From the emergency room to board room, Rehema Feleke, M.D., MBA, has balanced her profession in pediatric medicine to pursue FunBand, a UCI startup company that makes a data intelligence platform for amusement parks. The previous issue of Cove Currents featured Dr. Feleke’s journey and how she has triumphed over obstacles along the way. This Q&A delves deeper into her obstacles, lessons learned and guidance for up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
Q1: What common challenges have you encountered on your journey as an entrepreneur?
A1: The biggest challenge has been that things don’t go as expected. I think every entrepreneur faces this. It may be related to the team, development, predictions about the market fit, customers’ reactions, funding, or any number of things.
Q2: What lessons have you garnered as you persevere through these experiences?
A2: Lessons I have learned from these experiences are:
- Keep moving forward, don’t freeze and stop in times of uncertainty. If you try something and it doesn’t work, you will have more information than if you never tried.
- The most valuable resource is fellow entrepreneurs. They will tell you the truth about how things really are.
- Surround yourself with people who believe in you, cheer you on and have your best interest at heart.
- Don’t be defined by others’ opinions and advice — no matter who they are. Your drive, focus and vision are what will keep you going toward your goals.
- Don’t put your personal life, family and personal interests on hold. They will keep you sane.
- Being small, nimble and resilient are some of the greatest strengths of a startup. Use them to your advantage.
- Something that’s kept me grounded, given my emergency medicine background, is to relax and enjoy the crazy journey– no one is going to die.
- Unconscious bias is very real when you’re not a white male in the startup space, because people are used to doing business the same way and with people who look like them. Unconscious bias is also just that – “unconscious” and no one is completely immune to it. Rather than see this as an obstacle, I see it as an opportunity to disrupt the startup space and help create a better way to do things. My success will be that much more meaningful in the big picture of things.
- Lastly, I’ve learned that it’s okay to move on and quickly let go of people and things that are not helpful to you.Q3: How do you navigate speed bumps when you pitch to investors and customers?
A3: It took some time for me to realize that investors and customers say “no” for many reasons that have nothing to do with me, my product or my pitch. By stepping back and not taking anything personally, I am able to stay focused and keep moving.
Q3: What advice would you share with women in established careers venturing into their first startup?
A3: Expect that it will be a long process with many ups and downs. Expect that the process will be chaotic and not nearly as easy as you think. Perseverance and persistence, especially when things look uncertain, will be your most important qualities.