We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Victoria Yampolsky. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Victoria below.

Victoria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

As an entrepreneur, I take risks all the time, whether it’s launching new programs or products, or changing my company’s direction during COVID.

The first big risk I took was starting my first company in media and entertainment and leaving my lucrative job on Wall Street. I didn’t know much about film or entrepreneurship, but my passion for storytelling and the desire to try outweighed the fear of failing. In the end, I didn’t succeed, but I learned a lot along the way. This experience led me to start the company I have today, The Startup Station.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After starting my career in IT consulting and Wall Street, I became a startup CFO and have been working with entrepreneurs for the past decade, helping them raise capital and execute their strategies. As the Founder of The Startup Station, a CFO advisory and financial education platform for early-stage startups, I have worked with over 150 founders across 15 industries, helping them raise more than $50 million in venture capital. Our courses on financial topics, from accounting to financial modeling and valuation, have reached 20,000 individuals worldwide. I’ve also had the privilege of teaching at the Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell University.

In 2023, I launched PowerUp Globally to address the gender funding gap. Its flagship program, the Female Founder Mindset Gym, is the only virtual 12-week program designed specifically for early-stage female founders, focusing on mindset while offering business training with a strong emphasis on finance and mentorship.

Last year, I co-founded another exciting initiative, America Loves Startups, a premier nationwide pitch competition for diverse founders. This is not your typical pitch competition—it’s a national entertainment platform with a venture capital focus and an audience reach of up to 10 million, often likened to American Idol for startups. Much like American Idol gives entertainers exposure, America Loves Startups offers entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to build their brand, attract the resources they need, and connect with capital that’s currently out of reach.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I am a big believer in training my mind and taking responsibility for everything that happens in my life. It starts with getting very clear on my goals and taking consistent action every day to reach them.

There are daily tests of my resilience because, in entrepreneurship, there are always surprises—things taking longer than expected, things not happening the way you want. One of the earliest tests of my resilience came when my first venture failed, and my marriage ended at the same time. It was an incredibly difficult period for me, but I got through it and started my second business.

This experience proved to me that I can always find a way, no matter what life throws at me. It’s that belief, combined with the ability to accept things I can’t change, that has helped me navigate the ups and downs my business has faced over the past 12 years. And that’s why I feel mentally prepared for whatever future adventures lie ahead.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

It took me a long time to build my network, and I am proud to say that it is amazing. I found that one of the best ways to build a network and following is to do events I am passionate about that require a lot of collaboration: speaks, ecosystem partners, sponsors, attendees. The more people you get involved, the more your network grows organically as well as your thought leadership.

I also love meeting new people and am always open for a chat.

Finally, I regularly send connection requests to those LinkedIn recommends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thestartupstation.com
• Instagram: @thestartupstation
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriayampolsky/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-startup-station/
• Twitter: @startup_station
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStartupStation

Image Credits

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