AI is incredible — but there’s one thing it will never replace:

Genuine human connection.

And as AI becomes woven into everything we do — assistants, companions, co-workers — real-life relationships will matter even more.

I've always been a big fan of community businesses, having met founders such as Maxime Barbier building Timeleft which connects strangers over dinners and at social events, Caterina Fake, co-founder of Flickr, and Annie Liao who I recently met in S.F who is building communities for AI builders. And of course, being a creator is tough, which is why we’ve built the largest creator community on Substack.

When you build a community, one thing is apparent — genuine connection which AI cannot replicate.

So I want to tell you about another awesome business.

I just had a great chat with Lindsay Kaplan, co-founder of Chief – the largest network for women executives which I first heard about a few years ago but I didn't quite realize the huge impact and business the team has created.

Lindsay was super kind and came onto the podcast show to share her story. In this episode, we talk about 👇

1. Building a huge business which all started from cold emails!

2. Pivoting within days when COVID came around: The team signed clubhouse leases days before COVID and had to shift and pivot fast!

3. Curating a waiting list of 60,000 potential members

4. Raising $100M and becoming a unicorn!!

5. The co-founder relationship: Why every founder should have one

6. Knowing when to step aside

7. Trends Lindsay is excited about and investing in at Next Wave NYC

Plus much more!

This was a special episode! Go and get inspired now!