Payal Kadakia

Growing up as a South Asian-American, I didn't have any female role models.

Every person is different and unique. I am a female. I'm Indian. I'm 4'11"". People should never be defined by what they look like and sort of these demographical parts about them, but the most important thing is the work you do, so females are just as capable as doing that as males, and the same thing with any other person out there.

Sometimes females feel like they should act like men, but they should really just be themselves.

It's about knowing yourself and what you're good at. Females, males - anyone can be anything they want to be.

You can always change your branding or hire lawyers, but it's critical that you figure out if you have product market fit, and if you don't, figure out how to course-correct without getting stuck.

We stipulate about where we need to be in life: By this age you should be married, by this age you should have kids. But it's not that you can only do this or only do that. It's really about creating a holistic life: about planning ahead and being efficient with your time and really listening to yourself.

The impact we have on people's lives, to me, is more important than any title anyone can carry.

As long as I'm building and doing what I want to do, that's the only thing that matters.

I set goals for myself every three months. I write them down.

Millennials are a bit more free-spirited, more able to go into new places, to feel more assertive and fearless about trying new things.

I remember going out to raise my Series A and ending up with multiple term sheets when I had gone to Silicon Valley probably four times at that point and coming back with nothing.

Founders are exceptional, and they all want to go back to creating. And I feel privileged to be able to do that.