The Daily Drip: Nicole Mastrangelo Of The Daily Drip On Why We Need More Women Founders & Here Is What We Are Doing To Make That Happen
An Interview With Vanessa Ogle
Community- Because of the imposter syndrome, perfectionism, fear of failure, and leap into something completely new, founders need community in other founders who are on the same journey so they can feel less alone, learn from others who are attempting the same things, and feel less self-conscious when they make a mistake.
As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nicole Mastrangelo.
Founded in 2021 by Nicole Mastangelo and Romi Wallach, The Daily Drip is a dynamic media platform supporting South Florida businesswomen. It offers content, resources, and programming from local female industry experts. The Daily Drip celebrates female leaders breaking barriers in male-dominated fields, fostering a community of over 4,000 women dedicated to gender equality and empowerment.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
My entire career has been in business development, on both the sales and marketing side. Over the course of the last decade, I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact of social media on both of these vital business functions. Traditional strategies and tactics just aren’t working as well- if at all- in this hybrid marketplace. This was only exacerbated by Covid as people became desperate to get digital in a pandemic/ post-pandemic world. As a content marketer, I’ve long been a champion of founder, executive, and personal brands in the era of influencer marketing. I believe, in today’s marketplace, every logo needs a face to champion it, and have always advised my clients as such. It wasn’t until the pandemic that I decided to create a media platform, The Daily Drip, dedicated exclusively to thought leadership in order to help more founders, executives, and brands find their voice and share it with the world.
We chose to make The Daily Drip exclusively dedicated to amplifying female voices in response to the rapidly increasing trend of female entrepreneurship. Since 2020, there has been a significant increase in LLCs opened by women compared to men. In the early 2000s, women owned less than 30% of businesses, while the U.S. Census Bureau and SBA reports show figures have now grown to more than 40%, growth that has taken place predominantly post Covid. Driven by various factors such as a desire for greater work-life balance and the pursuit of passion projects, a spike in resources, networks, and funding opportunities specifically targeted at women entrepreneurs has served to further propel this trend. We wanted to be a part of those resources and arm these women with modern, innovative, and more relevant approaches to growing their businesses and their brand in this shifting marketplace.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Building this thought leadership media platform has by far been the most interesting part of my career. Almost overnight, I went from being a consultant to a thought leader myself, sought out by our South Florida community’s most respected business leaders, community stakeholders, and even local government officials. I have been asked to speak and keynote professional conferences and events on the power of thought leadership. Today I have become well-known within our local marketing industry for my unique and strategic approach to marketing and sales.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
The funniest mistake I ever made happened during the early months of building The Daily Drip. We partnered with a local innovation center at NSU dedicated to tech startups and founders, the Alan B. Levan Innovation Center. They had asked me to present to a cohort of founders on the importance of the founder brand in pitching and raising funds. The group was small, maybe 15 people, and very diverse. All ages and backgrounds. At the end of my presentation, an older gentleman in a suit probed me with a bunch of questions, trying to poke holes in my theories and strategies, to which I addressed each one pretty confidently. At the end of the presentation, as I was packing my things, he came up to congratulate me on a great job and to learn more about my background. We chatted and at the end, I reached out my hand and said “Thank you so much for your participation today- what is your name, sir?” He said, “Oh I’m Alan Levan.” I had just presented AND CHALLENGED the Chairman & CEO of BBX Capital Corporation, and the founder of that very innovation center, who it was named after- and I didn’t even know it! Needless to say, I replayed that whole encounter over and over in my mind for weeks after!
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
There are so many people who come to mind, but my partner and Daily Drip cofounder, Romi Wallach, is someone who has undeniably played a critical role in both the success of our platform as well as my personal success as a thought leader within our local market. We met in the early days of my consulting career, and she has always matched my ability to spot trends, observe and interpret consumer behavior, and willingness to approach problems in a new way. But more than that, Romi is a beloved and well-respected business leader, a super connector who thrives on matching good people with complimentary objectives and celebrating their wins. The more she heard me speak, the more she believed in my vision, the more people she introduced me to, the more opportunities presented themselves. She is the ultimate champion of The Daily Drip’s mission, and she has been the ultimate champion of me.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
Day Trading Attention: How to Actually Build Brand and Sales in the New Social Media World by Gary Vaynerchuk has not only validated my observations and approach to marketing and sales via personal branding and thought leadership, but has elaborated on the evolving “how” and shared powerful predictors for the trajectory of this trend- predictors I keep front of mind in my day to day work.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?
“Don’t show up to prove. Show up to improve.”- Simon Sinek
I’ve met many business owners who embark on the entrepreneurial journey for what I believe are the wrong reasons.
The motivation for the business stems from the owner’s personal financial goals, their desire for freedom and control over their time, and in many cases, the motivation stems from a strong desire to prove something to someone- often themselves. Revenge Businesses, as I’ve affectionately called them, value speed over direction and are all about one person- the owner. This is reflected in everything, especially the quality of the product- which is why they struggle to get the business off the ground or achieve any sustainable growth.
Value Creation- creating a meaningful something where there is nothing- is a process only passion can propel.
I know that because of my journey with The Daily Drip . Three years of development, value creation, and iteration to improve sales and marketing for the modern businesswoman. I’m not done- the solution will never be done. It will always be evolving and getting better because of the passion I have for the problem I’m solving for OTHERS.
Business is about solving- or improving- for others. It’s not about solving for me and that’s what helps me continue to create value for people. Don’t show up to prove. Show up to improve.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
We have been able to leverage our platform to shine a light on the philanthropic organization in our community, highlighting their missions and the incredible people behind them. We have followed a similar approach with local business resources to help our audience access other tools and support they need to achieve success. I personally have mentored countless business owners and organization leaders to help them implement our best practices and activate a modern marketing and sales approach. At the end of the day, I hope me and my team, as well as The Daily Drip, will continue to be a destination for resources that inspire and propel the modern businesswoman.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this EY report, only about 20 percent of funded companies have women founders. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women to create companies. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from founding companies?
The first is capital. If you are transitioning from your career into entrepreneurship, you need to have a financial strategy for your living expenses as well as business expenses, until you’re able to earn an income from your business. Most of the women I know who have taken the leap were able to do so because they had real estate or investments to leverage to temporarily supplement their income, received a cash windfall, have a partner/ spouse income to rely on, or planned years in advance and have been saving a nestegg. Whichever the route, start up capital is essential to the process and challenging for many to access.
The second is imposter syndrome. Most women say no to opportunity, not because they don’t want to do it, but because they feel unprepared or uncomfortable. More often than not, we say no in an effort to remain in the familiar and avoid the discomfort associated with challenge, change, or the potential for failure. But we learn through doing and embracing a mindset rooted in flexibility, adaptability, and learning is the key to entrepreneurial success.
Can you share with our readers what you are doing to help empower women to become founders?
My own personal thought leadership is dedicated to this mission of empowering women to become founders. To take the leap, go for the dream, and become the main character of their own life. I hope that in sharing my own entrepreneurial story, alongside my marketing and sales philosophies, more women will feel inspired to become founders and believe in their own potential. Through The Daily Drip platform, we are creating a destination for resources that we hope will empower and support them throughout their journey.
This might be intuitive to you but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?
Many people want to become their own boss because they want more work-life balance, or more control over their time, or unlimited earning potential. All of these are fair reasons, but I believe legacy and impact are the most important reasons to become a founder, and reasons many don’t discuss. A business is one of the single biggest vehicles for impact- from the people you serve, to the people you collaborate with, to the people you employ, to the people you innovate with, to the investments you can make with your earnings- all of which yield a tremendous ripple effect. I’m using my business to make my own dent in this world, a dent I hope is a positive one that will far outlast me. More people should look at entrepreneurship through this lens.
Can you please share 5 things that can be done or should be done to help empower more women to become founders?
1. Increase education and access around capital- grants, loans, etc. This information is not readily available and the process for access is very complex. We need more resources and professionals to support women in this vital process.
2. Increase access to critical business services- There are professional services such as legal counseling, accounting and finance, and business development consulting that are essential to starting a viable business, but these services are often far out of budget. Even worse, disjointed guidance is given by unvetted volunteers at local business centers.
3. Community- Because of the imposter syndrome, perfectionism, fear of failure, and leap into something completely new, founders need community in other founders who are on the same journey so they can feel less alone, learn from others who are attempting the same things, and feel less self-conscious when they make a mistake.
4. Mentorship- it’s essential to have a mentor who is where you hope to be one day, who has walked the path you’re on, and who you can be vulnerable with. I recommend having multiple mentors for your top business priorities.
5. De-glamorize entrepreneurship and hustle culture- a friend once described entrepreneurship as the “infinite game”, meaning it’s never over. There are always new problems to solve and new goals to achieve. In that context, health and wellness and sustainable lifestyle habits are essential to ensure you can play the infinite game. Otherwise, burnout is sure to consume you, and in turn, your business.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I believe we are already seeing this movement take place, and that is the movement towards Community Building. We are seeing brands and organizations creating communities around products, services, shared interests, etc. and it’s helping people to feel more connected, less isolated, and experience a strong sense of belonging. Society has evolved in a way in which people are starved for authentic human connection and it has contributed to a mental health crisis. I believe the community movement will be a powerful way people will find connection and belonging again.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
I would LOVE to share a meal with Greg Isenberg- he is THE guru on community. I am borderline obsessed with his “TRIBE” concept and his “businesses powered by community” concept. There are so many incredible business thought leaders, but I don’t believe anyone has their finger on the pulse quite like Greg. Plus, he’s Canadian like me, so maybe we can chat over poutine and Labatt??
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can learn more about our platform at www.thedailydrip.com and I hope they will reach out and connect with me directly here.
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.
The Daily Drip: Nicole Mastrangelo Of The Daily Drip On Why We Need More Women Founders & Here Is… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.