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“So many of us, me included, suffer from imposter syndrome. And it's so misleading because we know so much more than we think we do—and more importantly, we know how to navigate what we don't know.”
In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Taryn Jones Laeben, president and founder of IRL Ventures, a bespoke, early- stage advisory and investment firm building operational excellence into startups. With a rich career spanning roles at companies like Kate Spade, Casper, and SoulCycle, Taryn has a proven track record of scaling businesses and driving growth. Her entrepreneurial journey began later in life after she was inspired by her parents’ real estate ventures and her own extensive experience in the consumer and wellness sectors. At IRL ventures, Taryn leverages her expertise to support and invest in mission driven startups. She is passionate about empowering founders and unlocking rapid growth for innovative companies. Tune in to hear what Taryn has to say about overcoming imposter syndrome, her advice on starting conversations with major retailers, and her experience launching brands with her company IRL Ventures.
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Guests
Taryn Jones Laeben
Founder of IRL Ventures
Hosts
Stephanie Cartin
Stephanie Cartin is a serial entrepreneur, investor, podcast host, community builder, and a champion for women founders. She created the Entreprenista League, a community for women founders, to provide resources and support necessary at all business stages. She’s also the Co-founder of Socialfly, one of the first social media marketing agencies, as well as Entreprenista Media and Pearl Influential Capital which was recently acquired by Cherub. Stephanie has shared her journey managing her health challenges with Multiple Sclerosis, Infertility, and a complicated pregnancy and is an advocate for women going through similar challenges. Her story and businesses have been featured on the Today Show, Bloomberg and Forbes. Consider Stephanie your biggest business cheerleader.
Courtney Spritzer
Courtney Spritzer is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, author, and community builder with a passion for creating brands and platforms that empower women to lead, grow, and thrive.
In 2012, she co-founded Socialfly, a leading social-first digital and influencer marketing agency. Over the course of a decade, she helped scale the business into an award-winning agency working with Fortune 500 brands and emerging startups, building a powerhouse team and culture along the way. In 2024, Socialfly was acquired.
In 2018, Courtney launched the Entreprenista Podcast to spotlight the stories of inspiring women founders. That passion evolved into Entreprenista Media in 2021, a media platform and community supporting women entrepreneurs at every stage of growth. She now co-leads the continued expansion of The Entreprenista League, a membership-driven community and ecosystem for founders.
As an angel investor, Courtney supports female-led and mission-driven startups aligned with her vision for a more inclusive and equitable business landscape.
She is the co-author of Like, Love, Follow: The Entreprenista’s Guide to Using Social Media to Grow Your Business (2015), a strategic guide for leveraging social platforms to drive business success.
Her work and ventures have been featured in Bloomberg, Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and The New York Times. She is committed to championing visionary founders and helping build the next generation of impactful, community-driven businesses.
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