LET’S TALK IMPACT WITH DESIREE ALMODOVAR, A STRATEGIC GROWTH LEADER + ANGEL INVESTOR ON BUILDING AN MVP
Desiree Almodovar is a strategic growth leader and an angel -investor. She works with Consumer, B2B, Healthtech and Real Estate brands to plan and execute on their go-to-market strategy to accelerate growth.
As the Founder of The Inlay, an NYC start-up innovation consultancy, Desiree works at the intersection of product, marketing, strategy and operations. She has partnered with dozens of pre-seed to series A brands, including Getaway, Common Living, Veracity, Included Health and The Muse. Many have gone on to reach major fundraising milestones with notable VCs and investors, such as L Catterton, Human, Silas Capital, 23andMe and more. Through this work, she fostered meaningful relationships with founders, and began angel investing in order to further support category defining brands.
Previously, Desiree served as a Senior Brand Strategist at several agencies, where she led high-performing teams to develop digital product strategy and award-winning campaigns for some of the world’s most influential brands, including Google, Viacom and Autograph Collection Hotels. Her work on interactive campaigns for the launch of Google Photos helped the platform secure over 100 million users after just five months.
Concurrently, her love of music has allowed her to curate sounds for numerous hospitality brands, such as Soho House, Edition hotels, and Soho Grand, where she’s opened for James Murphy, Haim, RAC, Phantogram and more.
Desiree has recently been featured in Nasdaq and on The New School’s Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative. She currently serves on the Council at Skowhegan, and continues to discover new tunes on the daily.
ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Let’s Talk Impact is a podcast series that explores the intersection of entrepreneurship and social impact. Hosted by Justyna Kedra and produced by The New School’s Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative and WERULE, the podcast features interviews with a diverse range of changemakers. From government officials to activists and entrepreneurs, these guests share their insights on the evolving definition of impactful work and the motivations driving their efforts. By focusing on the stories behind the initiatives, Let’s Talk Impact aims to inspire and inform listeners about the power of entrepreneurship to create positive change in the world.
ABOUT THE HOST:
Justyna Kedra, the founder of WERULE, received her BFA degree from Parsons the New School where she successfully finished their toughest major: Fashion Design. Since then she worked in Public Relations with celebrities ranging from Jeremy Scott, Lady Gaga to Madonna at People’s Revolution under the wing of Kelly Cutrone. Justyna is also no stranger to the corporate world working for 6 years in financial services at American Express generating over 20 Billion in acquisitions for Centurion, Platinum, Green Cards as well features such as their most successful “Employee Card” treatment. She also served as an advisor to the American Express’ President of US Consumer Services on topics related to the team’s culture.
She is a mentor & a team member at The New School’s Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative and a mentor at the Tory Burch Foundation, the AARP Foundation x Bridge for Billions program for aspiring founders over 50. Because of her work, she was recognized as the youngest Champion of Change at the United Nations. A book she co-authored with Erika De La Cruz, Editor in Chief at The La Girl, has become a bestseller across multiple categories and is available at Barnes and Noble.
Justyna also hosts a podcast, a collaboration between WERULE and The New School’s Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative, called Let’s Talk Impact, which was in the top 5% most shared podcasts globally according to Spotify Wrapped.
ABOUT IMPACT ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE:
The Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative (IEI) at The New School fosters a transformative approach to business and social change. We equip students with the skills to create innovative, inclusive, and sustainable ventures that address pressing global challenges. Through our interdisciplinary curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and strong community partnerships, we empower students to become agents of positive change and build a more equitable world.
ABOUT WERULE:
WERULE is a global platform dedicated to connecting individuals with life-changing mentors. Founded in 2015, they started by sharing stories of successful female entrepreneurs, becoming a recognized resource for women seeking inspiration and guidance. Today, WERULE offers a wider range of resources, including an AI-powered mentorship app used by businesses and organizations worldwide. Their mission is to make mentorship accessible to everyone, regardless of background or stage in life. They believe in the transformative power of mentorship and strive to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
HOSTED BY: Justyna Kedra (@thisisjustyna) & Kosi Dunn
PRODUCED BY: Janusz Kedra
Questions on our events, podcast, blog or Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative? Email Justyna Kedra at justyna@newschool.edu