INSPIRED IMPACT is an ongoing blog series that gives voice to purpose-driven brands and passionate business leaders and entrepreneurs who are making an impact in their communities and industries.
Lizelle van Vuuren is the Founder & CEO of Effectively and Women Who Startup. Follow her on social @lizelle and learn more about Women Who Startup at womenwhostartup.com.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
I’m a serial entrepreneur, creative, producer, storyteller, and technology product builder. At Effectively Labs I test and experiment high-growth potential tech products that improve the way people live and work. At Women Who Startup I empower thousands of women who are entrepreneurial, innovative and adventurers with community, resources, and connections to opportunities.
WHY DO YOU DO IT?
I love technology and I love to create things from nothing. I also tend to constantly connect the dots on where and how to design better human experiences through the power of design and technology.
As a woman I still see a profound amount of bullshit in the tech industry and any industry except for maybe healthcare (maybe) where there’s yet to be equality. And being a champion for other women is just something that comes naturally, I guess. I care deeply that all women and all minorities have equal opportunity and my passion is bringing people together and providing them with resources and a powerful network so that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to.
WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU MAKING?
You’d have to ask the Women Who Startup community about that. Here’s some feedback.
It keeps growing and women from all over the world seem to want to start their own Women Who Startup Basecamp (monthly event series), so something is working, something is needed.
WHAT (OR WHO) INSPIRES YOU TO MAKE THIS IMPACT?
My family inspires me to keep going. My community constantly inspires me to no end with their innovation and grit.
WHAT IS (OR HAS BEEN) YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE?
Entrepreneurship is really tough at times and super lonely. Managing my own mind is always the toughest part. Staying healthy, focused and self motivated takes a certain kind and you have to work those muscles every single day. Staying motivated during times when I receive a ton of no’s or things don’t work out the way I planned or I’m not making as much progress as I’d like to or I lost an opportunity. Whichever thing you’re dealing with on any given day building companies, the one thing you constantly have to navigate is your own psychology. The highs are high and the lows are low.
WHAT WORDS OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER LEADERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
Start now and be authentic.
HOW CAN OTHERS SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR CAUSE?
I’m always looking for super creative designers and developers at Effectively Labs who want to create exciting products that make people live and work a little bit better than they did before.
Women Who Startup is easy to join, just visit our website and join us, show up for events and tune into the podcast. For ongoing support and a very engaged community you can join us on Slack and collaborate with hundreds of peers building, learning, starting up and creating.
I’m always looking for really authentic opportunities to give a talk to a group of people, whether about tech or marketing or starting up or diversity or the future of work or design thinking, etc. I’ve done a lot of crazy fun work, so I have a lot to share and I love engaging with people in that way.
I’m always looking for impact investors or strategic partners for Women Who Startup, so reach out and we can continue to grow.