Resume Writer & Remote Career Coach + I’m “That Remote Guy” 🙋🏻‍♂️ Helping people find the remote career they’ve dreamed of in less time + Join 30K+ on the Escape the Cubicle Newsletter👇

You can work from anywhere. I’ll show you how. 👇

A Google search back in 2015 changed the course of my career, “How do you make money online?”

I was at a crossroads in my career and ready to make a change. I knew it was time to start building my own thing, a thing that someone couldn’t take away overnight. 

After discovering the world of freelancing, I replaced my income and never looked back. By the second year, I was able to triple that income (more than I ever thought possible) because of one platform: LinkedIn

LinkedIn allowed me to connect with clients all over the world, right at my fingertips. The opportunities that LinkedIn has opened up have been life-changing.

Now, I get to help others use LinkedIn to build a remote career as a Career Coach & Resume Writer and their own profitable brand as a Growth Strategist. I’ll help coach you on growing an online income through LinkedIn, a newsletter (like Substack), and a digital product.

…oh, and I still write amazing, interview-winning resumes if you need that. Just send a DM, and I’ll provide a free review for you. Or email it to me at (JohnHancockResumes@gmail.com).

---
Here’s what I've built:

✅ 125,000+ engaged LinkedIn followers
✅ 50,000+ LinkedIn newsletter subscribers
✅ 5,000+ Escape the Cubicle Substack subscribers
✅ 500+ transformed through my masterclasses
✅ 3000+ resumes written for every industry 

“Press Start” Here 👇

📌 Subscribe to my Substack at: www.EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.Com

📌 Join my Free 5-Day Email Class on “How to Grow & Monetize on LinkedIn” at the link top of my profile (or Featured Section)

📌 Connect for a 1on1 Coaching Call (by sending me a DM); I’ll help you build an actionable 30-day strategy to grow your brand on LinkedIn & Substack

📌 Grab my Six-Figure LinkedIn Growth Masterclass (& Playbook) with 500+ of my other students; click the link at top of my profile (or Featured Section)

📌 Get a newly polished resume at www.JohnHancockResumes.com

There's a better way to work. Let me show you how to find it.

Wes Pearce

I’ve watched people bravely walk away from careers they spent decades building.


Not because they failed.

Because they finally had the courage to admit the story they were living wasn’t the one they actually wanted.

-The lawyer who became a photographer.
-The banker who started a coaching business.
-The executive who left the corner office to work remotely from anywhere in the world.

Everyone around them thought they were crazy. They thought they were finally free.

Here’s what I’ve learned watching people start over at 40, 50, and beyond:

Starting over doesn’t erase what came before.

It builds on it.

Every year of experience you carry into a new chapter makes you better at writing it.

The skills. The resilience. The hard earned wisdom of knowing exactly what you don’t want anymore.

That’s not baggage.
That’s your foundation.

The people who reinvent themselves aren’t the lucky ones or the brave ones.

They’re just the ones who got tired of waiting for permission to write a better story.

You don’t need permission.
You never did.

Don’t be afraid to start over.

At any age. In any season. For any reason that matters to you.

You might like your new story better.

Most people do.

—
📌 If you’re ready to start writing a better story — the Remote Dream Job Masterclass will show you how to reposition your experience…

…tap into the hidden job market, and land a remote role that actually fits the life you want.

You can join here: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

Resume Writer & Career Coach helping you “work from anywhere” 👨🏻‍💻 Follow for Career, Remote Job Search, and Creator Tips | Writing daily on EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.com Join 10,000+ Subscribers

I'll never forget the dream job I thought I had locked down. And then ghosted. 


Four rounds of interviews. Met with the hiring manager twice. Presented to the team. 

Even had a final conversation with the VP where he said, "We're really excited about bringing you on board. You'll hear from us this week."

Four weeks later, No call. No email. Not even a generic rejection.

I followed up once. Then twice. Then realized I was chasing people who clearly didn't respect my time enough to send a two-sentence email.

Here's what made it worse: I'd turned down other interviews because I thought this was a done deal.

That experience taught me something I'll never forget: How a company treats you during the hiring process is exactly how they'll treat you as an employee.

And companies wonder why they can't attract top talent.

Here's the reality: Every person you ghost tells 10 other people about the experience.

If you're hiring: Send the email. Even if it's a template. Even if it's bad news.

Candidates deserve basic human decency, not radio silence.

And if you're job searching: Remember that ghosting tells you everything you need to know about that company.

You didn't dodge a bullet. You dodged a whole firing squad. 

Has this ever happened to you?

—
📌 If you’re tired of being ghosted, I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass for you.

& my DIY Resume & Cover Letter Kit.

It’ll show you exactly what to do if you want to start making recruiters reach out to YOU:

https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

My client Jessica came to me after being passed over for a promotion three times in two years.

Same manager every time. Same excuse every time.

“You’re not quite ready yet.”

Meanwhile, she was training the people getting promoted over her. Running projects her manager took credit for.

She’d spent two years trying to prove herself to people who’d already decided not to see her value.

“Maybe I’m just not as good as I think I am,” she told me.

Here’s what I told her: You’re not the problem. You’re just at the wrong table.

We built her exit strategy. Updated her resume. Optimized her LinkedIn. Targeted companies where her skills would actually be valued.

Six weeks later, she had two offers. Both paid more than her current role. Both came with the title she’d been chasing for two years.

She took the better one and handed in her notice.

Her manager’s reaction? Genuine shock.

“We were planning to promote you next quarter.”

Sure they were.

Here’s what I’ve learned: The people who never saw your value don’t suddenly see it until they’re about to lose you. And by then it’s too late.

If you’ve spent years being overlooked and undervalued, stop trying to prove yourself to people who’ve already decided not to see it.

Find the people who already do.

My client didn’t become more talented when she left. She just finally found somewhere that could see what was already there.

Stop waiting to be discovered at the wrong table.

—
📌 Tired of being overlooked? I created the Remote Dream Job Masterclass to help you land a remote role at companies that see your worth.

…and the Resume & Cover Letter Kit to help show your value on paper.

You can join here: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

I’ve watched people stay in the wrong job because they were scared of being called a “job hopper.”


Not because they were happy.

Because someone told them that leaving too soon would ruin their career.

So they stayed.

-Another year going through the motions.
-Another annual review that led nowhere. 
-Another promise of growth that never came.

All to avoid a label that most good hiring managers don’t even care about.

Here’s what I know after a decade of coaching people through this:

Job hopping doesn’t mean someone is unstable.

It means they know what they bring to the table and refuse to settle for less.

I’ve had clients with four jobs in five years. 

Every single move was a step up. 

More pay. Better culture. Work that actually excited them.

-They weren’t running away from something.
-They were running toward something better.

Staying somewhere that doesn’t value you doesn’t prove commitment.

It just proves you were too afraid to leave.
Know your worth.

Move accordingly.

—
📌 You know your worth and know it’s time to find the role that matches it. 

The Remote Dream Job Masterclass will show you how to tap into the hidden job market, land more interviews, and negotiate the salary you actually deserve.

You can join here: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

Wife & Mother of 7 | Venture Capital | Scientist | TOP 30 Patent Drafters | United States Patent Examiner | Violinist | Polyglot | STEM Children's Author | #1 LinkedIn Global Influencer in Innovation/IP Law

Kathryn Vatt is a scientist, former USPTO Examiner, and devoted wife and mother of seven, with over 25 years shaping the future of innovation. Recognized as one of the Top 30 Patent Drafters and Prosecutors and the #1 LinkedIn Global Influencer in Innovation/IP Law, Kathryn has built a career at the intersection of science, law, and business—helping inventors, startups, and global companies turn creativity into competitive advantage.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.S. Biology) and Johns Hopkins University (M.S. Biotechnology), Kathryn is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor in Patent Law at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, one of the world’s leading IP programs. Her rare cross-disciplinary background gives her both the scientific insight and the legal strategy to protect ideas at the highest level.

At the USPTO, Kathryn examined thousands of patent applications, conducted exhaustive prior art searches, and made determinations that shaped industries and influenced global innovation. After leaving the Patent Office, she founded Vatt IP Management, where she develops bulletproof IP strategies, drafts airtight applications, and supports litigation teams in defending patents. She also mentors engineering and life science students through Arizona State University’s Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute and judges international startup competitions, nurturing the next generation of innovators.

Her entrepreneurial vision extends to her ventures:

My Startup Shield™, a founder-focused program that helps startups secure their innovations before they pitch. It protects ideas at the earliest, most vulnerable stage and positions founders to raise capital with confidence

My AI Examiner™, the world’s first proprietary patent search platform that combines examiner-trained AI Patent Examiners with Kathryn’s own human review. Unlike conventional tools, it doesn’t just search faster—it “thinks like an examiner,” offering inventors and startups clarity, precision, and strategy.

MyKidVentors™, a STEM-inspired children’s book series born from her seven children’s real “What if?” questions. Through these imaginative stories, she nurtures curiosity in the next generation, showing that every big invention begins with a single question.

For Kathryn, the same motherly instinct that guides her family fuels her professional mission: to protect, guide, and nurture startups with care, strategy, foresight, and integrity. She believes innovation doesn’t just start in labs or boardrooms—it starts in the curious minds of those brave enough to ask, “What if?”

Kathryn V.

OREOS FOR MOTHER’S DAY

At a small neighborhood shop, a man quietly changes lives.

He gives free food to kids who show him their grades...a reward not just for doing well in school, but for trying, for caring, for showing up.

In this video, one young boy steps up to the counter, offered the chance to choose anything he wants.

Today, he picks milk, bread, eggs...and cookies for Mother’s Day.
And the shop owner...touched by that choice...adds a bouquet of flowers for him to bring home.

Neither of them realizes that what just happened will be remembered for years.
Because kindness like that doesn’t end at the counter...it multiplies.

Every act of generosity plants a seed:
A child whose confidence blooms.
A parent who feels seen and loved.
A community reminded that humanity still shines bright.

So here’s to the everyday heroes: the ones who lift others quietly, who give without expecting anything in return.

You may never see the full impact of your kindness...but someone’s world is brighter because of you. 


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If you enjoy my posts please follow me:
Kathryn V.
VATT IP Management
My AI Examiner™
My Startup Shield™
https://lnkd.in/gAERstmz
https://lnkd.in/gmAS9P7Z
https://lnkd.in/gJyb28T8

Your Company ≠ Their Company

Startup culture is loud.

Announcements.
Rounds.
Launches.
Leaps.

And even the most confident founders feel it.
That quiet comparison.
“Should I be further by now?”
“Why does their growth look easier?”
“Am I missing something?”

But when you compare, you slowly lose sight of what’s yours to build.
And what’s yours was never meant to look like anyone else’s.

Different wiring.
Different gifts.
Different responsibilities.
Different seasons.

Some are drawn to bold, public momentum.
Others move with careful protection.
Some are compelled to disrupt.
Others feel called to preserve and strengthen.

None of it is accidental.
And none of it is a hierarchy.

But when you try to imitate someone else’s arc,
you drift from your own.

You trade alignment for applause.

At Founder Chapel, we care deeply about stewardship.

Stewarding your vision.
Stewarding your ownership.
Stewarding your influence.
Stewarding the people who trust you.

Because leadership isn’t about matching someone else’s leap.
It’s about faithfully tending what’s been placed in your hands.

That’s why we created Founder Chapel Learning Pods.
Small, steady circles where founders can step out of comparison and return to clarity...about their gifts, their values, and the kind of company they are called to build.

I’m deeply honored to be leading the pod focused on intellectual property and building your moat; helping founders protect what they’ve been entrusted with and think carefully about how they bring it into the market with integrity.

My incredible Founder Chapel family: David Y., Jay Jin, and Katrena Drake are leading pods of their own, each walking alongside founders through different pressures and seasons.

You don’t need someone else’s platform.
You need to steward your own.
And you don’t have to do that alone.

Come as you are.
We welcome you to apply here → https://lnkd.in/gM9xz6qk

FIRST TOGETHER


At Founder Chapel, we believe real leaders don’t climb alone.
They rise by lifting others.

In a world obsessed with rankings, valuations, and visibility, it’s easy to believe leadership means standing above everyone else. 

But the founders who build legacies understand something deeper:
Nothing meaningful is built alone.

Behind every breakthrough are unseen sacrifices, honest conversations, shared burdens, and people who stood steady when things felt uncertain.

True leadership isn’t about guarding the top spot.
It’s about making space on it.

Because titles fade.
Headlines move on.
Momentum comes and goes.

But character remains.
Stewardship remains.
The way you build...and who you build with...remains.

That’s why Founder Chapel exists.

Through our Learning Pods, founders gather not just to scale companies, but to sharpen judgment, strengthen conviction, and build with integrity alongside others who believe leadership is a responsibility, not a spotlight.

If you’re building something that matters and you want to build it with depth, wisdom, and community...we invite you to apply here → https://lnkd.in/gM9xz6qk

Founder Chapel: Build well. Lead faithfully. Rise together.
David Y. Jay Jin Katrena Drake

Three founders will leave my Arizona Tech Week event patent-pending.

We’re getting closer…

My Patent Pending Party™ at Arizona Tech Week (April 6–12) is coming up, and the response so far has been incredible. I’ve already had the chance to speak with some truly impressive founders and I’ve even started getting requests to bring the party to other cities 😊 

The event itself is shaping up to be something really special.

We’ll be hosting:
• A founder panel featuring raw, honest conversations about the entrepreneurial journey: the highs, the lows, the mistakes, and what founders would do differently knowing what they know now.

• An “Ask the Examiner” AMA session,  where you'll get to ask questions about patents, intellectual property strategy, and how the system actually works from an investor who spent fifteen years inside the U.S. Patent Office deciding which innovations got approved and which ones didn't. 

• A live patent hackathon, where three pre-selected founders will leave the party officially patent-pending. On me.

We’ll also have investors in the room, and we’ll end the evening with time for networking with founders, investors, and builders from across the ecosystem.

If you want a chance to be one of those three founders, there is still time to apply.

There are three Saturdays left this month, and I’m using those days to hold short 15-minute pitch sessions on Hubble.                                

The pitch session itself is the application process.

You get 15 minutes:
• 5 minutes to pitch what you’re building.
• 10 minutes for me to ask questions the way an investor with an IP strategist lens would.

From those conversations, I’ll select three founders to be invited to my Patent Pending Party™ during Arizona Tech Week.

And don’t worry...you don’t have to live in Arizona to apply.

If you’re selected, we’ll simply Zoom you in.

If you aren’t selected as one of the three, don’t worry.

You’ll either receive feedback on your pitch, or I may connect you with someone from my network of angels and VCs.

And you’re always welcome to come back and pitch again for the next party.

Ideas are everywhere.

Protected ideas are much more valuable.

If you want to pitch yours, you can book a Saturday slot here:
https://lnkd.in/g_jESdm3

Slots are limited.

Event details:
https://lnkd.in/g3dJgkzm


A special and heartfelt thank you to my sponsors, Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University and Stearns Bank N.A. This event wouldn’t be possible without your support.

Open article: RSVP to A Patent-Pending Party #AZTechWeek | Partiful by partiful.com

RSVP to A Patent-Pending Party #AZTechWeek | Partiful

I’m honored to be returning for the second year in a row as a judge for Pitch the Pros® on April 10th in Greenville, SC.

As a former United States Patent Examiner I have spent more than 25 years helping founders and inventors protect what they build.

And I have seen how often founders focus on perfecting the pitch, raising capital, and gaining traction...only to think about protection later while losing ownership rights in the process. 

That is why this year, I am proud to personally offer a Protection Prize to the Top 3 presenters through moatly™.

Each of the top founders will receive dedicated intellectual property strategy support to help ensure what they are creating is properly protected. Not just celebrated. Not just visible. Protected.

Pitch the Pros® brings together a select group of founders, investors, and industry experts in an intentional setting. 

Ten founders will pitch live. The top three will also be invited to a private VIP evening featuring a Fireside Chat and networking experience with Daymond John of Shark Tank, along with dinner and live entertainment.

If you are building something meaningful and ready to step forward, I would love to see you there.

You can learn more here:
https://lnkd.in/eZyx78ge
Christopher Guerrera LSSMBB The Modern Inventor

Looking forward to supporting the founders who take the stage and helping them protect what they have worked so hard to create.

More than a thousand years ago, an army approached the gates of a Persian fortress.

Warriors gathered. Fear spread through the walls.

And then something unexpected happened.

A young woman rode out to meet them.

Her name was Gordafarid.

In the great Persian epic Shahnameh, written by poet Abul-Qâsem Ferdowsi, Gordafarid sees her homeland under threat. 

Warriors gather. 
Fear spreads through the fortress.
So she does something no one expected.

She fastens her armor.
Mounts her horse.
And rides into the battlefield herself.

Even her enemies were astonished. They had never seen such bravery from someone so young.

But Gordafarid was not written as a fragile figure or a symbol of tragedy. 

Ferdowsi portrayed her as a strategist as well as a warrior. When she realized she could not defeat her opponent by strength alone, she relied on her wit, delaying the enemy long enough to protect her people.

For many Iranians, Gordafarid has become a symbol of something timeless:
the courage of women.

Today, on International Women’s Day, I find myself thinking about that courage. 

Not just in ancient stories, but in the lives of women all around us.

Women who stand up.
Women who speak out.
Women who lead.
Women who lift others even when the path is difficult.

Because women have always done this.

One woman opens a door.
Another holds it open.
Another widens the path so others can walk through it.

We all rise when we lift each other.

Today I want to honor women everywhere.

And I want to dedicate this day especially to the women of Iran whose courage continues to inspire the world.

Your courage has reminded the world that the strength of women is one of the most powerful forces on earth.

Across centuries, from Gordafarid’s battlefield to the voices we hear today, one truth remains:

The courage of women cannot be extinguished.

Happy International Women's Day to all of the amazing women in the world 💐

DOLPHINS IN THE DESERT 🐬🌵

Today is the day, Arizona!!

I am so excited to be serving as a panelist and workshop speaker for Dolphin Tank with Springboard Enterprises.

For more than two decades, Springboard has been accelerating women-led, high growth companies with an extraordinary track record:

850+ portfolio companies
$36.4B+ in value created
225+ exits
26 IPOs

And today, Dolphin Tank is happening at Grand Canyon University.

This is not your average pitch event.
It is a true launchpad. Women founders receive real time, thoughtful feedback from investors and operators who genuinely care about growth, strategy, and long term success.

I am honored to join an incredible panel and lead a special session during the Founder Workshop from 3-5 PM focused on protecting what you are building before you pitch, scale, or raise.

Joining me on the panel:
• Mitzi Krockover, MD, CEO, Founder, Investor at WomanCentered and Women’s Health Council Member at Springboard Enterprises
• Azin Radsan van Alebeek, Co founder and General Partner at Emmeline Ventures
• Rory Bidinger, Community Development Officer at Stearns Bank N.A.

If you are a founder, investor, operator, or supporter of women entrepreneurs, this is where you should be.

And Arizona…it is not too late.
🔗 Dolphin Tank RSVP: https://lnkd.in/eQDSywgq

🦾 Founder Workshop (3 to 5 PM): https://lnkd.in/ei4XZGSW

Come support the founders who are bravely stepping forward to pitch what they are building.

There is something powerful about watching vision meet opportunity in real time.

Proud to support this right here in Arizona. 🌵🐬

There is something defining about walking into a room and realizing you may be the only woman there and deciding that you belong anyway.

I have felt that in government spaces. In investor meetings. In high level technical discussions. In rooms where expertise is tested before it is trusted.

What I have learned is this. Leadership is not about blending in. It is about standing grounded in who you are, even when the room was not designed with you in mind.

My path began internationally, where at 21 I cofounded a company in Pakistan and learned firsthand that leadership is rarely about position and always about responsibility, requiring conviction, cultural awareness, and resilience. I later served as a United States Patent Examiner, and went on to found and lead my own firm, invest in innovation, mentor founders, and raise seven children. 

Each chapter has shaped how I understand leadership, not as authority, but as stewardship.

As Women’s History Month begins, I am honored to join a panel at The New York Public Library on March 4th for a conversation on growth and leadership alongside remarkable women whose journeys are equally layered and powerful.

We will be speaking candidly about what it truly takes to build influence, the pivots, the pressure, the persistence, and the quiet strength behind the scenes that rarely gets highlighted.

If you are building something, a company, a career, a life, while trying to remain fully yourself, this conversation is for you.

Grateful to James Corry for creating space for this meaningful dialogue and for bringing together such an inspiring group of women. I look forward to sitting alongside Christina Mitine, Laura Kavanagh, Olga Alcaraz, and Rechelle Balanzat for this important conversation.

👉🏼 Join us this Wednesday: https://lnkd.in/gtz_23Eu

Sr. GTM Leader at AWS | Head of GTM at Women in AI | Agentic AI Strategy & Digital Transformation | Industry Speaker

I know what it feels like to be the only woman in the room. If you’ve ever navigated climbing the leadership ladder while authentically showing up, this conversation is for you.

As Women’s History Month begins, I’m honored to be a panelist for “Five Powerful Women: Their Journeys of Growth and Leadership” on March 4th hosted by The New York Public Library.   

I’m joining four resilient women to share our career journeys and dive into the real grit required to build influence in both the corporate and government sectors.

Huge thank you to James Corry for hosting this important conversation! See you soon, Kathryn V., Laura Kavanagh, Olga Alcaraz, Rechelle Balanzat. 

👉🏼 Join us this Wednesday: https://lnkd.in/gtz_23Eu

#WHM2026 #WomensHistoryMonth #LeadingTheChange #IWD2026 #GiveToGain #WomenInTech #NYPL #Leadership

Open article: Five Powerful Women: Their Journeys of Growth and Leadership by nypl.org

Five Powerful Women: Their Journeys of Growth and Leadership

If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know I’m a huge fan of Hubble.

Not just because it’s led me to some of the most incredible conversations and connections with founders, investors, and operators I never would have met otherwise. Bettina Briz Peter Himes

But because of the story behind the company itself.

Hubble was built by two genuinely good humans: Kevin Jurovich and Timo Gehrke, and that spirit runs through the entire team. 

From Kat Mateus, to Sasha Cayward - MSc., to Taylor Barnes, to their brilliant engineering team… they’re simply the kind of people you’re grateful to have in your circle.

So I’m really excited (and honestly honored) to be hosting a conversation with Kat later this week as a proud Hubbler myself.

We’ll be talking about something most founders don’t think about early enough:
Protecting your startup from Day One.

Here’s the truth I see over and over again after 15 years as a U.S. Patent Examiner and decades working with founders:

Legal protection isn’t something you think about when things go wrong.
It’s the quiet infrastructure that protects everything you’re building.

Without it, founders can face expensive, and sometimes fatal, consequences for their companies.

In this conversation, we’ll cover things like:
• When patents actually make sense for startups (and when they don’t)
• The IP mistakes founders make in their first 12 months
• How investors evaluate IP and legal hygiene during diligence
• Trademarks, patents, and early legal decisions
• How protection affects valuation, fundraising, and defensibility
• Simple steps you can take today to protect your product and brand

If you’re a founder, technical builder, or early operator...I promise this will be a very real conversation about protecting what you’re working so hard to build.

📅 Thursday, March 19
⏰ 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST

Register here:

Open article: Protecting Your Startup From Day One · Zoom · Luma by luma.com

Protecting Your Startup From Day One · Zoom · Luma

21 days...and counting...

I’m excited to share that Candace Pless, Founder & CEO of MTology Innovations, will be joining the Founder Panel at my Patent Pending Party™ during Arizona Tech Week.

Candace is building a medtech startup developing novel technology aimed at addressing one of the most significant unmet needs in global male reproductive health.

She has led MTology from early concept through intellectual property development, securing an issued U.S. patent with patents pending in 22 additional countries as the company advances toward regulatory strategy and commercialization.

Her work has earned recognition through programs including:
• NIH DEBUT Venture Prize
• VentureWell E-Teams Phase I & II
• NSF I-Corps
• Mayo Clinic & ASU Scorpion Tank
• ASU Lab to Launch eSeed Challenge
• ASU Venture Devils MedTech Venture

Candace holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and an MBA from Arizona State University, and is currently completing an M.S. in Industrial Engineering.

She represents a new generation of founders navigating the convergence of engineering innovation, intellectual property strategy, and the long journey of bringing breakthrough healthcare technologies to market.

Looking forward to a real conversation about what it actually takes to build a deep-tech company: the wins, the setbacks, and the lessons learned along the way.

A special and heartfelt thank you to our sponsors Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University, Stearns Bank N.A., Orbit Capital, and 5 to 9 Society for helping bring the Patent Pending Party™ to life.🥳 

RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gdZMJHB7

I was one of the lucky ones who got to sit in a room and witness Mick Hunt’s genius in real time.

But what struck me most is that his intelligence, as extraordinary as it is, actually pales in comparison to his kindness, empathy, and genuine care for the people around him.

He has a rare presence. 
The kind that immediately shifts the energy in a room.
A genuine gift.

If you ever have the chance to hear him speak or simply spend time in his presence, take it. You’ll understand exactly what I mean.

I build leaders who own the room when the pressure is highest. The Voice of Modern Leadership.

The room decides before you finish your second sentence.
Most leaders don't know that.

Research shows that in any high-stakes room: a boardroom, an investor pitch, a crisis call... people form a trust verdict in 7 seconds.

Not 7 minutes. Seven seconds.

And the entire time you're reciting your job title, the room has already moved on.

Here's what nobody teaches you: every room you walk into is silently running 4 questions. Fast. Unconsciously. Before you know it's happening.

I call them The Four Zones of Curiosity.

Zone 1: Identity. Not your title. Your truth. Who are you when the stakes are real and the room is watching? Lead with that.
Zone 2: Authority. What problem do you OWN? Not manage. Not oversee. Fix. The brain is a prediction machine. Give it something specific or it moves on.
Zone 3: Stakes. What happens if the problem goes ignored? Humans process loss at twice the weight of gain. Name the cost calmly, specifically, and the room cannot look away.
Zone 4: Credibility. Why you? Not credentials. Earned experience. A 60-second scar story builds more trust than a five-minute resume. Every time.

Four zones. Four questions. Answer them with clarity and conviction and you don't introduce yourself.

You lead.

Most leaders lose the room not because of what they say. Because of what they skip.

Which zone are you skipping?
Drop it below. I'll tell you how to fix it.

Jamie Heldt Karl Sherrill Anthony Randall, DMin, ICF PCC Kathryn V. Jason Feifer Tom Larsen Robert Irvine Brian Langerman

The Four Zones of Curiosity

Founders: if you are fundraising, you do not want to miss this event.

And if you can, make sure you are in Bettina’s room.

I am not just saying that because she is one of my dearest friends. Bettina is truly one of the most thoughtful, caring, and brilliant investors I know.

The level of care and intention she brings to every founder conversation is rare. 

She listens deeply, asks the questions that actually matter, and shows up for founders long before there is ever a deal on the table.

That kind of stewardship is something special in venture. 💛

Silicon Valley Angel Investor (Pre-Seed) + LP | AI + FinTech + DeepTech + B2B SaaS + Sports Media + CPG | Ex-GoPro + Semiconductors | Hubble Advisor + Boardy Deal Partner + Incubator Mentor | Skiing + BucketHat Lover

Are you #FundRaising?  Come join me, along with 100+ other VCs, Angels, FO's

I'm hosting a networking room at the VC Virtual Conf on March 31 hosted by Max Pog.    There will be 40+ breakout rooms & 6 hours of VC networking & insights.

If you’re interested in joining the discussion
Register here:   https://vcconf.com?172

See you on the 31st... 
I'll probably be the only one in a #BucketHat

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The Battle

Wes Pearce

Kathryn V.

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Performance ScoreKathryn V.'s LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Wes Pearce

Kathryn V.

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Wes Pearce's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreKathryn V.'s LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreWes Pearce's LinkedIn Performance