Jess Gaedeke, CRO of GutCheck, former Leader at Nielsen and Designalytics, and current turtleneck aficionado, speaks with Karen Howland, the Managing Director at CircleUp Equity, an investment platform powered by technology, to discuss what it takes to have guts in business. 

In this unique episode we take a look at how an innovative investment firm is using a blend of technology and human experience to help entrepreneurs stand behind their bold ideas and pioneer new paths. 

Jess and Karen show how being grounded in empathy and creating highly personalized experiences lead brands to sustainable growth, and how Circle Up invests in companies that have traditionally been denied access to capital.

Karen's Bio

Karen joined CircleUp in 2018 and serves as Managing Director. Before joining CircleUp, she served as an independent consultant providing financial services to small-to-mid sized consumer-centric companies. Prior to that, she spent over 15 years at top-tier international investment firms, including Citadel, Barclays Capital, and UBS where she held positions in the Investment Banking and Equity Research divisions focusing on the consumer and retail sectors. Mrs. Howland received her B.S. from Tulane University. 

Let’s listen in and see what brands Karen believes have guts, which she feels a special connection to, and why we should have irrational expectations in business. 

To learn more about what it means to be gutsy, check out the Gutsiest Podcast webpage.

Check out Karen’s recommended song by visiting the Spotify – Gutsiest Brands Podcast Playlist. We’ll regularly be adding our guest’s recommended songs, so be sure to like and share the list!