Julie Sandler: Humanity in Uncertainty [Built in Seattle Ep. #9]

Julie Sandler, Managing Director at PSL, talks about navigating early stage startups during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Julie didn't sugar coat the "blunt force trauma" hitting startups during the pandemic. As an early stage investor at Pioneer Square Labs she sees the pain.

But she also had a refreshing take.

Yes, financial tactics matter.

But, the best leaders start with the human side.

Julie went behind the scenes in this episode of the Built in Seattle Podcast.

Episode Highlights

• Julie's conversations with portfolio companies during the COVID-19 pandemic
• The need for conviction and speed in the face of uncertainty
• How humanity & mental health are driving decision making.
• Brad Feld on "The Thee Crises" https://feld.com/archives/2020/03/the-three-crises.html
• The Founder's Dilemna by Noah Wasserman: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007AIXKUM/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
• The Intentionalist: https://intentionalist.com/
• Shipium: https://www.shipium.com/

Julie Sandler Bio

Julie Sandler joined PSL as a managing director in June 2017, and spends most of her time running the venture capital arm, PSL Ventures.

Prior to PSL, Julie was a partner at Madrona Venture Group, where she led the firm’s investments in Integris, Poppy, and Julep. She is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Washington Foster School of Business and teaches an MBA course on Entrepreneurship for which she has been named a UW “Star Teacher” several years running. She is a member and Board Director of the Washington Roundtable, and was appointed in 2016 by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee to the board of directors of the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship. In addition to serving on several not-for-profit boards, she has also served on the boards of privately held companies, industry associations, and several advisory boards. In 2013, Julie launched the Seattle Entrepreneurial Women’s Network, an informal forum for women entrepreneurs and startup executives to connect in the Greater Seattle area.  Julie was also one of 60 Americans selected as a Presidential Leadership Scholar in 2016 by the Clinton Foundation, LBJ Foundation, and the two Bush Presidential Centers.  She was voted Geekwire’s 2014 “Geek of the Year” for her work supporting women innovators, was selected to Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and was named a Rising Star to Seattle Magazine’s Seattle Hall of Fame for her work with local entrepreneurs in 2016. She was also voted Geekwire’s 2018 “Hire of the Year” for joining PSL.  She is a regular speaker at technology conferences and has appeared on CNBC, Bloomberg, and at WE Day.