Leapfrog: The New Revolution for Women Entrepreneurs

216 Pages·2018·1.53 MB·English

by  Nathalie Molina Nino

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR Leapfrog “Leapfrog’s scrappy yet sophisticated advice
helps aspiring entrepreneurs from all backgrounds understand how to be the
CEOs of our own lives and the creators of our destinies.”
—JAMIA WILSON, executive director and publisher, Feminist Press, City University of New York “A must-
have for every woman, budding entrepreneur or not. [It’s] packed with practical and relevant advice—you
can’t help but be emboldened to take that first step toward making your business idea a reality.”
—JACKI ZEHNER, chief engagement officer and cofounder of Women Moving Millions “For those of us
who don’t have an MBA or a million-dollar network to pave the way, we have Nathalie’s helpful hacks to
catapult us into the C-suite and beyond.”
—RUTHIE ACKERMAN, deputy editor of Women@Forbes
“There is hidden money and opportunity in America. Nathalie provides the shortcuts to solve the puzzle and
go get it!”
—NELY GALÁN, author of New York Times–bestselling Self Made: Becoming Empowered, Self-Reliant, and
Rich in Every Way “Filled with practical advice for real women on everything from funding to finding a
network; Nathalie understands that women want to build from the heart, and that how you get there is just
as important as where you’re going.”
—DANIELLE KAYEMBE, author of The Silent Rise of the Female-Driven Economy “I believe everyone has
the entrepreneurial spirit within them—the information and inspiration within Leapfrog will serve to
empower all women for generations to come.”
—NINA VACA, founder, chairman, and CEO, Pinnacle Group
“With Nathalie Molina Niño’s help, maybe we can finally thwart the system that has kept women from
thriving.”
—MARIE C. WILSON, honorary founder and president emerita, Ms. Foundation for Women; founder and
president emerita, The White House Project; advisory board chair, VoteRunLead “The new playbook for
the modern entrepreneur who is redefining success on her own terms. Nathalie is clearly rooting for all of
us.”
—TIFFANY DUFU, tiffanydufu.com
“Bring your best game—the road map is in your hands.”
—LOLA C. WEST, managing director, WestFuller Advisors LLC
“A definite must-read for any woman entrepreneur serious about scaling.”
—MELANIE HAWKEN, Lionesses of Africa
“In her brilliant new book, Nathalie Molina Niño shares the indispensable advice that’s helped her guide
women entrepreneurs from zero to scalable and thriving businesses—and can transform yours as well.”
—DORIE CLARK, adjunct professor, Duke University Fuqua School of Business “Leapfrog cuts through the
typical ‘lift yourself up by your bootstraps’ advice . . . to get to the delicious truth of the hustle that is
possible for entrepreneurs often locked out of the system.”
—KAT COLE, COO and president, North America, Focus Brands “If you have this book, it will change your
life, whether you are on an entrepreneurial path or just dreaming of taking the leap.”
—WHITNEY SMITH, chief of strategy and brand at The Dream Corps
“I cannot recommend Leapfrog too highly—it’s the secret weapon we all need in the face of rich white
male privilege to help level the entrepreneurial playing field.”
—CINDY GALLOP, founder and CEO, MakeLoveNotPorn
“Nathalie Molina Niño has finally given us the book we’ve been wanting about women entrepreneurs in the
twenty-first century.”
—JIMMIE BRIGGS, cofounder, Man Up Campaign, NYC Gender Equity Commission

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
375 Hudson Street
New York, New York 10014
Copyright © 2018 by Nathalie Molina Niño LLC
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Molina Niño, Nathalie, author. | Grace, Sara, author.
Title: Leapfrog : the new revolution for women entrepreneurs / Nathalie Molina Niño, Sara Grace.
Description: First Edition. | New York : TarcherPerigee, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2018009313 (print) | LCCN 2018012981 (ebook) | ISBN 9780525503927 (e-book) |
ISBN 9780143132202 (paperback) Subjects: LCSH: Businesswomen. | Entrepreneurship. | BISAC:
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Entrepreneurship. | BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Motivational.
Classification: LCC HD6053 (ebook) | LCC HD6053 .M586 2018 (print) | DDC 658.4/21082—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018009313
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Version_1
For my small but mighty power circle of feminists, matriarchs, and warriors,
starting with Maritza, Johnny, my tia Carmita, and the love of my life, my
abuelita Blanca Bethsabeth Gil
Contents
Advance Praise for Leapfrog
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Foreword
Introduction: Patience Is Not a Virtue
SECTION 1 HACKS: READY
1. You Don’t Need a Hoodie
2. Don’t Mourn; Organize
3. Take Daily Vacations
4. Forget Getting to Yes. Get to No.
5. Become a Walking Sandwich Board
6. Hack Your Inner “Peer” Circle
7. Steal Paper Clips
8. The DIY Business School
9. Cash in on Your Woman Card
10. Worry About Success, Not Failure
SECTION 2 HACKS: SET
11. Forget Passion. Find Things You Want to Punch.
12. A Closed Network Is Open Season
13. Let the Techies Tech
14. Climb in Bed with Your Customer
15. Worship the Franchise
16. Squeeze Out Every Drop of Value
17. Laser in on an Empty Shelf
18. Passive Income Is Sweaty Work
19. When the Bar’s Low, Dance on It
SECTION 3 HACKS: GO
20. Find Your Dolores Huerta
21. Silicon Valley, Bye
22. Don’t Wait for Folks to Get Woke
23. Learn the Rules of the New Clubhouse
24. The Four-Word Phrase That Gets Shit Done
25. The Knockout Power Compliment
26. Don’t Ever Be Sorry; Be Fabulous
27. Show Me the Receipts
28. Master Startup Jedi Mind Tricks
29. Bring a Red-Hot Trojan Horse
SECTION 4 HACKS: FUND
30. Funding 101: Start Scrappy, Stay Scrappy
31. Raise Prices, Stat
32. #$@! The “Friends and Family” Round
33. Venture Is a White-Collar Drug
34. Debt Isn’t a Four-Letter Word
35. Win the Crowd
36. Get the Traction You Need, Not the Traction They Want
37. Write the Casablanca of Decks
38. Find Your Angels
39. Be Mighty in the VC Power Play
40. Answer the $10 Million Question
SECTION 5 HACKS: GROW
41. How Not to Choke on Growth
42. Build a Movement, Then a Market
43. If You Want Friends, Create Controversy
44. Read the Media’s Mind
45. Out-Kardashian the Kardashians: The New Influencer Marketing
46. Hire Smart and Tap a New “Monster”
47. Grow Fast by Joining Forces
48. Find Partners Who Make Any New Market “Local”
49. Catch a Whale
50. Do Good and Make Money
Epilogue: Go Forth, Be Brazen
Notes
Resources
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Foreword
NATHALIE MOLINA NIÑO is a fierce friend and tireless advocate known for
getting things done. The organization I founded and lead, Black Girls
CODE, has benefitted many times from Nathalie’s indefatigable willingness to
connect, advocate, and shout until the impossible is done. Today, any Lyft rider
can instantly donate to Black Girls CODE thanks, in part, to Nathalie’s stepping
up and making a connection—just one of the many items added to her completed
to-do list. I’ve been happy to support her, as well, during critical leaps, like when
I flew to the White House to help her announce her newly launched company at
South by South Lawn in 2016. And I was equally happy to join her here, now, in
the pages of this book.
One of my favorite moments with Nathalie, one that I found myself
remembering as I read Leapfrog, was backstage at New York Fashion Week in
2015 to participate in Carrie Hammer’s Role Models Not Runway Models™
show. Hair and makeup were done and the audience started to pile into the
space. We were moments from starting and I looked around and noticed no one
was the color they were born. Many, many of us had turned anxious shades of
strange hues. The pre-show panic and jitters were in full effect and I found
myself, like everyone else, incredibly nervous. Everyone, that is, but Nathalie,
who was brimming with excitement and offered up a pep talk that shifted
everything.
She reminded me I wasn’t there for me. I was there for the girls I have the
honor to serve.