to Robinhood, it was a 300-person company.

When you work in a smaller company, you really feel you're making a difference.

Working at a startup is the best preparation for becoming a founder

After graduating, I joined Warp, a coding terminal startup, as its first hire.

To many people, joining a brand-new startup as a fresh graduate is a risk. Why take the road less traveled when you can stick to the tried-and-tested path of joining a big company?

But it felt right. I was starting my career in the summer of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was living in New York, and people were dying every day. I could smell the ashes in the air from the cremations.

I realized then that life really is short. I could die at any time, and when that happens, I don't want to feel regret over not taking a risky but more exciting path.

I spent four years at Warp, where I cycled through a variety of roles. I started out as an engineer, switched to marketing, and then ran the company's product and sales. I presented at board meetings every month and jumped on calls with our investors, including Figma CEO Dylan Field, every quarter.

I learned a lot at Warp. That experience proved to be formative when I cofounded my own AI startup, Flint, in January.

Being a founder is really, really hard

As a founder, you are basically the startup's chief rejection officer. You are taking the brunt of rejections from sales prospects, recruits, and investors.

Flint is an AI tool that automates website building for companies, so it faced a lot of skepticism from investors who felt that the space was crowded.

What helped in the fundraising process was the track record I had built up as Warp's founding employee.

Growing Warp's product base from zero to half a million users made me a known quantity to investors even before I started Flint.

While there was some rejection, there were investors who approached me to invest, solely on the trust they had in my work.

Your mentors and networks matter

Working at an early-stage startup isn't going to teach you everything. When I was at Warp, I never had to raise capital. All I had to do was decide whether to sign a term sheet.

I had a lot of help from my mentor, Ali Partovi, the CEO of Neo, a startup accelerator and VC fund. I met Ali when I joined the Neo Scholars program, which mentors college students keen on tech careers. He also got me my first job at Warp.

Ali and the folks at Neo guided me through the fundraising process and referred me to investors, including Meta's former chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg. Sheryl invested in the seed round via her family office, Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners.

I practiced pitching with Neo and two of my founder friends, who helped me identify flaws in my presentation. Doing a lot of rehearsals meant that I didn't have to think on my feet at the actual meetings. I could rely on muscle memory when fielding questions.

I managed to secure funding from Neo and Accel, the VC fund that backed Facebook and Spotify. I also raised money from individual investors, including executives at tech companies like Linear and Atlassian.

All in all, I ended up raising nearly $5 million as part of Flint's seed round.

Looking back, I am glad that I started my career at an early-stage company. It is the single biggest reason for my success today. It gave me confidence to start a business from scratch because I had gone through the mess of it all.

I highly recommend joining a very small company if you want to become a founder in the future. Look for startups with good founders who are willing to bet on young talent and give them chances. That is the fastest way to grow your career and develop a strong track record.

Read the original article on Business Insider

from Business Insider https://ift.tt/ReGmDiK

A 17-year-old earned $72,000 after investing his e-commerce profits into stocks. Here's why he bet on the tech industry.

Samik Sidhu, 17, created an e-commerce business and invested in stocks. [CORRECT?]

Samik Sidhu

• Samik Sidhu created an investment portfolio after making a profit through e-commerce businesses.
• Sidhu, 17, earned $72,000 by investing in companies such as Nvidia and AMD.
• He told Business Insider that remaining consistent is key to success.

The global AI market could reach $4.8 trillion by 2033, meaning companies like OpenAI and Microsoft stand to rake in hefty profits.

Some people are already cashing in on the increasingly ubiquitous tech, including 17-year-old Samik Sidhu of Virginia. While running two businesses — an Etsy apparel shop and a for-profit networking community — in 2024, he began investing the profits from those ventures in stocks of tech companies.

"Rather than having my money sit in an account, it was able to work for me," Sidhu said.

Sidhu earned $37,400 by selling graphic T-shirts and other items through his Etsy shop, while the networking community amassed around $28,000. After investing around $53,100 across four companies — Nvidia, AMD, C3.ai, and SMCI — between February and May 2024, Sidhu managed to earn about $72,700. Business Insider verified the related documents.

Sidhu told Business Insider that he had a "good feeling" about investing in companies that were involved in the AI industry.

Nvidia reached a $5 trillion market cap in October.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

"I caught the AI wave at the perfect time," Sidhu said.

Although Sidhu said he wasn't "super big" into AI, incorporating the technology into his former e-commerce business operations helped boost efficiency.

"AI helped me with branding, naming my stores, logos, color themes, niches, demographics, all that stuff," Sidhu said. "I had confidence that over time it would only get better and better. I have literally seen the progression of AI since 2020."

Demand for AI technology has increased over the years, but it received a significant boost during the COVID-19 pandemic, when businesses sought to streamline operations amid shrinking budgets and remote workforces. The general public became more familiar with AI through OpenAI's ChatGPT, a chatbot powered by a large language model. Since then, Big Tech companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google have been racing to lead the industry.

Sidhu said he has since expanded his portfolio to include companies featured in the S&P 500, such as Apple, Microsoft, and Google.

Finding the right niche

Sidhu told Business Insider that seeing other young folks find success through e-commerce businesses sparked his entrepreneurial spirit. Since 2022, he said he has pursued various ventures, including dropshipping, flipping clothes, social media theme pages, and a print-on-demand service.

Obstacles, such as low sales or high fulfillment costs, prompted him to shutter those businesses, forcing him to reassess his approach.

"I went from business model to business model and had doubts like, 'Oh, am I just too optimistic?' But then again, I told myself I'll get learning experience out of it," Sidhu said. "I might not make money right now, but with the skills that I'm building up over my first few business ventures, one day I guarantee they'll come in use."

That turned out to be true in early 2024, when he set his sights on Etsy. Unlike social media, where algorithms can be tricky to read and attracting customers may feel unpredictable, Sidhu believed Etsy held promise.

"I saw it as a platform with built-in traffic and potential organic traffic, so I started uploading listings slowly," he said.

Samik Sidhu sold apparel on Etsy in 2024.

Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images

Sidhu launched his apparel shop in January, but closed it down in May.

"Most of my customers were happy, but the occasional customer would not receive their order or experience delayed shipping," he said. "I didn't really want to deal with that."

Around that same time, in March 2024, Sidhu decided to try digital products. He said he used Signal, the encrypted messaging app, to create a networking community.

"I built a private paid Signal community where I taught teens and young adults how to get started with e-commerce," Sidhu said. "The main focus of the community was print on demand, and how to research niches, set up stores, learn from competitors, design, and fulfill products on platforms like Shopify."

For example, people could purchase an e-book with advice and tips for $50, or enlist Sidhu's help in developing their company's branding for $150. Sales for his digital products peaked in April before slowing down in May, prompting him to close the group soon after.

Always stay consistent

Being a young entrepreneur comes with its own set of challenges, such as juggling school and business or not being old enough to access certain accounts. Sidhu said the key to success is finding stability within those challenges.

"The biggest tip I would say is to pick one thing and stay consistent with it. Stay dedicated, stay disciplined, and have a schedule for it," Sidhu said. "If you're diving into a new business venture, know exactly what you need to get done. Know your timelines. Be strict with yourself about those timelines."

Being persistent is also key.

"You're going to have to adapt to a lot of different challenges that come up, and there's always competition out there," Sidhu said."There's always someone who has 10 times the amount of experience you do, who's double your age, and has been doing it for most of their life. You need to stay consistent. Otherwise, you don't stand a chance."

Read the original article on Business Insider

from Business Insider https://ift.tt/4SYjzma