#17 Positive pessimist startup co-founder & CEO Lily Elsner | What Do They Do?

Ben spoke to CEO and co-founder of Jack Fertility, a male fertility startup. They spoke in February of 2023 9 months into the startup’s journey. Lily also works part time for University of Oxford on their Oxford Character Project as a relationship manager, working with industry partners to research the state of good leadership in UK businesses. Lily is a rowing coach and mentor… She does a lot!

The conversation explored how Lily became the co-founder of a Male Fertility company. This touches on her MBA and meeting Nick Shipley on the course just as Covid hit and as Nick was expecting a child.

After exploring the role of a startup founder we tracked back over Lily's fascinating journey through education in the US and Ireland, taking a route to medicine then deciding to pivot before university after time working in Washington DC and being exposed to healthcare policy and options around the world. Lily then pivoted to Law as a way to influence healthcare more effectively.

Throughout, Lily’s attention to detail and dedication is clear. It is an intriguing journey that includes an incredible amount of experience for someone so young. Probably why she gets mentioned by Prime Ministers and is a young innovators award winner for 2022/23!

Connect with Lily:

LinkedIn

4:00 Becoming a female founder of a male fertility startup

10:45 What Jack Fertility does (sperm is mentioned!)

15:00 Lily’s appearance on the Empower podcast

18:36 Proving your business isn’t viable

21:55 Lily’s journey growing up in Georgia, US then Cork, Ireland and back to Us in rural South Carolina and wanting to be a Physician (Medical Doctor).

29:14 Choosing not to go to medical school

34:00 Lawyer then… in New York for a global firm then corporate governance back in Washington DC.

41:30 Deciding to go to business school in Oxford, UK

44:09 “Get paid to learn”

48:48  Forté Foundation MBA launch supporting women going into business

51:00 New Zealand wine harvest between work and MBA course.

54:00 March 2020 mid MBA when covid lockdowns began

59:00 Becoming a female founder

1:16:00 Shout out to Christian from Founders and Funders

1:17:00 January business highlight mention from Rishi Sunak

1:18:00 If you could do anything…?

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