Maria, Founder at WellSpace: Advize Career Interview
A conversation with WellSpace founder, Maria, reveals a dynamic career journey built on self-discovery and unconventional choices.
From early entrepreneurial experiences in a family business and diverse roles at UCLA, including impactful student leadership, to post-graduation podcasting, Maria's path showcases a commitment to learning by doing.
The interview highlights the multifaceted nature of founding a startup, demanding adaptability, self-discipline, and strong communication skills.
Maria's passion for the femtech industry, driven by a desire for health equity and technological innovation, shines through.
The founder emphasizes courage, perseverance, and deep listening as essential qualities for entrepreneurial success, while acknowledging the unique challenges faced by women in the field.
Advice to undergraduates centers on following gut feelings and pursuing passions, fostering a mindset of limitless potential.
Maria's journey is a testament to the power of self-belief and the rewards of embracing an unconventional career path.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Maria Ko (Kiejnich)
Founder
WellSpace
UCLA Class of 2020
Harvard Graduate School of Education, Ed.M. in Learning Design, Innovation and Technology
Economics
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
International Student, First Generation College Student
Watch all of this Advizer's videos below
Career Path of a Founder at WellSpace
Maria's career path was unconventional, focusing on self-discovery through diverse experiences; starting with teenage work in a family business, this journey included a structured clerical role at UCLA, high-impact student leadership in creative labs and the Solar Decathlon, and post-graduation work as a podcast host and producer for Conservation X Labs, where they "learned all the skills on the job" and developed crucial entrepreneurial skills.
Main Responsibilities Of A Founder At WellSpace
Maria, WellSpace's founder, describes her multifaceted role as requiring "everything and anything that needs to get done," encompassing design, communications, and strategic planning, while also learning new skills as needed to fill gaps in their early-stage startup. The ultimate responsibility, Maria explains, is "to own the responsibility," building the company and their role simultaneously, envisioning a future shift toward strategic management and creative design as the company grows.
A Day In The Life Of A Founder At WellSpace
A day in the life of a founder at WellSpace, Maria explains, is characterized by "no structure," requiring "self-organization and self-discipline." Despite this lack of structure, Maria prioritizes daily wellbeing practices alongside early mornings and focused task management to avoid the paralyzing feeling of "I don't have time."
Most Important Skills For A Founder At WellSpace
Maria, Founder at WellSpace, prioritizes character qualities like "courage and perseverance" over specific skills for entrepreneurial success, believing that skills are readily acquired. The interviewee emphasizes the importance of strong communication and interpersonal abilities, describing entrepreneurship as "an amazing lasagna" where "the more skills, the better," highlighting a holistic and adaptable approach to career building.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Founder At WellSpace
Maria, Founder at WellSpace, most enjoys the "infinite level" of creativity and autonomy her role provides, allowing her to structure work and time flexibly. A significant source of satisfaction is creating a positive work culture that prioritizes employee well-being, something Maria finds unexpectedly fulfilling.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Founder At WellSpace
Maria's biggest challenge as Founder of WellSpace is "patience," a necessary virtue given the lengthy process of developing a robust product and balancing that against the desire to immediately help the "billion women" she aims to empower. This is compounded by the financial demands of bootstrapping, requiring careful consideration of long-term vision versus potentially accepting venture capital, a choice influenced by Maria's desire to retain control and a specific company culture.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The FemTech Industry As A Founder
Maria, Founder at WellSpace, loves the femtech industry because it allows her to "directly work on justice and health equity," while also being at "the forefront of technological advancements" with AI and other innovations transforming women's health. The strong sense of social responsibility and collaborative spirit among professionals, researchers, and healthcare providers further fuels their passion.
What Type Of Person Thrives In Entrepreneurship According To A Founder At WellSpace
Maria, Founder at WellSpace, identifies three key traits for entrepreneurial success: "making good choices," "asking good questions," and "deep listening," emphasizing that the latter differentiates average entrepreneurs from great ones by allowing for a nuanced understanding of priorities and needs. This thoughtful approach to decision-making, fueled by curiosity and active engagement with the environment, is what drives success in the industry, according to Maria.
What A Founder At WellSpace Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Digital Health Industry
Maria, a female founder in the digital health space, wishes someone had prepared her for the unique challenges of being a young woman entrepreneur, noting that "being a female entrepreneur is harder than just being an entrepreneur." This included facing skepticism and needing to constantly justify the importance of women's health, a fight that ultimately strengthened their resolve and expertise in advocating for their startup.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Founders
Maria, Founder at WellSpace, advises undergraduate students seeking entry-level positions to prioritize gut feelings and passions over societal expectations, suggesting "the entry level positions that would be good for you are the ones you think are good for you." This unconventional approach, focusing on self-discovery through diverse experiences, cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset and avoids the potential regret of pursuing paths dictated by external pressures.
Significant Career Lesson From A Founder At WellSpace
Maria's significant career lesson is that "if you think you can do it, you can do it," a belief solidified by producing and hosting a podcast straight out of college despite lacking initial skills. This experience taught the importance of questioning limiting beliefs, digging into the root causes of self-doubt ("some place of fear or...feeling inadequate"), and recognizing that while not everything is achievable, potential is often underestimated.
Advizer Personal Links
Company Website: https://www.iwellspace.com/
Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iwellspace/
Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwellspace/
Personal Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariakiejnich/
Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravelymaria/