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Curiosity and patience are the bedrock to good storytelling. They have been integral tools to Stacey Estrella’s approach, aiding her clients in discerning their own mission and purpose. Her personal journey has been marked by relentless curiosity. A Harvard MBA and a Stanford Alum, she took a five-year sabbatical to, among other things, become one of the 15 finalists in Bravo Television’s Project Runway (Season 3). Today, she harnesses her rich tapestry of experiences to help companies fine-tune their strategy at her Humanifesto Studio, which also serves as the platform for her authentic leadership coaching workshop.
Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series of guest posts where people from all walks of life share their best advice in times like these. A big thanks to the leaders who volunteered to share their life experiences. Reflection on the past is a deeply personal exercise. The willingness to share it with the world, especially in the written form, is a commendable act of vulnerability. For this alone, they have my deepest gratitude.
She generously shares the advice she’s giving her clients on navigating uncertainty.
My Best Advice
“Wait as long as you can before you take someone else’s money. The moment you take someone else’s money, you will feel the weight of your obligation and it will temper the necessary risk-taking you must do to do something nobody has done before. Tap into your highest self to guide your purpose and passion — these are your most powerful allies and calling cards, and they can’t be borrowed, forged, or faked. They make you magnetic, pulling in the right people (investors + founding team), the right opportunities (partners + customers), and the right moments (insights, timing, and market dynamics) to help you. When you are ready to raise money, do not focus on future liquidity events. Tell today’s story of the problem you’re solving, why it hasn’t already been solved, the value you create by solving it, and why you’re uniquely positioned to solve it. Do not be afraid to walk away from money that is not aligned with who you are, what you value, how you work, or what you’re building. This is a temporary sting that can save you from a lifetime of misery. Above all, building a business should be fun — never forget that. When it stops being fun, it’s a sign that somewhere along the way, you made a decision to compromise. Go back to that decision and fix it. It’s never too late.”
